Like any proud mum, Yuko the Labrador is happy to show off her litter of nine gorgeous puppies.
But this group is extra special, as Yuko is the first Japanese dog to have a litter of guide dog pups in the UK.
The litter marks an ‘incredible milestone’ for Guide Dogs UK’s international breeding programme, which sees guide dog schools from all over the world exchange puppies with one another.
The programme ensures the genetic diversity of their pups, alongside the mixture of friendliness and energy expected of a guide dog.
Yuko, whose name means ‘gracious child’ in Japanese, came to the UK from Japan at just five months old, with the team at Guide Dogs watching her grow up from a small puppy into the mum she is today.
Like any proud mum, Yuko the Labrador is happy to show off her litter of nine gorgeous puppies. But this group is extra special, as Yuko is the first Japanese dog to have a litter of guide dog pups in the UK
Yuko, whose name means ‘gracious child’ in Japanese, came to the UK from Japan at just five months old, with the team at Guide Dogs watching her grow up from a small puppy into the mum she is today
On arrival, she underwent puppy training which includes living with a volunteer dog raiser and experiencing the activities expected of a guide dog.
This included visits to shops and restaurants, and journeys on busy buses and trains.
With close to 1,200 puppies bred a year, the charity is always on the hunt for volunteers close to its Leamington Spa base of operations.
Now two years old, Yuko has given birth to her first litter of nine puppies, whose father is a British golden retriever.
Cross-breeding of labradors and golden retrievers is common practice for Guide Dogs, who mix the breeds to ensure that newborn pups have the right balance of sociability and drive.
Now two years old, Yuko has given birth to her first litter of nine puppies, whose father is a British golden retriever
Yuko’s arrival to the UK was made possible by the charity’s international breeding programme
Yuko’s arrival to the UK was made possible by the charity’s international breeding programme.
Attracting exchanges with a host of countries including Australia, France, and Croatia, it is critical in ensuring that the gene pool of guide dogs remains broad, while also maintaining the desired traits for a trusty guide dog.
Becky Hunt, the breeding programme’s data manager, said genetic diversity is critical to ensure the charity has ‘always got diversity’ in case health or behavioural issues arise after a litter is born.
Tom Lewis, the head of breeding at Guide Dogs, added: ‘When you’re managing a small population, one of the things you need to keep a handle on quite closely is genetic diversity. And if you don’t do that, you can lose it quite rapidly.’
Guide Dog National Center staff Ruth, Karin, Eleanor and Emily are pictured with the nine puppies
He added that the international breeding programme helps to maintain the sustainability of its operation and ensure that it still has a breeding programme in 10 years’ time.
This means that Yuko could be the first mum of many to come, and she is likely to give birth to more litters of adorable puppies.
At about eight weeks old, Yuko’s puppies will leave the breeding centre to be cared for by a volunteer puppy raiser.
After roughly a year, they then leave the raiser for six months of guide dog training, usually qualifying and partnering up with an owner at 18-24 months old.
But for now, they will get to enjoy a bit more time with their mum.
