Guide dog puppies have a pawsome railway day in Basingstoke
It is a vital part of guide dog training
A delightful team of guide dog puppies has pawed their way through a special training session at Basingstoke station, hosted by South Western Railway (SWR) in partnership with Guide Dogs, supporting those navigating sight loss.
In a tail-wagging celebration of International Guide Dog Day on 29th April, the puppies enjoyed an exciting morning at one of SWR's busiest stops, encountering an array of sights, sounds, and smells crucial for their future adventures on railway journeys.
This cheerful session is a vital part of turning these adorable pups into life-changing partners for people with sight loss, teaching them tail-tingling tasks like sniffing out the ticket gates, finding their way around the platforms, hopping on and off trains, riding lifts, and more.
Michael Adlington, Accessibility and Inclusion Lead at SWR, said:
“It’s always a joy to welcome Guide Dogs, their puppies and their volunteer raisers to our stations as part of our commitment to helping all customers travel independently and with confidence.
These sessions are a small but vital part of the puppies’ preparation to become life-changing companions for people with sight loss.
Our colleagues assisted 315,000 journeys in the last year and are on hand to help customers, whether they pre-book or simply turn up and go.”
Georgina Wingham, Puppy Development Advisor for Guide Dogs, said:
“Our puppies are looked after in the homes of our amazing volunteer puppy raisers for 12-16 months until the pups are ready to start their formal training to be guide dogs.
A big part of this is socialisation and getting the puppies used to different environments, so visiting Basingstoke station was great experience for them.
"All the pups did brilliantly, helping them build positive associations that they’ll remember if they visit a railway station as working guide dogs.
These bright-eyed canine companions must get used to new experiences and settings to empower their future owners to travel confidently and independently.
For the first year of their puppy playtime, they live with volunteer raisers who begin their training under Guide Dogs guidance. Once fully prepped, each dog is paired with someone experiencing sight loss.
SWR hosts regular puppy-powered sessions at places like Basingstoke, Portsmouth Harbour, and Portsmouth & Southsea to help the pups unleash their potential.
Currently, there are over 200 pups honing their skills with volunteers across South West and Wales, with nearly 1,200 pups learning tricks of the trade nationwide.
The Royal National Institute of Blind People reports that over two million Britons live with sight loss impacting daily routines, many relying on transport like railways to wag their way around.
Assistance dogs can hop on SWR trains for free, curling up beside or under seats meant for human companions.