News
A golden retriever who’s the dad to more than 300 guide dog puppies has retired
Now that's what you call a good boy.
Emily Sergeant -
11th April 2024 
A golden retriever who’s fathered more than 300 guide dog puppies has now finally retired.
Trigger, who is Guide Dogs’ star stud dog and is affectionately – and very cleverly – nicknamed the ‘Dogfather’, has been dad to 39 litters of puppies during his nine years on this earth, including one litter back in 2021 with an incredible 16 puppies, which is a record-breaking number for the long-standing charity.
In total, 294 of Trigger’s puppies have been bred by Guide Dogs, and a further 29 pups have also been born thanks to his valuable ‘collaborations’ with other assistance dog charities and guide dog schools.
This puts his grand total at 323 puppies.
The handsome goldie’s final litter was made up of five daughters named Jenny, Rita, Hermione, Sandy, and Indy, and one son, Billy, and these now eight-week-old pups will be living with the charity’s volunteer Puppy Raisers for the next year of their lives, all before they go on to begin their guide dog training journeys.
But, after a long and undeniably successful career within Guide Dogs’ breeding programme, it’s officially time for Trigger to call it a day.
The charity says his legacy can be seen in the “independence and confidence” that all his pups have brought to the lives of blind and partially-sighted people all over Britain, as Trigger is the father of guide dogs working just about everywhere – including London, Glasgow, and Cardiff, and even out in Guernsey and the Isle of Wight too.
“Trigger’s wonderful, gentle nature and excellent health have made him the perfect asset to our breeding program,” commented Janine Dixon, who is the Head of Breeding Operations at Guide Dogs.
“We can’t overstate the impact that Trigger has in helping us to provide so many guide dogs for people with sight loss.”
So, what’s next for Trigger then?
Well, he’s off to take a well-earned rest and live out the rest of his retired days with Breeding Dog Volunteer, Sarah Bryne, who has looked after him for the past seven years, and will now officially adopt him.
Read more:
- Guide Dogs is looking for people in Greater Manchester to ‘foster’ dogs while they’re in training
- A FREE festival for dogs is taking over a Manchester city centre park later this month
- Retired Oldham couple who’ve fostered 41 dogs for charity urge others to do the same
Enjoy your retirement Trigger – you deserve it, legend.
Featured Image – Guide Dogs
