In a heartwarming display at Kingsholm Stadium, a special guard of honour welcomed players ahead of a Premiership Women's Rugby match on Saturday 15 November 2025. The honour guard wasn't composed of fellow athletes, however, but by an adorable line-up of Guide Dogs puppies, all in training to become life-changing assistance dogs.
A Pivotal Part of Puppy Training
The visit formed a crucial part of the puppies' socialisation training, designed to acclimatise them to large crowds and loud noises. Accompanied by their dedicated volunteer puppy raisers, the future guide dogs experienced the vibrant matchday atmosphere as Gloucester Hartpury faced Sale Sharks.
This unique experience helps prepare the dogs for their future roles, ensuring they can confidently and safely navigate the real world alongside their visually impaired owners. The charity emphasised that such events are vital for building the puppies' confidence in diverse environments.
Stars of the Show Meet a Future Star
Among the players running out past the puppy guard was Zoe Stratford, co-captain of Gloucester Hartpury and captain of the England Women's Rugby team. The Red Roses star later shared a special moment with one of the trainees, an 18-month-old Labrador named Bailey.
"It's an absolute pleasure to support Guide Dogs at this Saturday's match," Stratford said. "The work they do changes lives, helping people build confidence, independence, and connection through their amazing dogs. As players, we're proud to stand behind such an incredible cause."
The Vital Role of Volunteers
The event also served to highlight the charity's ongoing need for more volunteers. Sheila Ross, a volunteer from Bristol who attended with her nine-month-old puppy Owain, explained the extensive process. "Many assume guide dogs are born ready to work, but it takes nearly two years of training from birth," she stated.
Ms Ross detailed the importance of their work: "Socialisation is vital because guide dogs need to navigate the real world safely with their future owners. We practise walking in crowds, encountering other dogs, and settling in noisy or busy environments. This prepares them to give their future owners as normal a life as possible."
She added that since many visually impaired people enjoy sports, training puppies to adapt to venues and crowds is particularly important.
Volunteers are the foundation of the Guide Dogs charity, with breeding stock holders and puppy raisers forming the essential first link in a chain that leads to a life-changing partnership. Before formal training begins, each puppy spends its early years with a volunteer puppy raiser to learn basic cues and build confidence.
Genevieve Shore, executive chairwoman of Premiership Women's Rugby, expressed her delight at welcoming the charity. "It's fantastic to welcome Guide Dogs to a PWR fixture this weekend," she said. "Their work has a life-changing impact on hundreds of thousands of people living with a vision impairment."
The charity revealed that it costs approximately £77,000 to breed, raise, and train each guide dog, relying almost entirely on public donations and volunteers to continue its transformative work. The match concluded with a 40-24 victory for Gloucester Hartpury, making it a winning day for both the home team and a very special group of canine trainees.
