A LABRADOR who travelled more than 8,000 miles from Japan to Upton-upon-Severn s now training to be a guide dog, writes Jessica Blissitt.
Yukiko, who is 15 months old, was one of four pups to make the journey as part of the sight-loss charity Guide Dog’s international collaboration programme.
At only 20 weeks old, she moved in with Guide Dogs Volunteer Sue in Upton.
Sue plays a vital role in their early development as a ‘puppy raiser’, supporting the young dogs for 12 to 16 months before they begin their specialised guide dog training. She teaches them basic commands and helps them adapt to different environments.
Picture courtesy of the Guide Dogs charity. s
Sue said: “I did think I might have to learn Japanese but thankfully Yukiko understood commands in English.”
Yukiko was Sue’s first guide dog when she became a puppy raiser for Guide Dogs almost a year ago.
Sue said her training with Yukiko had been a success, as ‘she was so easy to look after and she really was the most delightful dog’.
She added Yukiko was an ‘absolute charmer’ in social situations.
Most dogs qualify as working guide dogs by the age of two, but others go on to have alternative careers, such as supporting children with a vision impairment.
Tom Lewis, the Guide Dogs’ head of breed programme, said: “Yukiko didn’t quite make the grade to become a breeding dog, but we are excited to see her progressing well and hope she will make an excellent guide dog.”
Yukiko also loves helping to look after Sue’s chickens, geese, and ducks.
Sue said: “She helps with the chickens and pushes them back into the hutch when they’re outside.”
Moving on
Yukiko will soon leave Sue and start her formal guide dog training at a local Guide Dogs training centre in the next few weeks.
Sue said: “We’ll miss her terribly but she will make somebody a lovely guide dog and she has had a very happy time as a dog here with us.”
Picture courtesy of the Guide Dogs charity. s
Sue began caring for Florence, a second guide dog puppy, when Yukiko was only a year old.
Thankfully, Florence and Yukiko got along well during their time together.
Yukio shared everything with Florence when she arrived and let her snuggle up to her since she joined their family,
Sue and Florence featured in the Channel 5 series Guide Dog Puppy School.
Picture courtesy of the Guide Dogs charity. s
Tom said Yukiko was part of Guide Dog’s long-standing collaboration with the Japan Guide Dog Association.
“Exchanging dogs with partner guide dog schools in other countries is an important way to help preserve genetic diversity in our breeding programme.”
Could you be a puppy raiser?
The Guide Dogs charity is always looking for puppy raisers.
Anyone interested should email volunteering coordinator Charlotte Hawthorne at [email protected] or call 0800 781 1444 for more information.
