Our Dogs

Guide Dog Breeds Available to Clients

British Columbia Guide Dog Services primarily uses Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers and first generation cross's of Labrador and Golden Retrievers. Both males and females are used.

 

 

"LEO"

Canine Breeding Program

The majority of dogs trained by British Columbia Guide Dog Services will be bred from our own breeding stock. We have Guide Dog breeding stock from England, New Zealand and the United States. From time to time we will accept puppies from outside breeders.

Rearing of Puppies

British Columbia Guide Dog Services has a supervised puppy fostering program. Puppies are placed in volunteer foster homes at 7 to 8 weeks of age until, at 14 months, the dogs begin their formal training as Guide Dogs. The role of the foster family is to take the puppy on all the family outings, thus conditioning the puppy to the everyday environment that we humans take for granted. The foster family must give the puppy a lot of "TLC" and also teach it the correct social behaviour expected from a working Guide Dog. British Columbia Guide Dog Services pays all the veterinary costs incurred in raising the puppy, and Nestle Purina Petcare provides all our dog food free of charge.

Guide Dog Training

At the approximate age of 14 months, the dogs begin their formal training as Guide Dogs in the hands of Professional Instructors. This process will take each dog between 5 to 8 months. At the completion of this training period, the now-trained Guide Dog is matched to a visually impaired Client..