Dogsey

THESE bundles of fur have their eyes on only one thing at the moment – playing.

But one day they will be working for a living as guide dogs for the blind. They are the latest recruits to the Guide Dogs National Breeding Centre in Warwick.

Since it opened three years ago, it has produced 5,000 puppies of which nearly three-quarters go on to qualify as guide dogs.

Most are labrador-golden retriever crosses with some German Shepherds and the occasional standard poodle cross.

This year the centre has seen 1,400 puppies pass through its doors. The puppies’ parents are selected for their temperament and health and most of the mothers give birth at the homes of the volunteers they live with.

When the puppies are weaned they are brought to the breeding centre with their siblings and after a week go off for socialisation classes with other dogs.

When they are ready, they are sent off around the country to volunteer families who train them over the course of about 28 weeks to become guide dogs.

Carol Warner, the head of canine services at the centre, said: “Just under 70 per cent go on to graduate as guide dogs.

“The others can go on to become medical alert dogs, join the police as sniffer dogs or become family pets, sometimes with their puppy walkers.

“We want dogs that are physically fit and healthy, willing and keen to please and comfortable in a lot of different environments. They obviously also need to be able to undertake guiding tasks.” Contrary to expectations, the centre is not full of barking puppies.

Carol said: “It can be very busy for the puppies but you can walk around and not hear much at all. It’s a very nice place for dogs.”