This year a very special, unusually large litter of puppies was born to charity, Guide Dogs; 13 brothers and sisters who became known as the Baker’s Dozen. Your Dog is supporting one of the 13 pups, named Crumpet. Every month we’ll be following Crumpet as he progresses on his journey to becoming a life-changing guide dog. Words by Jessica Nolan, volunteer puppy raiser for Guide Dogs
As a volunteer puppy raiser for Guide Dogs, I don’t get to meet my new pups until they arrive on my doorstep in the arms of my Puppy Development Advisor, Joan, and little Crumpet was no exception. He had quite a journey - all the way from the Guide Dogs National Centre outside Leamington Spa, to my home, and his home for the next 12 months or so, in Perthshire.
Crumpet and his 12 siblings started life in the Cotswolds with their mum, Yori, but every guide dog pup heads to the centre for a pitstop – vaccinations, microchip, health checks, the works – before meeting their new volunteer family. Luckily Crumpet had his brother, Crumble, by his side for the 400-mile trip; his new family live in Scotland, too.
I hope life in a big litter suited Crumpet, as he has no shortage of company here. Eight-week-old Crumpet has joined a menagerie; Lexi, an 11-year-old Husky cross, a feisty ginger tabby cat called Leo, free-range chickens and ducks in the garden, and a horse named Bo.
We also have Kylo at home who, like Crumpet, was a guide dog puppy once upon a time but was withdrawn from training as he struggled with separation anxiety, so he became our pet. Kylo is only two and full of beans, so I know they are going to become fast friends.
The evening Crumpet arrived I tried to keep things as calm and quiet as possible to help him adjust.
I have two young boys; Caleb, who is six, and one-year-old Elliott, so this was easier said than done – they were understandably very excited to have a new puppy in the house. It was already dark, so I gave Crumpet his dinner, let him explore the house and out into the garden, and then worked on settling him down for the night. We had a cosy crate all set up ready for him, which he loved immediately and sprawled out on his back.
Puppies, like babies, can wake and cry in the night. Crumpet was quiet and content... I think having Lexi and Kylo nearby made him feel safe. He did wake up for a quick loo break given his tiny bladder. Having older dogs makes toilet training much easier; Kylo showed him where to go.
The next morning, I introduced Crumpet to the ducks and the chickens in the garden, and he was very polite with them. Who knows, maybe his future guide dog owner will keep chickens, too? Crumpet has had a head start there; hopefully he will never see them as ‘lunch’ meeting them at this age.
All in all, Crumpet’s first few days have been like any other new pup, but it won’t be long until I start introducing little elements of life as a guide dog. Until then, he’s got some growing to do.
Find out more about volunteering for Guide Dogs at guidedogs.org.uk