Well done Bruce! (and well done you ) So will her upbringing/training be different because the plan is for her to become a mummy? My guesse is Jesse
Jewel! How do the guide dog people look at a newborn and go "yep, brood bitch/stud dog" rather than "guide dog"?
I thought that, but then I decided it's probably just the light. Well, I thought it was funny. That's not saying much, though
They use pure bred dogs for studs and brood bitches, most guide dogs are first crosses. GDs have a breeding programme both for those destined to be guides and those to be BBs and SDs. Both of Js sisters are going to be BBs too. She will get exactly the same upbringing - but she won't go to Big School. She'll go to a brood bitch holder. They keep the dogs on their own homes and the pups are born there. They go to the breeding centre for every season and for mating. Once they've had three litters (two years apart) they retire and usually stay with the BB holder. 1400 GD pups are born every year. Here is a link to the breeding centre - http://www.guidedogs.org.uk/aboutus/national-breeding-centre#.WAnLO3R4WfA
Thanks for the information as always . It's so interesting to learn about. Have you any desire to become a brood bitch holder or is it all about the puppies for you? I suppose there might be restrictions on having another dog with a brood bitch too.
Why doesn't the 'brood bitch holder' (not a good title) have the puppy from the very beginning? Will you miss doing the guide dog work, or will the pup have to learn it anyway?
Some BBs keep a pup and puppy walk it. But many prefer to just have the one. I know someone who has a BB, walked one of the pups - who is now also a BB and kept her too. BB 1 has just had pups and BB 2 is due a litter at Christmas - this BBH is a real glutton for punishment!! J will have to learn everything with me anyway, in case she doesn't pass her BB exams. We don't do any harness work anyway - that all happens at Big School. Another photo - J is always on top! Her BB says she's 'trouble' and pokes the others to wake them up to play lol! They live 3 hours away but I'm very tempted to make the round trip and visit! (yellow dogs are so much easier to photograph!) ...
No, there isn't a restriction, all depends on the dogs and your supervisor's assessment. I KNOW I would be tempted! But you have to live within half an hour of the breeding centre for the mating/scans etc. So there is no chance for me. It's such hard work too - also, I don't think I could cope with my baby having babies! ...
