The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association

Remember helping us choose the perfect name for this pup?🐶 In our recent naming competition with People's Postcode Lottery, this playful puppy was proudly named Ozzy. Thanks to your support, he’s now taking his very first steps on the journey to becoming a life-changing guide dog. In just a few weeks, Ozzy and his nine siblings have: ✨ Begun their first socialisation sessions – getting used to new sights, sounds, people and handling. ✨ Visited the Guide Dogs National Centre for important health checks. ✨ Moved in with their dedicated puppy-raising volunteers, where their early training begins. A huge thank you to everyone who took part in naming Ozzy, and to the players of People's Postcode Lottery. Your generosity is helping to give more puppies like Ozzy the best possible start on their path to changing lives. 🦮 [Visual Description: Three images capture guide dog puppy Ozzy’s journey. Image one shows a close-up of Ozzy looking innocently into the camera. Image two shows Ozzy having his nails clipped by a Guide Dogs staff member. Image three shows Ozzy in a pen with two of his siblings, all gazing sweetly into the camera.]

Curious about how to confidently guide someone with a vision impairment? Megan is here to show you how to use the C grip and how to safely guide someone up and down stairs. 💛 Whether it’s at work, out in the community, or with someone you care about - a little knowledge can make a big difference. Ready to build your confidence on sighted guiding? Learn more about our sighted guiding training sessions here 👉 bit.ly/48qJV0d [Visual Description: Megan wears a bright blue Guide Dogs t-shirt and talks to camera. Over the top of her talking there is a demonstration of the C grip. Megan guides Danielle, who is wearing sim specs, down some stairs. Megan demonstrates how to guide someone downstairs.]

Did you spot our special ‘Bakers Dozen’ litter on BBC Breakfast this morning? 🐾 These little puppies are just at the beginning of their journey to becoming life-changing partners for people with a vision impairment. But it’s not an easy journey, and it comes at a cost. Steep inflation means it now takes £77,000 to breed, raise and train just one guide dog. Every year, around 1,350 puppies take their first steps towards changing someone’s life. That’s why we need your support this October to help raise vital funds for the Guide Dogs Puppy Appeal. Sign up today and help us give more people the freedom they deserve 👉 bit.ly/4nR1ACW [Visual Description: Video shows a puppy transitioning from a young puppy, to a puppy in training, to a guide dog in training, to finally a guide dog. On the screen is a bubble with the text 'From birth, and raising, to training, and life-changing. Every guide dog costs £77,000. We receive no government funding, we need your help. Join the Puppy Appeal.]

When your team goes the extra mile 💛 A huge well done to Chris Allum and Meggie Volino for taking on the Royal Parks Half Marathon this weekend. It’s no easy challenge, but their dedication makes a world of difference for people living with sight loss. Fancy joining them next year? Register for 2026 here 👉 bit.ly/36waZtA

We invited Betfred in for a special behind-the-scenes visit to see the incredible difference their donation is making. ✨ It was a pleasure to welcome team members from Betfred to our North-West centre, where they got a first-hand look at the life-changing work their support helps fund. From inspiring dog demos to hearing Julie’s powerful story about life with her guide dog Criton, the team saw just how much impact their generosity creates. But the real star of the day? Six-month-old Phantom - the gorgeous pup they named through our Name a Puppy scheme. There were plenty of puppy cuddles, smiles and stories shared.🐾 A huge thank you to the team for their incredible £150,000 donation. Support like this helps us change more lives for people living with sight loss every single day.💛 [Visual Description: Image shows a female crouched down on the floor in a meeting room in the North-West Centre. She is looking admiringly at the black Labrador puppy next to her.]

Sight loss is often overlooked, but new research shows millions of older Brits may have undiagnosed sight problems without knowing it. We're proud to help fund this vital UK National Eye Health and Hearing Study (UKNEHS) research, highlighted in today’s The Guardian. It reminds us why our work matters: every day, we see the difference the right support can make, yet so many people’s sensory health is still overlooked. By continuing to build the evidence, we’re not just shaping smarter, more effective support - we’re helping people live fuller, more independent lives. Together, we can make sight loss something no one has to face alone. Want to find out more about this latest research? Read more here 👉 https://lnkd.in/enyiJNd3 [Visual description: Image via link shows a close up headshot of a person getting their eyes tested at the optician. Also visible is The Guardian logo]

Shockingly, a quarter of owners say they “dread” walks because of their dog’s behaviour, and 30% admit to being distracted by their phones. Our latest research shows that many dog owners aren’t helping their dogs get the most from daily walks. 🐾 As experts in dog training, our team at Guide Dogs knows how to turn walks into an opportunity for learning, exercise, and fun. That’s why we recommend three types of walks to get the best out of your dog: 1. Training walks – reinforce skills and confidence 2. Sniffaris – explore the world through scent 3. Off-lead fun – a safe space for exercise and freedom Want more expert tips to transform your dog walks? Head to our blog for insights from our team 👉 bit.ly/4ofhw1V [Visual description: Image shows a man crouching down on a grassy field, looking affectionately at a black Labrador puppy on a lead. The puppy is sniffing curiously towards him.]

Safety isn’t a privilege – it’s a right. Imagine walking along a path you know so well, and suddenly a car is blocking your way. To keep going, you have to step into the road, into traffic. The fear. The panic. The anxiety. For someone with a vision impairment, that fear is multiplied. A guide dog can do so many incredible things – but even pavement parking is challenge for them. That's why we're urging the government to introduce a clear national law on pavement parking. Together, we can make every street safe and accessible for everyone. Let’s stand together and make a difference. Write a letter to your MP today 👉 https://bit.ly/4gMq2Ts [Visual Description: The video opens with a top down shot of Helen walking with her guide dog along a pavement. Suddenly they cannot continue walking because a silver Land Rover is parked on the pavement, blocking their route. Helen, scared, stands on the edge of the pavement and listens to the cars zooming past. Helen and guide dog Sunny step off the pavement and into the road to walk around the vehicle. Once back on the safe pavement, they continue their walk.]

It’s Party Conference season – a time to drive real change. Our campaigns team and amazing volunteers have been busy meeting politicians across the UK to help make a difference for people living with a visual impairment. At this week’s Labour Party Conference in Liverpool, guide dog owners spoke directly to decision-makers about pavement parking and why change is urgently needed. One of our volunteers, Fran, shared her own experience: “My guide dog Pebble is able to navigate complex obstacles and keeps me safe in lots of situations. But pavement parking means she is sometimes forced to walk out into oncoming traffic – despite her incredible training, this is a situation even she finds difficult. It’s really challenging for me to judge when it’s safe to step into a busy road, which often doesn’t have enough audio cues to help me make that decision. When I’ve come across this it has been very scary, and obstacles like parked cars have a big impact on my ability to get around independently.” Want to help us drive change? Find out more about our campaigns 👉 bit.ly/42jinGc [Visual Description: Image shows Fran and her guide dog Pebble, a black Labrador, sit together proudly at the Guide Dogs stand. In front of them is a sign which reads ‘Time to end pavement parking’.]