Breeding and foster families

A perfectly-suited breed

In recent decades, the Labrador retriever has established itself as the breed of choice throughout the world. The Guide Dogs for the Blind School in Allschwil has been breeding its own Labradors since 1972. This sturdy, safe and self-confident dog is an enthusiastic worker. It also gets on well with humans and animals alike and has a long life expectancy. The family trees of the dogs in our school include the names of breeding animals from the world’s leading guide dog schools.

Selective breeding criteria

Dogs are selected for breeding based on the following key criteria: an ability to cope with mental stress, a healthy and strong constitution and pleasure at working and guiding.
A strong mental disposition is an important factor during training as well as in the dog’s everyday life. Environmental stresses, such as noise, air pollution and an overload of optical stimuli, are major challenges for our dogs. Even though they have an immense capacity for learning, a good foundation is essential if our dogs are to learn quickly and to be able to cope with their environment. Furthermore, these abilities need constant nurturing.
Because a guide dog’s work is so strenuous, a healthy, strong constitution is a ‘must’. Dogs need a sound build and good musculature with no signs of hip or elbow dysplasia.
Labradors are particularly keen workers. Their constant readiness to explore the world together with humans makes them receptive companions eager to learn from new experiences.
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Nurturing puppies with a view to their future role

Puppies spend the first ten weeks of their life in our school under the watchful eyes of experienced carers. The loving attention lavished on our puppies by the kennel staff combined with indoor and outdoor facilities tailor-made to their needs ensure their optimum development. Our puppy park and spacious runs contain educational toys specially designed for every puppy age group. All this equipment serves an educational purpose and helps to prepare puppies for their future training.
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Living with a foster family

At ten weeks, puppies are entrusted to foster families (also known as “puppy walkers”) who look after the young dogs for twelve to fifteen months – until training begins. The main duties of the foster family are to provide a good basic education and ensure the dog gets on well with people. Staff from our school support and advise foster families throughout the fostering period, helping them to understand the dog and to raise it correctly.
Regular training events supplement the special nurturing that paves the way for the dog’s future role. The animal’s veterinary costs, its food and dog tax are paid by the school.

Requirements to be met by foster families

• Each family member must agree to the keeping of a foster dog.
• Any children must be at least seven years old.
• Singles with plenty of time to devote to a foster dog are also suitable.
• Since so much time is required, the carer is unlikely to be able to undertake employment outside the home. If two partners are in part-time employment, the puppy’s care may be divided between them.
• The carer must be willing to take part in regular training events (dog training).
• A carer should live in or near a town. If country-based, he/she must be able to accustom the dog to a town environment at least 2 to 3 times a week.
• If a carer lives in rented accommodation, the property owner’s consent must be sought.
• The foster home does not need to have a garden.
• The family should not already have a dog of its own, since this would disturb our puppy’s development. Other animals are, however, desirable provided they are not aggressive.

Persons interested in rearing a foster dog are invited to telephone us for further information.
Telephone: +41 61 487 95 95 or +41 61 487 95 80

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