A “wonderful” dog who has fathered more than 300 puppies as part of the Guide Dogs’ breeding programme has retired from the charity.

Golden retriever Trigger, nine, has fathered 39 litters, including one with 16 puppies in 2021 which was a record-breaking number for the charity.

Two hundred and ninety-four of his puppies have been bred by Guide Dogs, and 29 others have been born from his “valuable collaborations” with guide dog schools and other assistance dog charities. 

READ MORE: Go Outdoors: New store to open soon in Banbury retail park

His final golden retriever litter was five girls, Jenny, Rita, Hermione, Sandy and Indy, and one boy, Billy, who are eight weeks old.

Janine Dixon, head of breeding operations at Guide Dogs, said: “Trigger’s wonderful, gentle nature and excellent health have made him the perfect asset to our breeding programme.

“We can’t overstate the impact that Trigger has in helping us to provide so many guide dogs for people with sight loss.

“We hope that in a few years his son Billy may join the breeding programme to continue Trigger’s legacy.”

Trigger will stay in Banbury, Oxfordshire, with his breeding dog volunteer Sarah Bryne, who will officially adopt him after looking after him for the past seven years.

Guide dogs are assistance dogs trained to lead blind or visually impaired people around obstacles.

Although dogs can be trained to navigate various obstacles, they are red–green colour blind and incapable of interpreting street signs.