Borders Guide dog puppies' training takes off at National Museum of Flight
Guide dog puppies from the Scottish Borders touched down at the National Museum of Flight in East Lothian as part of their early training.
Pups Bill, Elba, Jenny, Kell, Kez, Marty, Vinny and Wray had a first-class experience climbing aboard Scotland’s only Concorde, as well as exploring the different hangars, aircraft collection and airfield.
Outings are an important part of a guide dog puppy’s socialisation, helping develop their confidence in unfamiliar and busy environments.
Gillian Salmon, a Guide Dogs puppy development advisor, said: “The National Museum of Flight is a fantastic venue, offering a rich learning experiences for our puppies, including access onto the Concorde.
“The aircraft steps were a great opportunity for our pups to practice boarding and disembarking. On the day there was a lot of noise, hustle and bustle with large tour groups arriving, which was great exposure for our dogs.
“We’re very grateful for the opportunity to hold a puppy class at this wonderful facility and we would like to thank the team for their hospitality.”
Volunteer puppy raisers look after a guide dog puppy in their home for around a year before the pup begins formal training. The charity said more than 100 puppy raisers are needed every month to meet demand.
Steve McLean, National Museum of Flight general manager, said: “We were delighted to welcome the puppies as part of their early training – it’s clear to see they are all jet set for success.”
For more details on volunteering, visit www.guidedogs.org.uk/volunteering.