Guide Dogs National Centre

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Guide Dogs National Centre

Guide Dogs is the UK’s leading sight loss charity. We’re here to help people with sight loss live the life they choose.
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The Guide Dogs National Centre is where our puppies begin their journey to become life-changing guide dogs. Each year, more than 1,300 puppies begin their journey to become guide dogs at the National Centre. Our state-of-the-art centre is home to our world-class breeding programme and hosts a team of experts, who help produce our life-changing guide dogs. Our guide dog mums and dads live in the ho

mes of our volunteers, and visit the centre for breeding, boarding, and occasionally to have their puppies. All of the puppies we breed visit us at 7 weeks old before going to live in the home of a volunteer puppy raiser during their important first year. Visitors can see and learn about this working site as we carry out our daily work. Information on our scheduled visitor tours can be found via our website - https://www.guidedogs.org.uk/about-us/guide-dogs-centres/visitor-experiences/

For information on becoming a breeding dog volunteer please visit our website https://www.guidedogs.org.uk/how-you-can-help/volunteering/volunteer-with-our-dogs/

For other volunteering enquiries at the National Centre please contact [email protected]

02/09/2026

We've been told by a very reputable insider at the National Centre that these little golden retrievers are "full of character" They do seem to be showing the stuffed toys who's in charge 💪

[Visual descriptions: All puppies in pictures are golden retrievers aged approx eight weeks. Image one shows a young guide dog puppy standing inside a blue toy wheelbarrow, gently holding a plush raccoon toy with their front paws. Image two shows a young guide dog puppy holding a grey toy stuffed animal - unsure of specific breed/type! - in their mouth with paw up prodding at the toy. Image three shows a young guide dog puppy with paws up on a plastic pink toy. They are gently holding down a stuffed toy fox.]

31/08/2026

It was lovely to recently welcome Paralympian Ellie Simmonds and presenter Richie Anderson to the National Centre - learning from our amazing staff and volunteers all about the journey our puppies go on to become future life-changers. 💛

How much do you think they know about Guide Dogs? 👇

[Visual Description: The video opens with sweeping shots of the outside of the Guide Dogs National Centre. Ellie Simmonds and Richie Anderson walk into the reception area and settle onto a sofa. On the sofa they each hold a Guide Dogs branded fluffy dog toy. Ellie holds a black Labrador toy, and Richie holds a yellow Labrador toy. On the coffee table in front of them are two Guide Dogs branded mugs. Over the top of them answering the quiz questions, clips of them visiting the National Centre are shown. They meet and send puppies on their way to their Puppy Raisers, interact with Puppy Raiser, Jane, and her puppy, Cherry, who is a black Labrador, and take part in a dog training demonstration with Sophie and Marie. When one of them scores a point, text on screen declares who has won the point. The final score at the end of the video is; Ellie with 4 points, Richie with 3 points.]

28/08/2026

A lovely mixed bunch of puppies visiting us at the National Centre this week for their checks, all enjoying the fun sensory items we have to keep them entertained, engaged and socialised.

[Visual descriptions: Image one shows a young guide dog puppy (black Labrador cross golden retriever) lying comfortably on a fluffy blanket, with their tongue slightly out. Image two shows a young guide dog puppy (yellow Labrador) sitting half in and half out of a blue play tunnel. Image three shows a young guide dog puppy (black Labrador cross retriever) sitting with their nose very close to a bright green dog toy shaped like a bone. Image four shows a young guide dog puppy (golden retriever) sitting in one of our colourful toy plastic cars.]

26/08/2026

Willow and Georgia are happy to be at the National Centre 😄 Our delightful duo are here for their breeding programme assessments, taking the next step towards becoming potential future guide dog mums 🐾

[Visual descriptions: Image one shows Willow (black Labrador) and Georgia (yellow Labrador cross golden retriever) sitting side by side and looking to camera with happy expressions. Image two shows Georgia sitting in front of a tree with head slightly tilted in quizzical manner. Image three shows Willow sitting in front of a hedge looking to camera with tongue out.]

24/08/2026

Are you a dog lover with room in your home to look after a dog during evenings and weekends?

We need new fosterers in Leamington!

Join our virtual information session today at 12pm to find out more about what’s involved with being a volunteer fosterer for our guide dogs in training.

As a Training Dog Fosterer, you’ll be giving a dog in training a loving home during evenings and weekends, whilst they embark on their journey to become a guide dog.

You’ll be doing the school run for your dog in training – dropping them off and picking them up at an agreed time Monday to Friday at one of our regional centres or community teams (some sites may vary).

Please follow this link to join https://bit.ly/3RofXDT

[Visual description. Image one: A black Labrador lying down on the grass looking at the camera with his tongue out]

19/08/2026

Proof that every shade of yellow is beautiful 💛 From the palest cream to golden coats, our little puppies are all equally adorable.

[Visual descriptions: Image one shows a pale yellow guide dog puppy sitting in a empty blue paddling pool and looking to camera. Image two shows a mid yellow coloured guide dog puppy sitting on a rubber mat at the National Centre looking to camera. Image three shows a dark yellow/golden coloured guide dog puppy sitting on a fleecy dark grey blanket at the National Centre, looking to camera.]

17/08/2026

Not sure that's how you're supposed to play with the toy lawnmower 🤔 Our pups do love their toys!

[Visual description: One of our young guide dog pups (golden retriever) is sitting next to, and chewing, a plastic toy lawnmower.]

15/08/2026

Say hello to Dave and Edna! Following a visit to the National Centre for their puppy checks, this adorable twosome have arrived in Jersey and are already settling into island life with their new volunteer puppy raisers.

This is the next step on their journey to becoming life-changing guide dogs. Best of luck little pups! Find out more about what being a volunteer puppy raiser entails 👉 https://bit.ly/457iGoH

[Visual description: Two young puppies, a yellow Labrador (Dave) and black Labrador cross golden retriever (Edna) are sitting down on paving in a garden, looking at the camera. There are plant pots behind them.]

10/08/2026

Are you a dog lover with room in your home to look after a dog during evenings and weekends? 🐶

Why not join our virtual information session on Monday 24th August (12-1.30pm) to find out more about what’s involved with being a volunteer Training Dog Fosterer for our wonderful guide dogs in training (Just like Maddie and Mabel from the Midlands area) You'll also meet our expert staff who can share more about this role and answer any questions you might have.

Please check this role is available in your area before registering for this webinar 👉 https://bit.ly/4fOrTH5

Register to attend via this link 👉 https://bit.ly/4yVApgb

This gorgeous photo is thanks to our wonderful volunteer Leah who is currently fostering Mabel as her 19th dog! More photos of Mabel can be found via https://www.instagram.com/guidedogdiaries/

[Visual description: Maddie (golden retriever) and Mabel (dark yellow Labrador) are both sitting in a kitchen setting with cute expressions on their happy faces.]

05/08/2026

The little red car has been in high demand so far this week, with plenty of pups keen to call it their own! 🚗

[Visual descriptions: Image one shows a young guide dog puppy (yellow Labrador) draped across a small red toy car looking directly at the camera. Image two shows two young guide dog puppies (yellow Labradors) sitting side by side on a small red toy car looking up to camera. Image three shows a young guide dog puppy (yellow Labrador) sitting up with one paw rested on a small red toy car.]

Address

Banbury Road
Leamington Spa
CV339WF

Telephone

+443451430216

Website

https://www.guidedogs.org.uk/about-us/guide-dogs-centres/what-the-national-centre-does/, https://www.guidedogs.org.uk/ab

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