Guide Dogs North East

23/06/2026

Our dogs have been finding new ways to stay cool during the warm weather! ☀️🐾

Guide dog puppy Jayne enjoyed a frozen Kong after an early morning walk, while Honey kept cool indoors by watching the football from the comfort of the living room. They're staying cool while still having plenty of fun. 💛

With temperatures continuing to rise, here are a few simple ways you can help keep your own dog cool and comfortable:

* Walk your dog in the early morning or later in the evening when it's cooler. 🌅
* Make sure they always have access to plenty of fresh, clean water. 💧
* Check pavements before heading out – if it's too hot for the back of your hand, it's too hot for their paws. 🐾
* Swap longer walks for enrichment games and puzzles at home. 🧩
* Never leave a dog unattended in a car, even for a few minutes. 🚗
* Try and create a cool space indoors where they can relax. 🏡

Some dogs are more affected by the heat than others, particularly older dogs and those with underlying health conditions, so always keep a close eye on how they're coping.

For more advice on caring for dogs during hot weather, visit the Guide Dogs website.

[Visual description: Guide dog puppies keeping cool during the warm weather. In the first image, yellow Labrador x Golden Retriever Jayne stands on a patio holding a red frozen Kong toy in her mouth after an early morning walk, with a garden in the background. In the second, black Labrador x Golden Retriever Honey sits on a rug watching a football match on the television in a cool dark living room.]

18/06/2026

We tagged along to a puppy socialisation visit at Yorkshire Air Museum this week to see some of our future life changers in action and caught up with some of our amazing volunteers about their experience of raising a guide dog puppy 🐾

Every new sight, sound and experience helps build a puppy's confidence as they prepare for their future role supporting someone with sight loss. A huge thank you to Yorkshire Air Museum for welcoming us and helping provide such a fantastic environment for our puppies to explore and learn.

Inspired to get involved? We're looking for more volunteer Puppy Raisers across Yorkshire and the North East. Find out more and apply via the following link: https://bit.ly/4ts1QLl

[Visual description: A montage of guide dog puppies and volunteers exploring the Yorkshire Air Museum. Puppies walk around historic aircraft, inside hangars and across different surfaces as part of a socialisation visit, meeting people and taking in new sights and sounds. Volunteers Steve and Julie speak to camera to share their experiences of raising a guide dog puppy, interspersed with clips of the puppies playing, training and confidently exploring the museum environment.]

17/06/2026

Making new friends! 🦁

Guide dog puppy Jim stopped to say hello to a Pride of Yorkshire lion sculpture during a visit to Endcliffe Park today 💛

[Visual description: Golden retriever puppy Jim stands on his hind legs with his front paws resting on a stone plinth, gently touching noses with a colourful lion sculpture in Endcliffe Park, Sheffield. The lion is painted in bright shades of yellow, pink and black with decorative patterns.]

Our expert staff, volunteers and life-changing guide dogs help people with sight loss live the life they choose.

14/06/2026

Love dogs? Looking for a rewarding career where no two days are the same? 🐾

We're recruiting three Academy Guide Dog Mobility Specialists to join our Guide Dogs Academy in Sheffield.

Guide Dogs Academy is where our future Guide Dog Mobility Specialists learn the skills and knowledge needed to create life-changing partnerships between guide dogs and people with sight loss.

As part of the programme, you'll train alongside experienced professionals, learning how to work with guide dogs in training and support people with sight loss to build confidence and independence with their guide dog.

Want to learn more? Join our online information session on Tuesday 16 June at 6pm.

🐶 Apply here: https://bit.ly/4olKgXS

💻 Register for the webinar: https://bit.ly/4omHamu

Applications close on 22 June.

[Image description: A guide dog owner and a black x Labrador Golden Retriever guide dog walk through a town centre, with a Guide Dog Mobility Specialist walking alongside.]

11/06/2026

Remember Aniyah?

We've previously shared how her confidence has grown since being matched with her buddy dog, Spirit. Well now she's taken her story even further, appearing on CBBC Newsround! 🎉

In the feature, Aniyah, who lives in Grimsby, talks about living with sight loss, the difference Spirit has made to her life, and why she decided to take on a fundraising challenge to support Guide Dogs.

We're incredibly proud of everything Aniyah has achieved and for helping to raise awareness of the impact buddy dogs can have for children and young people with a vision impairment 💛🐾

You can watch Aniyah's interview via the link below:

Aniyah's buddy dog Spirit has helped her to take on a big challenge. Nina has been to find out all about it.

05/06/2026

POV: It's Friday and you've just finished work 😆🐾

Guide dog puppy Oz who is being puppy raised in Sheffield was clearly feeling the weekend vibes!

[Visual description: Two photos of guide dog puppy Oz running through a grassy field towards the camera. Oz is a pale yellow Labrador puppy with floppy ears that are bouncing and flapping n different directions as he runs. His tail is held high and he looks focused and determined.]

04/06/2026

Could you help raise a future guide dog like Pippin?

We're urgently looking for volunteer puppy raisers in Berwick and the surrounding areas to help give our puppies the best possible start in life.

As a puppy raiser, you'll welcome a guide dog puppy into your home, support their early training and socialisation, and help them on their journey to changing someone's life.

Interested but not sure what's involved? Come and chat to us at the Volunteer Fair at Berwick Library tomorrow!

📍 Berwick Library
📅 Friday 5 June
⏰ 10am–2pm

Or visit our website to find out more and apply: https://bit.ly/4ts1QLl 💛

[Visual description: A close-up photo of golden retriever puppy Pippin standing and surrounded by lush green grass. The puppy is looking directly into the camera with a happy, curious expression, its nose filling much of the frame and its mouth slightly open in what looks like a smile.]

02/06/2026

This Volunteers' Week, we're saying a huge thank you to all our incredible volunteers across the North East 💛

From puppy raisers and fosterers to fundraisers, speakers, drivers and so many other important roles, your time, dedication and support help make a difference to people with sight loss every day.

Future guide dog puppy Meg recently visited the Angel of the North with her volunteer Puppy Raiser Erika as part of her early socialisation journey. Volunteers play a vital role in helping puppies like Meg build the confidence and skills they need for the future.

While we're celebrating all our volunteers this week, we're also looking for more volunteer puppy raisers across the North East and training dog fosterers in Newcastle.

Could you help support the next generation of guide dogs?

Find out more: https://bit.ly/4fm2Eh2

[Visual description: Yellow Labrador x Golden Retriever guide dog puppy Meg sits attentively beside her volunteer puppy raiser Erika beneath the Angel of the North in Gateshead. Taken from a low angle, the image captures the iconic sculpture towering overhead with its wings stretching across the cloudy sky. The puppy looks up towards Erika, who smiles down at her while holding the lead.]

01/06/2026

We’re proud to be part of Crowns for Causes, a new campaign with Postcode Lottery UK X Strava that turns your everyday activity into life-changing donations for Guide Dogs!

Whether you walk, run, wheel, skate, sail, or simply move more, every challenge completed can unlock £50 for Guide Dogs - funded by Postcode Lottery.

There are three challenges across June, July and August, and every step could help people with sight loss live actively, independently and well.

Choose Guide Dogs. Complete your challenge. Unlock your Crown. 👑

Sign up today: https://bit.ly/4uA7prZ

[Image Description: red image with white text 'Unlock £££ for Guide Dogs on Strava'. Guide Dogs logo appears in top left corner in yellow on navy background, bottom left is Postcode Lottery logo in white, bottom right is Strava logo in white. Crowns for Causes logo is central in white. A blue and orange curved line runs through the image]

28/05/2026

Thursday trainee update 🐾

Jester joined our Newcastle team in April and has been making great progress as he begins the next stage of his journey towards hopefully becoming a future guide dog 💛

Since arriving, he’s been learning the foundational behaviours needed for guiding work and has recently been introduced to the guide dog harness for the very first time.

He’s especially enjoying learning “head in”, a cue for our dogs to place their head into the harness ready to begin guiding, and is settling into training brilliantly ✨

Good luck, Jester – we can’t wait to see your confidence and skills continue to grow!

[Visual description: Two photos of black Labrador x Golden Retriever guide dog in training Jester. In the first image, Jester sits indoors holding a large pink soft toy in his mouth while looking towards the camera with gentle brown eyes. In the second image, Jester sits outside in the sunshine on a pavement wearing a bright yellow Guide Dogs training flash and lead, looking happy and alert.]