Breeding

While there are many breeds of dogs that could do the work of a guide dog, some stand head and shoulders above the rest. In our earliest days, most of Guide Dogs for the Blind’s dogs came from animal shelters. It soon became evident that we were looking for something very specific: dogs that not only had excellent health, intelligence, and temperament, but also exhibited a willingness to work, and that thrived on praise. With that in mind, Guide Dogs for the Blind‘s specialized breeding program was started in the late 1940s in an effort to ensure consistent production of dogs with desirable traits.

Labrador Retrievers have proven to have the most success worldwide as guides; at Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB), Labradors constitute the largest percentage of our breeding colony. We also have a smaller percentage of Golden Retrievers and Lab/Golden crosses as well. These breeds offer enough variation to fill the myriad needs of our clients, including:

• Being of a size and weight that are appropriate for working beside a person and riding public transportation
• The ability to live in a variety of climates, thanks to easy-to-care-for double coats

The vast majority of our dogs are bred from our own specially-selected stock, but a percentage are donated from other service dog organizations or guide dog schools, international exchange programs, and other means.

The dogs in our breeding colony and all of their puppies are cared for by our team of experts including full-time veterinarians and technicians, neonatal and breeding specialists, consulting allied professionals, and volunteers.