Trigger, a nine-year-old golden retriever, is finally taking a well-deserved rest after fathering over 300 puppies at the Guide Dogs breeding centre in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire.
As the top stud for the charity, Trigger has sired 39 litters, with a remarkable 16 puppies born in a single litter in 2021, setting a record. His offspring, affectionately dubbed ‘Triglets,’ play crucial roles across the UK, aiding blind and partially sighted individuals in their daily activities.
Janine Dixon, representing Guide Dogs, praised Trigger’s gentle nature and robust health, highlighting his significant contribution to the organization’s breeding program. She emphasized Trigger’s pivotal role in enabling the charity to supply numerous guide dogs to individuals with visual impairments.
Trigger’s final litter consists of five daughters—Jenny, Rita, Hermione, Sandy, and Indy—and a son named Billy. While his offspring are poised to embark on their guide dog journeys, Trigger himself is retiring. He will reside with volunteer Sarah Bryne, who has cared for him for the past seven years.
Looking ahead, Guide Dogs hopes that Trigger’s son, Billy, may eventually join the breeding program to carry on his father’s legacy. Meanwhile, nine of Trigger’s daughters, along with his half-French son, are actively contributing to the organization’s efforts to foster a new generation of guide dogs, inheriting Trigger’s exceptional genetic lineage.
Since its establishment in 2011, Guide Dogs’ breeding centre has had the capacity to produce up to 1,500 puppies annually, totaling over 11,000 puppies bred to date.
