Here's a few photos of our lovely sponsored guide dog Champ at Claremount Beach!
Thanks to his raiser Kathy for these great shots! :-)
Callum, who works in our kennels in Cork is taking care of Hank at home for now.
Here he is getting his daily exercise on a Cork beach, keeping within 2k from home ;-)
Introducing our new Irish Guide Dog pups - Pebbles, Pepe and Percy.
As part of the ongoing sponsorship Rosie & Jim are funding three new puppies for two years. The €30,000 sponsorship covers their vitally important training. With more than 270,000 people who have a visual impairment in Ireland and over 1% of the population impacted by autism, the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind works tirelessly to facilitate those affected by providing them guide and assistance dogs. The average cost of training a dog is in the region of €53,000 and the charity rely on 85% of their funding through sponsorship like this and fundraising to continue to deliver their vital services for free throughout Ireland. Their services are offered free of charge.
John Burke of Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind said:
“Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind is proud to have Rosie & Jim come on board once again with this wonderful support. We are very fortunate to have such valued supporters who have been instrumental in helping to train our dogs and to truly help change lives. As the P litter enter their puppy raising phase and on to their formal training, we look forward to updating you all on their progress. Thank you again for the amazing support”
The puppies were named by our lovely customers in a competition. Thanks to our winners Sinead Walker, Emer Mary Breen & Sinead O'Rouke for these great names - Pebbles, Pepe and Percy!
Here is the adorable Izzy (and friends) on her recent trip to Connemara over the holidays.
Thanks to her raiser Emma for these gorgeous photos. She's a stunning dog and looks like she's loving life with her friends.
Champ has been moved to the Guide Dog Programme and away from the Assistance Dog programme (for a child with autism) because of the strong levels of confidence he has begun to display! He's making excellent progress and he is displaying all the rights traits to be good Guide Dog. Well done Champ! We're proud of you :)
Here is Pebbles, lovely photos and a great detailed update from puppy raiser, Niamh...
“Pebbles is now 8 months old and her confidence is growing more each week. She has been to Smyths and Nimble Fingers where she walks beautifully past the plushies even though these are her absolute favourite. She has been to many restaurants and cafés and has patiently accompanied her raiser grocery shopping in Dunnes and ALDI. The sheep figure outside Fenelons butcher in Stillorgan caused her some consternation at first but now she sails past - even though her nose tilts towards the aromas wafting from the butcher. She visited Dundrum Shopping Centre in the evening when it was quiet and popped into the cinema for a brief visit to a movie. She was alarmed at first walking into the darkness but an offer of cheese sealed the deal and she lay down happily keeping her attention on the lovely treats she received while she was there. She has met her brother Pepe and another trainee puppy called Dillon for free runs and her recall is strong even when she's zooming around with her friends”
We're thrilled to hear she is doing so well. And she got to meet her brother Pepe - one of our other sponsored dogs. Well done Pebbles! 
Hank and his puppy raiser, Bernadette, are doing really well. He is settling down a lot she said and really concentrating on his training.
Kathy sent on some gorgeous photos of Champ. As you can see he is doing really well and is currenty on his holidays in Wicklow :)
Izzy on a recent trip to Connemara. Training is going really well with Emma and Izzy is proving to be a very confident and outgoing little one.
The dogs are now back training properly, albeit with some necessary restrictions in place but none impactful on the dogs at all.
Here is Champ out training in Cork with trainer, Cliodhna. He has his Guide Dog harness and training is all going very well.
Izzy is working with trainer Ciara and is going to soon graduate as a Guide Dog.
Hank has been working with trainer, Martin and he should be able to begin training with the family soon.
Here he is with his blue harness which denotes him as a proud Assistance Dog graduate! He has been matched to a family in Cork who’s son has autism and will begin home training with them in the next week or so. Strict measures will be in place for the trainers as they work with the family and PPE equipment will be used.
We're thrilled to see the first of the three dogs graduate on to one of the programmes! Well done Hank!
Some lovely photos of Hank with, Yoko, who is being minded by his puppy raiser, Bernadette, for a few days. He is really enjoying himself with his new friend. Training is going well for him. He is finding his independence and displaying a better temperament each week.
It’s hard to believe that two years have come to an end but we are thrilled that the support we have given to Irish Guide Dogs now has a happy ending for all.
We are delighted to report the outcome of the 3 pups we sponsored back at the end of 2018 have had the following results:
Izzy – is now a Guide Dog with a lady in Cork
Champ – is now a Guide Dog with a gentleman in Louth
Hank – is now an Assistance Dog for a family in Cork who’s son has autism. He has been in training with them since last month.
Amazing! Well done to the Team of raisers and trainers at Irish Guide Dogs!
"We really cannot thank you enough for all you have done for the 3 dogs and indeed those three lives you have truly changed. We are so very grateful and thank you sincerely."
- John Burke of Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind
Thanks to Kathy, Champ's minder for taking these wonderful photos of Champ. He had the company of another puppy, Orbit, in training recently. How cute are they together?!
His training going very well. He is excellent in the house apart from waking up too early! He is walking very well, stops a bit to check things out but quickly continues on. His recall is very good.
He is growing into a fine handsome dog and loves his free runs away from the training.
What they did next. A little update on our sponsored Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind. We're proud to say...
Hank (left) is an Assistance Dog for a family of a child with autism in Cork;
Izzy (middle) is a Guide Dog based in Cork and
Champ (right) is a Guide Dog based in County Louth.
We're so pleased to be sponsoring such a life changing charity.
So pleased in fact that we are going to sponsor 3 more puppies this year!
Watch this space for full announcement (and cute photos!) very soon.
