Guide dog mum Sylvia has given birth to Guide Dogs’ first litter of the year. The eight yellow Labrador puppies, five boys and three girls, born on 5 January in Leamington Spa, are now three weeks old and beginning to explore their surroundings after opening their eyes for the first time.
Four-year-old yellow Labrador Sylvia gave birth to her first guide dog litter, with the pups weighing roughly 400 grams each.
Breeding Dog Holder of proud new mum Sylvia, Gillian Parsons and her family from Warwickshire, first became involved with Guide Dogs in 2005 when her three young children were desperate to have a pet dog.
Living in Warwick at the time, we were very aware of Guide Dogs’ work as we frequently saw dogs in training in the area. A friend told me about the Breeding Dog Holder volunteering scheme and, as dog novices, we thought that it would be a lovely way to support the charity, as well as introduce a new family member into the fold. It is a privilege to have the opportunity to play a role to support those with sight loss so desperate for an assistance dog.
Gillian Parson, Breeding Dog Holder
Su Price, Breeding Dog Advisor for Guide Dogs, said, “Sylvia is the perfect mum and has taken to her new litter beautifully. Hopefully her lovely calm and caring temperament will be passed on to these puppies and one day they’ll be the perfect guide dogs and companions for people with sight loss all around the UK.
“Guide Dogs run the biggest, most ethical breeding program of working dogs in the world. We meticulously health test all our breeding dogs and they live year-round with volunteers, to give the puppies the best start in a loving family environment. By giving a home to a guide dog mum, you can help us to provide more life-changing guide dogs in the future.”
