Guide Dogs National Centre

Home
United Kingdom
Royal Leamington Spa
Guide Dogs National Centre

Call Directions Website Contact the organisation

Guide Dogs is the UK’s leading sight loss charity. We’re here to help people with sight loss live the life they choose.
(1)

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 homes 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]

16/10/2026

We think guide dog mum Pippa is very much enjoying and channelling those Friday feels during some supervised playtime!🐾

[Video description: A short video which shows guide dog mum Pippa (yellow Labrador) swinging a dog toy on a rope around and around in a larged fenced in area at the National Centre. She goes one way then turns and skips around in the other direction - she is very much enjoying her play!]

14/10/2026

What happens next for our young guide dog puppies after their health checks at the National Centre? 🐾

Meet two such pups - Badger and Biscuit, siblings who have been on a big adventure, flying with Loganair from Southampton to their new homes in Jersey! ✈️

After their health checks, our pups are placed with volunteer puppy raisers, who will help them build confidence, learn new skills and experience the world around them.

Badger and Biscuit will spend around 12-16 months with their puppy raisers before returning to the UK to hopefully begin their formal training to become guide dogs.

A huge thank you to Loganair for supporting Guide Dogs with flights to and from Jersey for our puppies and Puppy Development Advisors 👏

[Visual descriptions: Image one shows one of our Puppy Development Advisors smiling and holding one of the puppies, a black golden retriever cross Labrador, onboard the flight. Image two shows two cabin crew members smiling at the top of the stairs leading up to the plane, with one crew member holding Biscuit and the other holding Badger. Image three shows one of the puppies sitting very nicely in front of a seat onboard the flight, with Guide Dogs branded leads visible. Image four shows two of our Puppy Development Advisors smiling and sitting onboard the flight, each holding a puppy in their arms. Photo's thanks to Guide Dogs South West]

12/10/2026

Golden girls 🌞

Five gorgeous girls recently visited the National Centre for their breeding programme assessments, taking an exciting step towards becoming potential future guide dog mums.

Meet Ottie, Rosie, Clio, Yalena, and Costa 💛

[Visual descriptions: Image one shows Ottie (golden retriever) sitting in a sandy area at the National Centre looking up to camera with happy expression. Image two shows Rosie (yellow Labrador) and Clio (golden retriever) sitting side by side in a grassy fenced in area at the National Centre. Both are wearing happy expressions. Image three shows Yalena (yellow Labrador cross golden retriever) standing on a concrete pathway surrounded by grass verges. Image four shows Costa (golden retriever) sitting in a sandy area at the National Centre. Costa's tongue is lolling out and there’s a concrete play tunnel in the background.]

09/10/2026

Have you visited our charity shop at our Midlands Regional Centre? 🛍️

The shop is open again, following on from closing its doors temporarily earlier in the year for maintenance work.

Current stock includes Halloween decorations and costumes, and lots of bargains, perfect for Christmas presents 🎄

The shop's located at Edmondscote Manor, Warwick New Road, Leamington Spa, CV32 6AH and open Monday to Friday, 13:00 to 16:00, and Saturdays, 11:00 to 16:00. Happy shopping!

[Visual descriptions: Image one shows one of our guide dogs in training (German Shepherd) sitting in front of our charity shop with a "Guide Dogs" branded banner. The shop has shelves filled with various items, including books, toys, and household goods. Image two shows a person behind our shops counter, smiling while holding a payment terminal. Another person is stood on the other side of the counter extending a hand to make a payment. Image three shows a guide dogs in training (German Shepherd) inside our shops changing room with patterned curtains partially open. A sign above the dog reads "Changing Room Open." Shelves with various items are visible in the background, along with a small table.]

07/10/2026

Most of our guide dog puppy litters are born in the homes of our wonderful breeding dog volunteers, but some are born at the National Centre - just like guide dog mum Langley’s litter of three boys and six girls 💛

Dad is black Labrador Joseph 🐾

[Visual descriptions: All the pups in the images are approximately four weeks old, and mum is nearby, even if she isn’t visible in the images. Image one shows guide dog mum Langley (yellow Labrador cross golden retriever) sitting outside in one of the National Centre’s fenced, grassed areas. Four of her pups (yellow Labrador/golden retriever) are gathered around her. Image two shows a close-up of three of Langley’s pups (one black and two yellow) resting their heads on a member of staff’s leg – one pup only has its nose visible! Image three shows one of Langley’s pups sitting on top of a colourful plastic educational toy covered in letters and buttons. Another pup is sitting beside the toy and sniffing it. Image four shows one of Langley’s litter (a black pup) looking angelic while sitting on grass in a penned-in area of the National Centre. Image five shows one of Langley’s litter with its two front paws perched on top of a colourful plastic educational toy covered in letters and buttons.]

05/10/2026

Just two, but two perfectly synchronised pups, caught on camera during this week’s puppy intake for health checks, before heading off to their volunteer puppy raisers 🐾

[Visual descriptions: Image one shows two guide dog puppies (approx. eight weeks old. One black and one yellow Labrador) are running towards camera side by side in a grassy area in perfect sync. Image two shows a young guide dog puppy (yellow Labrador) looking to camera in a grassy area. Image three shows a young guide dog puppy (black Labrador) standing in a grassy area looking to camera, Behind the pup is a brown and blue fluffy blanket.]

02/10/2026

A special reunion for guide dog mum Uni 🐾

Retired guide dog mum Unique (Uni) recently reunited with two of her daughters - guide dog Loney and pet dog Dora, for the first time since they were pups.

The sisters have followed different paths, but the shared family traits are there! Loney’s owner Mandy says Uni, Loney, and Dora share many of the same characteristics, including the occasional case of “adventure paws”

Now enjoying retirement with her breeding dog volunteer, Uni is very proud of both her daughters 💛

Mandy continues "As a guide dog owner, it’s wonderful to find out about Loney’s life before I met her and hear about all the antics the litter got up to. Breeding dog volunteers work so hard in those first few weeks to give guide dog puppies the best start in life."

[Visual description: Guide dog Loney, black Labrador cross golden retriever wearing Guide Dogs hraness, Uni, golden retriever, and Dora, black Labrador cross golden retriever are sitting gether on a gravel path in front of a hedge row at the park. Photo thanks to Guide Dogs South West]

30/09/2026

Our pups have access to a range of stimulating toys at the National Centre to support their early socialisation. Many of these are generously donated by our supporters through our Amazon Wishlist 👉
https://bit.ly/3Z7aLFV

Our puppies thank you and are very grateful! 🐾

[Visual descriptions: All puppies in images are aged approx. eight weeks old. Image one shows a guide dog puppy (yellow Labrador) chewing an orange coloured fabric dog toy. Image two shows a guide dog puppy (black Labrador) sniffing a bright green rubber bone toy. Image three shows a guide dog puppy (yellow Labrador) sitting nicely next to a multi-coloured stuffed dog toy. Image four shows a guide dog puppy (golden retriever) lying down with some chewable rubber toy keys between their paws. Image five shows a guide dog puppy (black Labrador) sitting next to a brown coloured stuffed toy rabbit.]

28/09/2026

How many guide dog puppies can you fit on a dog bed? 🐶

Lots of cheeky, playful pups have been at the National Centre this week for their checks, enjoying some quality time with their littermates 🐾

[Visual descriptions: All puppies are approximately eight weeks old and yellow Labradors. Image one shows five guide dog puppies standing in a huddled group on a dog bed. Some are looking towards the camera while others are looking away. Image two shows two guide dog puppies sitting next to each other on a dog bed. One puppy is sitting nicely facing the camera, while the other has their back to the camera and is looking at their reflection in a mirror, with tail waving in front of the other puppy’s face. Image three shows one guide dog puppy lying inside a black play tunnel, chewing a red plush toy, while another puppy walks into the tunnel over the first puppy’s head. Image four shows two guide dog puppies standing next to a black play tunnel. One puppy is chewing the side of the tunnel.]

25/09/2026

We have a range of wonderful volunteers who open up their homes to care for, socialise, train and, most importantly, love our guide dog puppies during their important first year from birth 🐾

So, what happens next in their guide dog journey? It’s time to start guide dog training school.

Our guide dogs will typically begin their formal training at around 14 months old at one of our Guide Dogs’ centres. Here, they’ll learn skills and responses to verbal, visual and environmental cues, all taught through marker training.

Ellis, Zalia and Bobbie have recently joined our training team in Leamington. They work alongside our skilled trainers and are cared for by them, and our dedicated dog wellbeing staff - either on site or at home with our amazing volunteer fosterers.

We're looking for more volunteers to foster our guide dogs in training in the Leamington area - follow this link to find out more about the role 👉 https://bit.ly/45aVumO

[Visual descriptions: Photos thanks to Leamington Guide Dogs Dog Care Team. Image one shows guide dog in training Ellis (German shepherd) lying down nicely in a cafe wearing a Guide Dogs training harness. Image two shows guide dog in training Zalia (yellow Labrador x golden retriever) sitting in a shopping centre wearing a Guide Dogs training harness. Image three shows guide dog in training Bobbie (yellow Labrador) lying nicely underneath her trainer’s legs.]

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

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Guide Dogs National Centre posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organisation

Send a message to Guide Dogs National Centre:

Want your organisation to be the top-listed non profit organisation in Royal Leamington Spa?