The history of Guide Dogs – Top 5 facts!

• The Guide Dogs story started in 1931 with two pioneers – Muriel Crooke and Rosamund Bond. These amazing women organised the training of the first four guide dogs from a garage in Merseyside
• The first known example of a special relationship between a dog and a blind person was depicted in a first century AD mural in the ruins of Roman Herculaneum
• During WWI, a doctor looking after the wounded in Germany was called away from a blind man with whom he was walking in the grounds of the hospital. The doctor left his German Shepherd with the man and was subsequently so impressed by the dog’s behaviour that he decided to start experiments in training dogs to act as guides for the blind
• In the early days, German Shepherds were used almost exclusively. Later other breeds were preferred with the essential characteristics of willingness to work, used to people and other animals and not afraid of noise or crowds. Today, the breeds mainly used are Labradors crossed with Golden Retrievers, Labradors, Golden Retrievers and German Shepherds
• The National Breeding Centre located just outside Leamington Spa opened in 2011. The centre has facilities to breed up to 1500 puppies a year and since it opened has over 9000 puppies – that is a real life changer!

To support Guide Dogs in continuing their life changing work visit www.guidedogs.org.uk/sponsor-a-puppy-today/

Christmas Wishes concert

Support the Guide Dogs by attending the first ever Christmas Wishes concert on Monday 17th December 2018 at Coventry Cathedral.

The evening will be hosted by Aled Jones and features a packed programme of special guests and performances.

For more information visit the event page on Facebook

About Guide Dogs

Guide Dogs work tirelessly to help improve freedom of movement for people who are blind or partially sighted.

• It takes around 20 months of specialised training to transform a newborn puppy into a confident guide dog
• Most newborn puppies will go on to become working guide dogs by the time they are two years old
• Every person and dog is unique, so matching a guide dog to an owner is a complex and carefully managed process. Trainers take into account a person’s needs – walking speed, height and lifestyle – and look for a good match
• Along with training guide dogs, Guide Dogs also campaign for equal mobility and genuine independence for blind and partially sighted people
• Guide Dogs work in collaboration with others to influence the design of technologies, ensuring they meet the needs of people with sight loss

For more information on Guide Dogs please visit www.guidedogs.org.uk/

Don’t forget to come back tomorrow to see what is behind the door for day 2!

Meet our latest Sponsor a Puppy trainee Fletcher!

Fletcher is a German Shepherd cross Golden Retriever who loves exploring new places and playing with his key chew toy.

To follow his journey to become a life-changing guide dog, sponsor him today.

To find out more visit www.guidedogs.org.uk/sponsor-a-puppy-today/fletcher/

Inspiring stories – Lucy & Olivia

Guide Dogs really do make a difference in peoples lives.

At the age of 17, Lucy was on track to get her medical degree at university. Sadly she spent the next three years in and out of hospital undergoing various medical procedures and lost much of her vision.Whilst she still has some usable vision, Olivia has greatly improved Lucy’s mobility and confidence.

Read more of this inspiring story at www.guidedogs.org.uk/inspiring-stories/lucy-and-olivia/