Latest news with #puppyTraining
BBC News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Guide dogs attend Royal Ascot as part of training
Guide dog puppies have been attending Royal Ascot as part of their socialisation training ahead of the race research from the Guide Dogs charity suggests nearly one in eight dogs can be "confused and scared" when confronted with oversized puppies, who range from 12 weeks to 10 months, were exposed to "new sights, sounds, and scents" to help their development advisor at the charity Chloe Southby said Royal Ascot offered a "unique training opportunity" of being exposed to "extravagant hats and fascinators". Ms Southby said: "Some dogs are wary of new or unusual objects like hats and may find them unsettling, especially when worn by someone they know. "It can make familiar people seem unfamiliar."That's why environments like Ascot are so valuable for socialising our puppies – helping them grow into confident guide dogs who can support people."Corporate social values manager at Ascot Racecourse Jacqui Greet said: "We are proud to provide an accessible environment for all racegoers and welcome any guest with an assistance dog." You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
26-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Banbury charity reveals how life-changing assistance dogs are raised
"The need is always there - not just for assistance dogs but for positive connections with dogs."Dogs for Good in Banbury, Oxfordshire, trains dogs to help people with physical disabilities, autism and charity is currently caring for Labrador Retriever and Golden Retriever puppies at the very start of their journeys to become assistance Phelps, from Dogs for Good, told the BBC the charity was "involved in every step of every dog's life". The charity has its own breeding programme, through which it selects its broods and stud Phelps said volunteers look after the mothers and their puppies for the first eight weeks of their said: "During that time, our puppy team will come and visit mum and puppies to make sure that everything's progressing as it should be and that everybody's happy and everybody's safe."The characteristics that we look for in a puppy mum is calm, confident, adaptable - those really positive mothering instincts and a good all round dog that's going to be a lovely mum to her puppies."Each puppy will be with their volunteer for about 16 to 18 months until they return for formal Phelps said it was a lot for the female dogs to look after their litters, which could often be up to 12 puppies, and a week after giving birth were often ready to be "free" and "just be the pet dog again".Before they leave their mother, the puppies must be fully weaned, so that they are able to eat and drink independently. Ms Phelps said the charity was "more than a supplier of assistance dogs". "Twenty years ago we used to supply assistance dogs to physically disabled adults and children. "And we are really proud of that heritage - it is where we come from. "But, actually, it's only about 20% of the people that we connect with dogs that want an assistance dog."The charity's community dog programme, for example, involves a specially-trained dog and professional handler working together to support an individual's needs such as building self-esteem and overcoming said the charity was "broadening horizons all the time". "The need is always there, not just for assistance dogs but for positive connections with dogs," she said."That's why having a broad brush of service is so vital." You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Times
11-05-2025
- Science
- Times
How Terry the guide dog puppy was bred for perfection
On a quiet street in Berkhamsted, a puppy named Terry is embarking on a journey that could one day transform someone's life. At six months old, he is still learning the ropes — how to walk confidently on a lead, how to respond to his name — but there is more to Terry than meets the eye. Terry is no ordinary puppy. He is the result of decades of research into behavioural science and genetics and part of one of the most advanced canine breeding programmes in the world, run by the charity Guide Dogs. For more than 90 years, the organisation has been helping people with sight loss navigate more freely, thanks to these extraordinary animals. Behind each working guide dog, there is an
