The first guide dog puppies of 2026 have arrived, with a litter of ten born on January 7 near Kidderminster. The puppies, six males and four females, were delivered at a volunteer's home starting at 6:40am, with the first pup weighing 540g.
The litter is a cross between Tabitha, a two-year-old black Labrador, and Harris, a five-year-old Golden Retriever who has fathered 18 guide dog litters. Half the puppies are black, half golden yellow, reflecting their parents' colours.
The pairing was selected by Guide Dogs' breeding programme to combine the best traits for guide work, including intelligence, temperament, and work ethic. The parents live year-round with volunteer breeding dog families.
Janine Dixon, breeding and welfare operations lead at Guide Dogs, said: 'It’s always a joyous occasion when the first guide dog puppies of the year are born. They are at the very start of a long journey, and have a great deal to learn before they can become qualified guide dogs in 2027.'
The puppies will be named in the coming weeks. At around eight weeks old, they will leave their mother for vaccination, microchipping, and health checks before moving to volunteer Puppy Raisers across the UK. Guide Dogs aims to breed 1,200 to 1,300 puppies this year to meet demand.
