A group of future guide dogs got their sea legs during a unique training session aboard Windermere Lake Cruises.
It was a blend of scenic cruising and vital training for puppies Dusty, Pete, Frannie, Giles, Eva and Nick as they took to the waters of Lake Windermere for a special socialisation session. All six puppies live in Cumbria with their Puppy Raisers who are volunteers for the sight loss charity Guide Dogs. They look after the dogs until they are around 14 months old. They provide vital foundation for the puppy’s future role through training, socialisation and the introduction of new environments and experiences.
Hosted by Windemere Lake Cruises, the puppy class gave these future life-changers a chance to experience new sights, sounds and smells on board MV Swift.
MV Swift is Windermere Lake Cruises newest vessel. Built in 2020, it can hold up to 300 passengers with the inner cabin and lower outer cabin being wheelchair accessible, while all other areas are easily accessible for dogs and their owners. MV Swift operates Red and Yellow cruises year-round, meaning it covers the full length of the lake between Lakeside in the south and Ambleside in the north. Dogs travel for free on all Windermere Lake Cruises vessels, while fares on these routes cost from £11.10 for children and £18.40 for adults, based on the Red Cruise.
The puppies practiced approaching the boat then got to board MV Swift while it was docked at Bowness. They practiced finding a seat and settling next to their Puppy Raiser. This created a controlled environment where the pups could take their time, and ensure it was a positive experience. Once they were familiar with this new and exciting setting, the puppies got to journey down the lake to Ambleside and back, all courtesy of Windermere Lake Cruises. This provided the puppies with new challenges, such as ignoring distractions and staying calm in a busy environment.
Rachel Adams, Puppy Development Advisor for Guide Dogs covering Cumbria, said: “We’re incredible grateful to Windermere Lake Cruises for giving our Puppy Raisers and puppies this unique opportunity. Exposing our puppies to a variety of sights and sounds is a vital part of their early training. To support this, we organise special outings or ‘school trips’ to environments they might not encounter every day. Once they are partnered with someone with sight loss, we want our dogs to be able to navigate the world around them. Introducing them to a novel environment such as a lake cruise is a fantastic way to help them grow into confident, well-rounded guide dogs.”
Jennifer Cormack from Windermere Lake Cruises said: “All of our vessels are dog-friendly and we frequently welcome working dogs, including sight and hearing dogs. We were delighted to host the puppies on board as part of their training. MV Swift is our most accessible vessel, with fully accessible toilets, facilities and indoor and outdoor areas and very spacious walkways, making it the perfect choice for this training session.”
Rachel continued: “Being a Puppy Raiser for Guide Dogs is an exciting and rewarding opportunity to raise a guide dog puppy and prepare them for their future role supporting someone with sight loss. Looking after one of our pups is a big commitment, and takes kindness and patience, but we provide all the support and training you need, so you feel well equipped for the role. As a charity, we also pay for the essential costs involved too, including food and vet bills. If you’re interested in becoming a Puppy Raiser in Cumbria and supporting us, please do get in touch. With your support, we can help train more life-changing guide dogs for people in the UK with sight loss.”
To find out more about Puppy Raising for Guide Dogs, visit www.guidedogs.org.uk/puppyraiser
