These adorable photos show the first litter of Guide Dogs puppies born in 2026, the first of more than 1,200 pups due to arrive this year. Ten puppies, including six boys and four girls, were born in the litter on January 7 at home with a volunteer near Kidderminster from 6.40am. The first to arrive was a little boy, weighing in at a healthy 540g.
They belong to parents Tabitha, a two-year-old black Labrador and first-time mum, and Harris, a five-year-old Golden Retriever and dad to 18 guide dog litters so far. The puppies are an adorable mix of colours from their two parents, with half of the puppies black and the other half golden yellow.
The puppy parents were handpicked by the Guide Dogs breeding programme. They create a ‘best of both’ for guide dog work, as the crossbreeds are known for outstanding intelligence, love of work and great temperament. They live year-round with families signed up to be Guide Dogs Breeding Dog Volunteers.
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 adorable pups are due to be named in the next few weeks. At around eight weeks old, the 10 puppies will leave mum to be vaccinated, microchipped and health-checked, before heading off to their volunteer Puppy Raisers around the UK.
Each year, Guide Dogs looks to breed between 1,200 and 1,300 puppies to help with the growing need for guide dogs. The charity is on the lookout for more volunteers to help raise the pups and help them along their journey to becoming qualified guide dogs.
Janine Dixon added: “It’s an incredibly rewarding role raising a tiny pup into a confident young adult."
