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In 1956, Guide Dogs began to recruit volunteers to become puppy walkers. A few years later, a breeding programme was introduced and by 1970, these components of Guide Dogs' work had grown so much they were given their own premises at
Tollgate House, near Leamington Spa. The most influential figure in
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The charity's campaigning work covers a range of issues, including making sure children with sight loss are able to access the services they need, and ensuring public transport and streets are as accessible as possible. The charity is assisted by 28,000 volunteer campaigners who sign petitions, share
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In 2020, Guide Dogs began a research project called Born to Guide, which is a long-term study into the complex relationships between a dog's genes and its health and behaviour. The charity hopes Born to Guide will provide new insights into how to breed future generations of guide dogs, with the goal
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Guide dog puppies are typically born and raised by volunteer breeding dog holders in a domestic setting. At six weeks old, the puppies undergo health checks and vaccinations at Guide Dogs' National Centre in
Leamington Spa, Warwickshire. Subsequently, they are placed with volunteer puppy raisers who
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The charity has a research programme to provide an evidence base for Guide Dogs' policies, operational procedures and campaigns. The research is carried out internally and in collaboration with external organisations, helping the charity to understand its service users' needs and care for its dogs.
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Buddy dogs help children and young people who are blind or partially sighted to build confidence in themselves and trust in their surroundings. Guide Dogs piloted the service in 2011 and launched it as a permanent service in 2012. In 2020, 52 children were partnered with a buddy dog. Buddy dogs are
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Guide dogs retire on or before their eleventh birthday - depending on the dog and owner. Many retire due to ill health of the dog or a change in circumstances of the guide dog owner. Many dogs stay with their guide dog owners, but some are adopted by members of the public. Martin Clunes recently
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The organisation's guide dog service pairs blind or partially-sighted individuals with specially trained dogs, predominantly bred in-house rather than sourced externally. To ensure genetic diversity, there are instances of exchanging sperm samples with other guide dog organizations globally. The
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Guide Dogs wants sighted guiding skills to be as well known and well understood as first aid skills. They work with communities and companies to provide sighted guiding skills, and also provide sighted guiding training to the family and friends of a person who is blind or partially sighted.
423:– In 2021, Guide Dogs is piloting a scheme giving those aged three to 18 with a vision impairment a free iPhone or iPad. The project was launched after the charity's own research found that technology is a vital tool for people who are blind or partially sighted.
417:– a UK-wide programme of activity days providing the opportunity for children and parents to meet other families and access advice from Guide Dogs' specialists. Some 1,095 people affected by sight loss attended Guide Dogs' Family Events in 2019.
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Guide Dogs, historically focused on training and pairing guide dogs with adults experiencing visual impairment, expanded their services in the early 2010s to include support for children and young individuals with blindness or partial sight.
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405:– helps children learn skills, including navigating streets safely, preparing food, handling money and managing their appearance. In 2019 Guide Dogs helped 2,845 children through My Life Skills.
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Formal training for the dogs commences after 12 to 14 months and spans approximately 26 weeks, including an intensive period of three to five weeks alongside their future owners.
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In 2021, the charity celebrated the 90th anniversary of the UK's first four guide dog partnerships with a host of activities including an artisan sensory garden at the
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introduce them to essential obedience skills and socialise them to various public environments, such as shops, offices, cafes, restaurants, and public transport.
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to help blind and partially blind people. The organisation also participates in political activism for the rights of those with vision impairments.
482:, Wirral in 1931, and three years after this the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association was formed. The first permanent trainer for Guide Dogs was
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Guide Dogs holds the
Guinness World Record for the largest number of guide dogs trained by an organisation, which stood at 33,910 in 2016.
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in
Wallasey was commandeered for war purposes and the Guide Dogs moved to new premises in the centre of England at Leamington Spa.
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The first four
British guide dogs – Judy, Flash, Folly and Meta – completed their training with Muriel Crooke and Rosamund Bond at
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charity primarily breeds
Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, Curly-coated Retrievers, and standard Poodles.
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followed the training of two guide dog puppies, Cindy and Honey. This feature has been repeated in the early 1980s, in 2006 with
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Statue to commemorate the foundation of the Guide Dogs for the Blind
Association at The Cliff, New Brighton, in 1931
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Human behavioural sciences – to support the emotional wellbeing of service users, plus their family and friends.
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Northern
Ireland Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs website website, retrieved 2023-11-07
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In 2020, there were 4,800 working guide dog partnerships in the UK. By 2022, this had gone down to 3,695.
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The charity's filed accounts for the year ending
December 2022 put income for the year at £142.2 million.
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Guide Dogs provides the following services to help children and young people with sight loss:
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Canine science – to support the behaviour, health and wellbeing of the charity's dogs.
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social media posts, write to their MPs and collect signatures on the charity's behalf.
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Guide dogs travelling to the EU could longer use a UK issued EU Pet
Passport.
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the development of Guide Dogs' puppy walking and breeding programmes was
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821:"The History Of Guide Dogs - 80 Years Of Extraordinary Partnerships"
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Guardian Newspaper website, article by Rachela Hall dated 2023-04-23
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Guide Dogs-bred dogs which haven't qualified to become a guide dog.
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Guide Dogs: Charity calls for NI exemption on new post-Brexit rules
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727:"Sight Advice FAQ | Can a young person or child have a guide dog?"
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of raising the percentage of pups who go on to become guide dogs.
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with a puppy named Magic and in 2014 with another puppy, Iggy.
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898:"Show gardens at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2021 / RHS Gardening"
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The charity also holds a world record for the Largest Virtual
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688:"THE GUIDE DOGS FOR THE BLIND ASSOCIATION - Charity 209617"
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Charities for disabled people based in the United Kingdom
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adopted such a dog and made a TV programme about it.
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19:"Guide Dogs" redirects here. For other uses, see
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692:register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk
1282:Blindness organisations in the United Kingdom
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501:In 1964, the children's television programme
444:The charity has two priority research areas:
1277:Animal charities based in the United Kingdom
926:article by Amy Stewart dated January 5, 2021
873:"Most guide dogs trained by an organisation"
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248:. The charity has eight regional centres in
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848:"Blue Peter introduces new guide dog Iggy"
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1267:1934 establishments in the United Kingdom
1231:RNIB Pears Centre for Specialist Learning
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82:Learn how and when to remove this message
1067:The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association
948:Euroblind website, March 2022 Newsletter
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212:The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association
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846:Alex, Susannah; er (19 June 2014).
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612:"The history makers of Merseyside"
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229:The charity's royal patron is the
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1297:Organizations established in 1934
1072:Henshaws Society for Blind People
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1302:Dogs in the United Kingdom
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235:Princess Alexandra of Kent
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1022:Action for Blind People
530:RHS Chelsea Flower Show
220:charitable organisation
877:Guinness World Records
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380:Sighted guiding skills
125:; 90 years ago
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64:neutral point of view
1206:Joseph Clarke School
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1184:Schools and colleges
1131:Assistive technology
771:. 18 February 2021.
231:Duchess of Edinburgh
1211:Linden Lodge School
1201:Jordanstown Schools
1047:British Blind Sport
237:as patron in 2021.
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112:Abbreviation
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50:Please help
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1112:Sightsavers
852:Digital Spy
427:Campaigning
326:Southampton
1261:Categories
1154:Traveleyes
1107:SeeAbility
697:8 November
646:26 October
592:11 October
569:References
504:Blue Peter
371:Buddy dogs
348:Guide dogs
310:Birmingham
306:Shrewsbury
302:Nottingham
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222:that uses
216:Guide Dogs
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120:Formation
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672:30 July
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258:Forfar
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164:CEO
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