New Breeding Dogs

 

In an exciting development for the RSB Guide Dog Service, two female breeding dogs have arrived from Europe to join the Service. Opal, a Labrador Retriever, has come from Norway, while Casey, a black Labrador Retriever has come from the UK.  They were accompanied to Australia in October by Mr Alan Brooks of the International Federation of Guide Dog Schools, and have completed a spell in quarantine.

 

Not just any breeding dogs, Opal and Casey are from proven guide dog stock, meaning they are expected to produce pups with a much greater chance of succeeding as an RSB Guide Dog.  Not only that, it will enable diversification of Australian stock while producing dogs with a range of traits and characteristics suitable for this role. Having such a selection is important when it comes to accurately matching an RSB Guide Dog with a client.

 

Opal and Casey’s other special feature is that they have both been donated to the RSB Guide Dog Service by overseas guide dog schools; a substantial gift.

 

Chris Muldoon, Manager, RSB Guide Dog Service says, “This donation gives us the opportunity to develop our local breeding program, augmented by stock that has many years of proven work as guide dogs within other schools.  This will potentially result in higher quality pups and therefore more effective working dogs.  There are now also opportunities to develop other aspects of the Service, which for South Australians who are blind or vision impaired, ultimately means a better level of service and higher quality of working dog.  Alan Brooks, Guide Dog Norge AS in Norway, Guide Dogs for the Blind in the UK and AQIS, who monitor quarantine in Australia, are all to be thanked for their role in facilitating this wonderful opportunity.”

 

RSB Guide Dog Service staff will not need to brush up on their Norwegian or alter their English accent to instruct Opal and Casey.  “It’s all in the intonation and hand gestures, not actual words,” said Mr Brooks. 

 

Opal and Casey will each live with an RSB volunteer, joining their family unit on a permanent basis.  The two dogs will be kept fit and healthy before they come into season next year.

 

“We are all looking forward to the birth of our first foreign litter from our special mums and having multicultural dogs in the Service,” said Chris.

 

The RSB Guide Dog Service is proudly supported by Royal Canin.