Guide Dogs North East

05/09/2026

She did it! 🏆🐾

We are so happy that guide dog Isha, who was trained by our Sheffield team, has won the animal category at BBC Radio Sheffield’s Make a Difference Awards!

Isha has transformed the life of her guide dog owner Lee, giving him greater independence and confidence and joining him on all kinds of adventures, from ballroom dancing and jiu-jitsu to climbing Yr Wyddfa.

We’re absolutely delighted for this wonderful partnership.

Congratulations, Lee and Isha! 💛

04/09/2026

Some of our guide dog puppies have been on a school trip! 🎒🐾

While pups at this age haven’t yet started ‘big school’, they still learn so much during the puppy raising stage.

Accompanied by their volunteer Puppy Raisers, this week puppies Kraken, Toby, Tommy, Genevieve, Wheat and Wendie explored The Alnwick Garden, encountering lots of new sights, sounds and smells along the way. Visits like this help them become confident and comfortable in different environments, preparing them for the next stage of their training.

We urgently need more volunteer Puppy Raisers in Alnwick and across North Northumberland. Could you help give a future guide dog the best possible start?

Find out more and apply: https://bit.ly/4ts1QLl

A huge thank you to The Alnwick Garden for welcoming our puppies and volunteers 💛

[Visual description: A selection of photos shows guide dog puppies and their volunteer Puppy Raisers exploring The Alnwick Garden. The group poses together in front of the Garden’s large fountain, while other images show individual puppies walking through the grounds, enjoying the different surroundings and visiting the Guide Dogs recruitment stand.]

03/09/2026

School bags packed and lunches ready… it’s time to head back to school! 🎒🐾

Some of our four-legged pupils in Leeds, Newcastle and Sheffield have been posing for their own first-day-back photos.

Meet Gabbie, Bouncer, Oslo, Pepper, Selma and Kath! They may not be heading into a classroom to practise their times tables, but they still have plenty to learn – from stopping at kerbs and navigating obstacles to finding doors, ignoring distractions and travelling confidently on public transport. All so they can confidently and safely support someone with sight loss to live the life they choose.

Please join us in wishing our class of 2026/27 lots of luck for the term ahead! 💛

Visual description: Six dogs in training pose with school-themed props and guide dog equipment. Gabbie, a golden retriever, sits beside a personalised kit bag, books and stationery. Bouncer, a yellow labrador x golden retriever, sits with a named school bag, books, toys and a lunchbox. Oslo, a golden retriever, lies beside a personalised bag, stationery, books and a guide dog harness. Pepper, a black and tan german shepherd x golden retriever, stands beside guide dog equipment in front of a Guide Dogs vehicle. Selma, a black labrador x golden retriever, sits surrounded by a school bag, books, toys, stationery and a lunchbox. Kath, a black labrador x golden retriever, sits outside a wooden door beside a blue bag, with her guide dog harness hanging behind her.

01/09/2026

“Isha really has changed my life. She’s amazing, she’s with me every day… she’s my best furry friend.”

After losing his sight almost overnight, Lee from Barnsley says being partnered with guide dog Isha has transformed his independence and confidence.

The pair are rarely at home, with Lee embracing everything from ballroom dancing and jiu-jitsu to climbing Yr Wyddfa and taking on a charity zip line!

Isha has now been shortlisted for a BBC Radio SheffieldMake a Difference Award – we wish them both the very best of luck for the awards this week! 💙🐾

Listen to Lee’s story here:

Lee Roberts lost his sight after getting sepsis his guide dog Isha has changed his life.

28/08/2026

26/08/2026

This National Dog Day, we’re celebrating the wonderful bond between our dogs and the people who support them through every step of their training 🦮

Guide Dog Trainers like Elysha get to know every dog as an individual: their personality, what motivates them and how to help them learn. Along the way they build a pretty special bond 💛

Here, trainee guide dogs Logan and Kath are enjoying some well-earned downtime with Elysha during their training in Leeds! 🐾

[Visual description: Two photos show Guide Dog Trainer Elysha enjoying time with trainee guide dogs Logan and Kath in Leeds. In the first, she kneels beside Logan, a yellow Labrador x Golden Retriever, affectionately holding his face in a sunny field. In the second, she smiles at black Labrador x Golden Retriever Kath lying beside her on the grass.]

25/08/2026

We think seven-month-old Sammy has got Tongue Out Tuesday nailed 👅

This handsome pup lives in Holmfirth with his puppy raiser and he certainly knows how to pose for the camera! 💛

[Visual description: Two photos of yellow Labrador x Golden Retriever puppy Sammy sitting on the grass outdoors. He is looking directly towards the camera with his tongue out, surrounded by sunlit greenery.]

Could you give a puppy like Sammy a loving home while helping prepare them for their future? Find out more about becoming a volunteer Puppy Raiser on our website: https://bit.ly/4ts1QLl

24/08/2026

Do you live in or near Leeds and have a child with sight loss aged 0-4 years old?

Join our My Time to Play group sessions for stories, songs, and other sensory activities, all designed to help your child develop new skills and build confidence 🪇

Key details:

🗓️ Fortnightly sessions starting 4th September from 12:00pm until 1:45pm
📍The Marjorie and Arnold Ziff Community Centre, 311 Stonegate Road, Leeds (LS17 6AZ)
🎟️ Sessions are free - just see the details below to sign up

To find out more about the sessions in Leeds or your local area, follow the link to complete an enquiry form: https://www.guidedogs.org.uk/getting-support/getting-in-touch-form/

Alternatively, you can contact our local team: [email protected] / 0800 781 1444

[Visual Description: a young girl wearing a pink jumper and blue glasses is smiling with her hand outstretched, palm open. There's a woman sat on the floor next to her, looking down smiling, and another person opposite with their open palm outstretched to meet that of the young girl.]

21/08/2026

Budgie is flying into the weekend after taking part in her very first recall session! 🐦💨

This little high-flyer is just three months old and is now living in Gateshead with her volunteer puppy raiser, and judging by those ears, she’s certainly living up to her name! 💛

[Visual description: Yellow Labrador x Golden Retriever puppy Budgie bounds towards the camera along a grassy path, with all four paws off the ground and her ears lifted in the air. Her puppy raiser follows behind beneath a cloudy sky.]