What We Do: 10. Breeding Staff Trip to UK

JGDA’s breeding and research team has a mission to ensure a stable supply of healthy puppies with a suitable temperament for guide dogs. With about 50 breeding dogs, we whelp around 100 puppies a year at Fuji-Harness, our breeding facility in Shizuoka Prefecture.

Introducing new bloodlines that are not present in the colony is very important for a well-balanced supply of puppies. We cooperate with guide dog schools and breeders domestically and internationally to exchange breeding dogs and frozen semen.

In November 2023, our breeding staff and international affairs staff visited the UK to meet with our experienced breeding consultants and visit labrador and golden retriever breeders to make new partnerships.

We also had the opportunity to see one of the puppies we sent to Guide Dogs UK (GDUK). She was doing great and we were happy to meet all the hardworking staff at the GDUK National Centre near Leamington Spa. They whelp about 1200 puppies every year, which is about 10 times more than our school.　

The staff gave us a tour of their beautiful facility, including the breeding laboratory, whelping block, puppy block, veterinary clinic and fun gift shop. It was impressive to see lovely photos of their past breeding dogs were displayed on the wall throughout the centre.  

Quality breeding is the first step to producing quality guide dogs. We will continue our key work to provide safe and comfortable mobility with guide dogs to the vision impaired in Japan.