Shropshire trainee guide dog Solar gets ready for big school

The Labrador is growing fast and is getting ready to make a difference to someone who is blind or visually impaired as their guide dog.

She is already undergoing specialist training in preparation for becoming a fully-fledged guide dog, with intense training classes and day-to-day obedience sessions.

Solar is one of 50 guide dogs being trained in the region and she is currently being trained by the Lees family in Church Stretton.

They took her on when she was only seven-weeks-old and she will stay with them for the early part of her training.

Susan Lees says she has already fallen head over heels in love with her new charge.

And she says the little pup has even become something of a local celebrity.

Mrs Lees said: "Everybody knows who she is, she's been doing really well with her training so it's going to be so hard to let her go now.

"She's an utterly gorgeous dog but she also has a gorgeous temperament.

"I think I might be quite heartbroken when the time comes to let her go but she will go on to make a wonderful guide dog."

Solar will be matched with a new owner towards the end of year, and the Lees family are responsible for the early stages of her training as a guide dog.

Labradors such as Solar are often chosen as guide dogs because of their calm nature, and families that taken them on originally are known as puppy walkers.

Guide Dogs have recently put out a call for more puppy walkers to come forward as they are stepping up their breeding programme, and there is currently a mobility team based in Shrewsbury.

Engagement Officer Laura Clarke believes an ageing population has led to increased demand on guide dogs, and there are currently 43 people in Shropshire alone who are waiting to be matched with a dog.

She said: "We have experienced a big increase on the number of puppy walkers coming forward but we still desperately need help.

"There are 43 people in Shropshire waiting on a guide dog and we have 15 puppies who still need to be placed with foster carers.

"We are hoping to increase the number of dogs on the Shropshire patch to 50, which will make a massive difference to those who really need a guide dog to help them in their day-to-day life.

"Please do come forward, since Solar featured in The Shropshire Star there has been a lot more interest in puppy walking but we still need help."

Guide Dogs can help their owners with various tasks, from crossing the road safely to the weekly shop.

The process of training a guide dog involves 20 months of teaching and a further seven years of support.

For more information, visit www.guidedogs.org.uk