Nurtured Pets' Guide Dogs' Sponsorship

Nurtured Pets is a company dedicated to providing products that create a healthy lifestyle for pets and are proud to be a sponsor of Guide Dogs for the Blind Association.

From January 2010 we are to take part in the Sponsor a Puppy Scheme; our contribution will pay for a guide dog puppy’s first years training.

We want to share this unique experience with our customers and supporters and we will keep you all informed about our puppy’s progress.

We recently asked for all your help in naming our puppy and we are pleased to announce the winner of their competition to name a Guide Dog puppy. Congratulations to Olivia Thomson from Salisbury who suggested the name Pepper, which was selected from all of the names put forward to the Guide Dogs Association.  The name Pepper was chosen because the Association liked its connection with one of the main ingredients on the Anti-LickStrip Prevent® - cayenne pepper. As the focus for Nurtured Pets® is the health and wellness of animals, sponsorship of a Guide Dog puppy is the perfect fit for the organisation

The sponsorship process is unique as the puppy's name is selected before it is even born! Once the name is agreed, it is put forward to the UK Breeding Centre, based in the West Midlands, so the sponsorship programme can begin.  Once a puppy walker is available in the area, Pepper will be born and named.  Traditionally, all of the puppies from the same litter will be given names starting with the same letter. At the age of 6-7 weeks Pepper will be placed with a Puppy Walker, who will look after the puppy and help with socialisation, getting used to people, traffic, loud noises, crowds and so on. Pepper will undergo a number of character aptitude tests, to ensure the puppy is made of the right stuff for a working life as a Guide Dog. The full training programme will not begin until Pepper reaches just over a year old.

Around 70 percent of the puppies born at the Breeding Centre go on to qualify as Guide Dogs and many of those deemed unsuitable for guiding are often found alternative careers as Hearing Dogs, Dogs for the Disabled, HM Customs or the Police.  Puppies are bred for their intelligence and good nature, and most common breeds currently used are labradors, golden retrievers and german shepherd dogs.  We are all really excited about the imminent arrival of Pepper.  Keep checking the website and Facebook to see when Pepper is born.