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Dogs Trust celebrates 9,000th puppy in welfare study
Digby's life experiences will be recorded by Dogs Trust as he grows.
Generation Pup hopes to recruit 10,000 dogs by the end of the year.

Dogs Trust has welcomed a golden retriever as its 9,000th puppy in its Generation Pup welfare study.

Digby, an 18-week-old golden retriever from the New Forest, marks a milestone for the welfare charity, as it seeks to recruit 10,000 puppies before the end of 2024.

Generation Pup recruits puppies when they are under 16-weeks-old, and then follows their development throughout their lifetime. Researchers record health and lifestyle information from the dog, including their environment and behavioural experiences.

It aims to uncover the impacts of early life experiences, genetics and environmental factors as the puppy goes through life, establishing how these factors may influence the dog’s health, welfare and behaviour.

The study has been running since 2016, and is considered to be the first longitudinal study of its kind to investigate all breeds and cross-breeds in the UK and the Republic of Ireland. The data is often used to inform other studies conducted by Dogs Trust and its partners.

Recently, data collected as part of Generation Pup supported experts as they studied the effects of the COVID-19 lockdown on puppy socialisation.

The research found that COVID-19 lockdown had a smaller impact on puppy socialisation than first expected. However it will be the continued data from Generation Pup participants that allows them to examine how it affects behaviour as the puppies become adults.

Dogs Trust says that welcoming new dogs, like Digby, to the study will ensure a better future for canine welfare. As it moves nearer to its 10,000 puppy goal, the charity is urging other puppy owners to get involved with its study.

Jane Murray, deputy head of research, welfare projects and grants at Dogs Trust, said: “Not only has Digby impacted the lives of his new family, he’s helping the future of dog welfare.

“We are so close to reaching our landmark goal of recruiting 10,000 puppies, and we are asking owners to sign up. The more puppies enrolled into this study, the more likely we are to have a better understanding of our canine friends.”

Image © Dogs Trust

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

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News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.