Guide dog dubbed Dogfather retires after fathering 300 puppies

10 April

Trigger and charity workers with his puppies — Image caption,
One of Trigger's litters was a record breaker for Guide Dogs, the charity said

A guide dog that has fathered more than 300 puppies is retiring from charity work.

Banbury Guide Dogs' star Trigger, dubbed the Dogfather, has retired from the charity's breeding programme after fathering a grand total of 323 puppies.

The nine-year-old golden retriever fathered 39 litters, including one in 2021 with 16 puppies which was a record-breaking number for Guide Dogs.

The charity is hoping that his son Billy might continue Trigger's legacy.

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Trigger has offspring working all over the UK

Guide Dogs said Trigger's progeny had brought "independence" and "confidence" to the lives of blind and partially sighted people all over Britain, including London, Glasgow, Cardiff and the Isle of Wight.

The charity has bred 294 of Trigger's puppies, and a further 29 pups have been born of his "collaborations" with other assistance dog charities and guide dog schools.

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Trigger's offspring have brought independence to the lives of blind people all over Britian

Two of his litters have been born abroad in France and the Netherlands, helping to create guide dog partnerships in both countries.

Trigger's final litter is made up of five daughters named Jenny, Rita, Hermione, Sandy and Indy, and one son, Billy.

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Guide Dogs says he has a gentle nature and excellent health

The charity said that the eight-week-old puppies were about to start their guide dog journeys and would be living with volunteer "puppy raisers" for the next year of their lives.

Trigger will retire in Banbury, where his breeding dog volunteer for the past seven years, Sarah Bryne, will officially adopt him.

Trigger in foreground, woman holding puppy sits in background

PA Media

The nine-year old golden retriever has fathered more than 300 puppies

Janine Dixon, head Guide Dogs breeding operations, said his "gentle nature and excellent health have made him the perfect asset" to its programme.

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Trigger's final litter is made up of five daughters named Jenny, Rita, Hermione, Sandy and Indy, and one son, Billy

"We hope that in a few years his son Billy may join the breeding programme to continue Trigger's legacy," she said.

"In the meantime, nine of his daughters, as well as his half-French son Pierre, are helping us to bring forward a new generation of guide dogs with Trigger's fantastic genes."