A bit about Guide Dogs :
A bit about Guide Dogs Have been providing guide dogs to blind and partially-sighted people for over 75 years.
are a world leader in breeding and training guide dogs.
employ around 1,000 professional staff in the UK. The charity is supported by about 10,000 volunteers, including puppy walkers, brood-stock holders, dog boarders and thousands of local fundraisers
The guide dog service is entirely dependent on voluntary donations.
Dog facts :
Dog facts GD's breed over 1,000 guide dog puppies a year.
750 Guide Dogs units were trained in 2008
The most widely used breed for guiding is a Labrador/retriever cross, but other breeds are used
The working life of a guide dog is about six and a half years.
Slide 4:
Flow Chart of Activities
Tollgate Breeding Centre :
Tollgate Breeding Centre 240 Brood bitches
70 (very happy!) Stud dogs
Production for 2009 - 1,200
Pups
Conception rate is 87%
OPERATIONALIMPACT :
OPERATIONALIMPACT Need to supply a preset number of quality pups
365 days a year – 7.30am – 9.30pm
Mating and lab area are operational every day except Christmas Day
Failure to provide the pups = failure to provide trained guide dogs and replace breeding stock
Health of breeding stock impacts on health of offspring
Housing and Husbandry :
Housing and Husbandry Impacts on production/conception/quality
Health and mental wellbeing of breeding stock, NOISE
Managing infection risk DUST,
Early socialisation of puppies – impact on potential to become guide dogs, live site
Financial :
Financial Value of a puppy?
£500 - £600
Value of a trained guide dog?
£34,000
Value of a successful breeding dog?
???
Slide 9:
Thanks for listening! WHY? Hmmm What?