Mollie arrives tomorrow - all is ready for her. She will become a Guide Dog brood bitch if she passes all her health and temperament tests along the way. She's a pure Lab, mum Vanda and Dad Perry. ...
How is the decision made that some 'guide dogs' puppies are destined to be just that and some to become brood bitches? What about the sires, can they do both?!
Most guide dogs are first crosses Lab/GR. GR/GS etc. All breeding stock dogs are pure bred. Stud dogs don't guide, they are looked after in the homes of stud dog holders. They have 100s of pups! When they retire they almost always stay with the stud dog holder and brood bitches with the brood bitch holder ...
My friend has a brood bitch whose now retired from puppies she's such a lovely dog. They enjoyed having the puppies but it was exhausting. I used to get invited in to give them a cuddle
That's interesting, do they use first crosses for a reason. I always thought guide dogs were purebred labs.
Yes, the GRs are much steadier and more intelligent - just not nearly as keen! So a mix of Lab/GR or GS/GR is ideal.
Will the training that you do for a brood bitch be different to a the training you give to a guide dog?
It will be exactly the same for me. She may not make the grade as a BB. But, she will go to the Breeding Centre from here for all her tests, then on to a BB holder if she passes. Some tests will be done more locally before she leaves me. My friend's pup, Sparky was a Prospective Stud Dog but his testicles never descended! So he will now go to Big School.
So a failed stud/brood dog can still make it as a guide dog? Sparky - I knew a very old GR called Sparky, it was such an ironic name as he plodded along behind his owner. I'm sure he suited it as a pupster though.
