Guide DogsPuppies born to Guide Dogs UK’s first Japanese dog mum have arrived in Scotland to begin their training journey.
Two-year-old black Labrador Yuko was the first dog from Japan to be selected for the charity’s breeding programme.
After making the 5,000 mile journey from Japan’s Guide Dog Association to join Guide Dogs UK, she gave birth to nine puppies in England.
The puppies, who are Labrador cross Golden Retrievers, are now eight weeks old and recently left their mum to start their journey with Guide Dogs.
Three of the pups, named Indie, Peaches and George, have arrived in Scotland this month to meet the people who will raise them for the first time.
Puppy Raisers are volunteers who work to provide puppies with a loving home during the first year of their life.
Guide DogsThe volunteers teach the pups basic commands and help them get used to different environments and sights, sounds and smells.
Fiona Fraser, puppy development supervisor at Guide Dogs, said the team are looking forward to seeing how Indie, Peaches and George progress through their training to become “life-changing guide dogs”.
“With Yuko coming from a collaboration with the Japanese Guide Dogs programme, this helps us to improve genetic diversity, while also retaining the temperament and health needed to produce successful working guide dogs of the future,” she said.
“Our puppy raisers provide puppies with vital foundations for their future role as life-changing guide dogs. We’re so grateful to all our volunteers and we wouldn’t be able to do what we do without their support and time.”
Ms Fraser added the charity was always looking for more volunteers to take care of Guide Dogs from the age of eight weeks until they can start their training at around 12-14 months.
For more information about puppy raising for Guide Dogs, please visit www.guidedogs.org.uk/puppyraiser
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