By Xantha Leatham Deputy Science Editor
00:57 10 Apr 2024, up to date 01:00 10 Apr 2024
By any reckoning, it’s a well-deserved retirement. Golden retriever Trigger is lastly calling it a day after fathering greater than 300 information canine puppies.
The nine-year-old is dad to 39 litters – considered one of which included an unbelievable 16 puppies.
In whole, 294 of Trigger’s offspring have been bred by the Guide Dogs charity and an extra 29 by different help canine teams and information canine colleges – placing his grand stud whole at 323.
His latest litter consists of 5 women – Jenny, Rita, Hermione, Sandy and Indy – and one son, Billy.
The eight-week olds are about to begin their information canine coaching and can be dwelling with volunteer puppy raisers for the subsequent yr.
The six pups are the final of the ‘Triglets’ – an affectionate identify given to Trigger’s offspring by volunteers and information canine homeowners.
Over the years, information dogs sired by Trigger have labored in London, Glasgow, Cardiff, Guernsey, the Isle of Wight and whilst far afield as France and the Netherlands.
Janine Dixon, head of breeding operations at Guide Dogs, mentioned: ‘Trigger’s great, light nature and wonderful well being have made him the proper asset to our breeding program.
‘We hope that in a number of years his son Billy could be a part of the breeding program to proceed Trigger’s legacy.’
Trigger will see out his retirement in Banbury, Oxfordshire, with volunteer Sarah Bryne, who has taken care of him for seven years and can now formally undertake him.
