A group of guide dog puppies swapped the training field for the red carpet as they visited Madame Tussauds Blackpool as part of their early socialisation training.
Hector, Henley, Damson, Skippy, Topper, Monty and Irving, aged between 16 weeks and 13 months, visited the attraction on Friday, July 10, accompanied by their volunteer Puppy Raisers.
The visit gave the young dogs the chance to experience unfamiliar sights, sounds, lighting, surfaces and lifelike figures in a safe, controlled environment, helping to build their confidence ahead of their future roles as guide dogs.
Beth, Puppy Development Advisor at Guide Dogs, said: "Experiences like this are invaluable for our puppies. As future guide dogs, they'll need to remain calm and confident in all sorts of environments, from busy tourist attractions and shopping centres to transport hubs and public venues.
"Madame Tussauds Blackpool provided the perfect opportunity for our puppies to experience lots of new sights, sounds and surroundings in a positive and controlled way. Every new experience helps them build resilience and confidence, which are essential qualities for a future guide dog.
"All of the puppies did brilliantly. They took everything in their stride, and our fantastic Puppy Raisers supported them throughout by rewarding calm behaviour and helping to make the experience enjoyable and positive.
"We're incredibly grateful to Madame Tussauds Blackpool for welcoming us and giving our puppies such a memorable training opportunity."
During the visit, the puppies calmly explored walkways, interactive displays and realistic wax figures of celebrities, sporting legends and iconic characters.
Guide dog puppies spend their first year with volunteer Puppy Raisers, learning essential skills before beginning formal Guide Dogs training at around 12 to 14 months old. Successful dogs go on to support people with sight loss to live independent and active lives.
Janine Marshall, General Manager of Madame Tussauds Blackpool, said: "We were delighted to welcome Guide Dogs puppies to Madame Tussauds Blackpool and support them as part of their training and socialisation. It was wonderful to see them confidently exploring the attraction, from strolling along the Coronation Street cobbles to meeting our royal corgi in the Royal experience.
“As assistance dogs are welcome throughout the attraction, the visit provided a valuable opportunity to see first-hand how the environment works for future guide dogs and to hear feedback from the Puppy Raisers. We were thrilled to play a small part in their development and look forward to welcoming them back once they have completed their training."
For more information about becoming a volunteer Puppy Raiser, visit guidedogs.org.uk/puppyraiser.
