What the National Centre does

Guide Dogs are committed to following best practice in the care and welfare of all its breeding dogs.

We will always work to serve the best interests of each dog and believe that our dogs should all enjoy the care, respect and understanding that they deserve and require. We will never forget that our dogs are our partners in the work we do.

We recognise our responsibilities under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and will keep abreast of current knowledge, always upholding the highest standards.

Guide Dogs does not require a license under the Animal Welfare Regulations 2018 (Schedule 1, Part 1 a) but adheres to all health and welfare aspects relevant to our operational methods and organisational structure.

Specifically, Guide Dogs will:

• Maintain the best possible standards of health and quality of life for their breeding dogs.
• Breed only from carefully selected dogs based on extensive analysis of behavioural and health data from ancestors, siblings, and progeny to ensure dogs are suitable for breeding.
• Monitor genetic diversity within the breeding population and respective coefficients of kinship for individual mating pairs.
• Ensure breeding dogs are continually checked for good health, free from infection and in good physical condition at the time of mating.
• Ensure breeding dogs are selected using all relevant health screening processes, including genetic tests as appropriate and available, hip, elbow and shoulder radiographs, eye tests and heart screens.
• Ensure breeding dogs shall not be used where this could in any way be harmful to the individual dog or the breeding population.
• Carefully plan all matings to primarily ensure the health and temperamental welfare of each individual stud dog, breeding bitch and their potential progeny, whilst taking into consideration organisational and breeding programme needs.
• Not mate any bitches once they have reached seven years and nine months of age, such that no bitch shall whelp a litter after her eighth birthday. After the age of six, veterinary opinion of the bitch’s health and physical condition will be sought and consent required before deciding whether to proceed with mating. No bitch will be mated before she is 18 months old, unless there are exceptional circumstances and then only if she is considered mature enough to raise a litter of puppies.
• Ensure stud dogs shall be no younger than 18 months of age at time of first mating and aim to retire them before their tenth birthday (although their health, vitality and fertility will principally guide this decision in dogs older than 9 years old). At 8 years old stud dogs will undergo 6-monthly vet checks, increasing to quarterly when 9 years old.
• Ensure breeding dogs shall be retired at any age if this is in the best interest of the dog or the breeding programme.
• Rehome retired breeding dogs with care and consideration to the individual dog’s well-being and welfare. This will normally be with the existing volunteer carer.
• A consecutive season mating may be considered in the middle of a bitch’s breeding career, to ensure that litters are delivered at the peak of a bitch’s reproductive fitness. A consecutive season breeding shall only be considered providing a satisfactory veterinary assessment has been conducted. When the season interval is 9 months or more, consecutive matings may be considered. Again, such a consecutive season breeding shall only be considered providing a satisfactory veterinary assessment has been conducted.
• Ensure that bitches shall have a maximum of 4 litters.
• Ensure that all bitches that have required two caesareans shall be retired.
• Ensure the transition of puppies from nest to the new home is as efficient and smooth as possible.
• Work closely and in consultation with The Kennel Club and observe, where appropriate and reasonable to do so, the current regulations and advice relating to breeding practices and welfare, including the Kennel Club’s ‘General Code of Ethics’.

Additionally, Guide Dogs will:

• Keep accurate breeding records, registration papers, pedigrees and contracts of all dogs it breeds.
• Provide professional, timely and competent supervision and support of all volunteers attached to the Breeding Programme.
• From time to time offer its stud dogs for use on external bitches in accordance with Guide Dogs’ current protocols. A clearly stated agreement on the use of such stud dogs will be agreed by both parties.

This Code of Ethics will be reviewed annually to ensure it remains relevant, current and responsive to the latest thinking and research.

Guide Dogs will apply strict adherence to the Breeding Code of Ethics, unless in exceptional and unforeseen circumstances, operational and/or breeding programme/genetic need dictate a departure from the guidelines stated above.

Crucial to the success of any breeding programme is the quality of the dogs brought in to replace any guide dog mums and dads that have retired, or are withdrawn, from the breeding programme. It's Guide Dogs' aim to make sure the selection process is rigorous and comprehensive, so that only the very best dogs are added to the programme, in terms of their health, behavioural and genetic merit. We have dedicated staff whose role it is to supervise this process throughout each stage of assessment.

All new and existing breeding dogs need regular monitoring, and a formal process is used to do this in an efficient and effective way. A Breed Review meeting takes place monthly to review all our guide dog mums and dads, their progeny, and their ancestors. This enables us to discuss any issues and make decisions relating to all our dogs, ensuring we establish sensible and pragmatic management of the programme. The meeting is attended by experienced and specialist staff and advisors.

When we need to make the decision to retire a guide dog mum or dad from the breeding programme, there’s a careful assessment process to decide the best path for each individual dog. This takes into account the health and welfare of the dog and is in collaboration with professional staff, advisors and the volunteers involved in their care. Where possible, from a health, temperament and age perspective, we’ll aim to place the dog into training, making use of a precious canine resource, or consider their use as a potential Buddy Dog.

If the dog isn't suitable for these roles, we may rehome the dog to previous volunteer carers, or find an alternative pet home from a carefully vetted list of potential rehomers.