Buzz might be only 12 weeks old, but the guide dog-in-training is already taking his first steps towards changing someone’s life.
Named after the fearless space ranger Buzz Lightyear from Pixar’s Toy Story, the adorable young Labrador is beginning a carefully structured journey that could see him one day safely guiding a person with sight loss.
The pup is currently tackling ‘city streets’ cleverly crafted from cardboard boxes by children, weaving his way through mini hotels, pubs, schools and even banks as part of his early training.
Alongside fellow trainees Sunny and Stanley, Buzz is being put through his paces to see if he has what it takes to become a fully-fledged guide dog for people who are blind or partially sighted.
Training a guide dog comes with a hefty price tag of £77,000, covering everything from puppyhood to knowing how to keep its owner safe.
Research by Guide Dogs found that 95 per cent of guide dog owners say their four-legged companion helps them travel independently.
While 85 per cent of the around 100 adults surveyed say they socialise more since getting a guide dog, meeting friends at pubs, parks and community groups.
A further 85 per cent said they could go shopping without the need for someone – apart from their guide dog – to come with them, and 80 per cent said they simply loved ‘exploring’ their neighbourhood.
Buzz might be only 12 weeks old, but the guide dog-in-training is already taking his first steps to changing someone’s life
Training a guide dog comes with a hefty price tag of £77,000, covering everything from puppyhood to knowing how to keep its owner safe
Some 70 per cent of those surveyed noted they saw family and relatives far more since getting a guide dog, with 36 per cent saying they had started a new job since welcoming a pup.
A spokesman for Guide Dogs said: ‘As a beloved space ranger superhero gears up for a return to the big screen, we want to introduce Buzz, a guide dog puppy with star potential.
‘His journey could one day help someone with sight loss go beyond what they once thought possible.’
While he added Buzz is ‘already showing early signs of the qualities that could one day help him transform lives’, including ‘curiosity and courage to a growing sense of loyalty’.
Steph Potter, puppy sponsorship manager at Guide Dogs, said: ‘Buzz is already bringing plenty of character to the role, and is at the start of an exciting adventure that will hopefully one day see him become a true life changer.
‘Guide dogs open up the world for people with sight loss, giving infinite possibilities.
‘By Sponsoring a Puppy, people can become part of a story they are proud to share, providing guide dog puppies like Buzz all the care and training they need to succeed.’
