These delightful snapshots capture the very first litter of guide dog puppies born in 2025. The bundle of joy arrived at 8.15pm on Thursday, 2nd January, in Birmingham, with the litter consisting of six girls and four boys making up the 10 healthy pups.
The proud canine parents are Rebecca, a three year old golden retriever who is celebrating motherhood for the second time, and labrador Danny. At just one week old, the pups’ world revolves around feeding from their mum and indulging in plenty of sleep, names for the tiny pups are yet to be chosen.
Sue Davy, a Guide Dogs breeding dog volunteer who is taking care of Rebecca and her litter, praises the canine mother’s skills, “She absolutely dotes upon her puppies and has taken everything in her stride,” she reported.
“I’m really excited to see these puppies grow and develop their individual personalities over the next few weeks. It’s been the most wonderful start to the new year,” she exclaimed.
Both puppy parents, Rebecca and Danny, were handpicked to join the Guide Dogs breeding programme as they were considered top dogs, chosen for their intelligence, calmness, confidence and good health.
Although they have not served as guide dogs, some of the most promising dogs are often selected for breeding to ensure the best traits needed for successful guide dogs are passed on to the next generation.
Next month, these puppies will progress to the Guide Dogs National Centre, near Leamington Spa, where they’ll receive their vaccinations.
They’ll then be sent to one of the charity’s numerous volunteer Puppy Raisers, who each care for a pup until they are 12 to 14 months old before they commence formal guide dog training.
The process usually takes around six months, and every guide dog is then meticulously matched with someone with sight loss to suit their routine and lifestyle so it won’t be until late 2026 that these puppies will be qualified and working.
Janine Dixon, breeding and welfare lead for Guide Dogs stated: “Even though they haven’t yet opened their eyes, Rebecca’s puppies are at the very start of a long journey to becoming life-changing guide dogs of the future.
“They will be raised and trained with all the love and support they need to give them the best chance to qualify as a trusted partner to a blind or visually impaired person. Guide Dogs is aiming to breed 1,200 puppies in 2025, and it all starts here.
“This would never be possible without the support of Breeding Dog Volunteers like Sue, who provide loving homes to our guide dog mums year-round, and then devote a huge amount of time and energy when a new litter is born.
“We’re always on the lookout for more help, as we’re looking to place 100 new guide dog mums like Rebecca in homes throughout 2025.”
