Woman who delivers 1400 guide dog puppies a year reveals just how they are trained

I’m a puppy midwife! Charity worker helps to deliver 1,400 guide dogs a year who go on to change people’s lives – and says it’s the ‘best job in the world’

• Nicole Bottomley, 58, from Warwickshire, helps deliver 1,400 puppies a year
• Puppies welcomed at Guide Dogs UK in Leamington Spa become guide dogs 
• Nicole has been working for the charity for some 40 years, since she was 18

A charity worker who helps to deliver a staggering 1,400 guide dog puppies each year as described her job as the ‘best in the world’.   

Nicole Bottomley, 58, from Morton Morrel in Warwickshire, part of a specialist team at Guide Dogs UK that welcomes over a thousand dogs each year, has revealed a glimpse into her day to day life as she marks 40 years with the charity.  

The mother of two, whose husband Matthew Bottomley is head of breeding operations at Guide Dogs UK, has been working for the organisation since she was 18, after falling for the adorable puppies she saw out and about training near the centre in Leamington Spa while growing up.   

Nicole said being there to see the puppies born was the ‘best bit’, and that knowing they would grow up to be guide dogs who would change the lives of their owners makes ‘every day amazing’.  

Nicole Bottomley, 58, from Warwickshire, is part of a specialist team at Guide Dogs UK in Leamington Spa that welcomes over a thousand dogs each year, before they are trained to help the blind

Guide dogs are trained to assist blind and visually impaired people by avoiding obstacles, stopping at kerbs and steps, and safely negotiating traffic. 

Speaking about what inspired her to work for the charity, Nicole – who became brood bitch supervisor three years ago at the Guide Dogs’ National Breeding Centre, said: ‘I grew up in the town, so I used to see the dogs out in training in and around the area.

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‘Even when I was at school, I knew I wanted to work with them. There weren’t any vacancies at that point though, so I worked for a short while at a veterinary practice, before progressing to Guide Dogs UK, where I have been ever since.

‘The dogs are very rewarding and I love supporting our volunteer families. It’s amazing bringing these little puppies into the world. knowing they are, hopefully, going to go on and become life changers.’

After three decades of working for the charity, the supervisor has shared a glimpse at her working day, explaining that knowing she is helping to change lives makes every moment ‘amazing’ (a litter of puppies are pictured)

Nicole helps deliver a staggering 1400 guide dog puppies each year and has described her job as the ‘best in the world’ (One of the puppies Nicole helped to deliver)

Starting out as a kennel assistant for the charity, Nicole, who herself has a grand basset griffon vedene dog called Gavin, worked her way up to become the manager, before moving over to the breeding centre, as dog care manager.

Taking a break to have her children Jack, now 24, and Grace, 20, she returned part-time, soon becoming full-time again, when she joined her current team – in which she visits dogs at volunteers’ homes where they are being cared for, and helps to deliver puppies.

Nicole explained: ‘We are there every step of the way, from the time the bitch is mated. We go after four weeks and conduct an ultrasound scan to confirm that she is pregnant and get an estimate of the size of her litter. An average is seven to eight puppies. After that, we visit weekly.’

Nicole shares children Jack, 24, (right) and Grace, 20, (second left) with husband Matthew Bottomley, head of breeding operations (seen left)

Nicole – who became ‘brood bitch supervisor’ three years ago at the Guide Dogs’ National Breeding Centre, said she wanted to work for the charity since she was in school (seen weighing a puppy)

Starting out as a kennel assistant for the charity, Nicole worked her way up to become the manager, before moving over to the breeding centre, as dog care manager (puppy seen)

Speaking about how the puppies are trained to become guide dogs, she continued: ‘Once she has her puppies, we do litter visits during the weeks that the pups are out in the nest, before bringing them back to the breeding centre at six weeks, when we vaccinate and microchip them, then settling them into kennels. 

‘They are here for a week before they move on to their puppy walking homes, which can be anywhere around the country.’

The dogs are given basic training with their puppy walker – learning to to walk ahead on the lead and understand commands like sit, stay, down and come. 

They are also taken to cafes and shops to help them to get used to social situations.

Nicole weighs and checks on the puppies in the first few weeks of their lives

Starting training school at a year old, puppies learn to walk in a straight line, unless there is an obstacle and to stop at kerbs and wait for the command to cross or turn left or right – being matched with an owner when they graduate, who they then train with for another four weeks

Starting training school at a year old, puppies learn to walk in a straight line unless there is an obstacle, and to stop at kerbs and wait for the command to cross or turn left or right. 

They are then matched with an owner when they graduate, with whom they are supported through a further four weeks of training. 

Nicole added: ‘Being there when the dogs are giving birth is really the best bit.

‘Most births go smoothly, with no problems. We are there to support if there are complications.

‘Last year, we had one mum who was very poorly after the birth. She had six puppies and we ended up having to split them and they were fostered by two other mums. It can be a lot of thinking on your feet and can be quite stressful, but I love it.’

While the delivery is a team effort for her and the other midwives, Nicole said the volunteer families are crucial to the whole process- pictured: One of the puppies Nicole delivered

While the delivery is a team effort for her and the other midwives, Nicole said the volunteer families are crucial to the whole process.

She said: ‘We have so many wonderful volunteers that I get to meet. They do an absolutely fantastic job.

‘At the moment, we have about 1,400 puppies a year. We have 280 bitches and about 90 studs. That’s a lot of puppies and the aim is for as many as possible to become guide dogs. 

Nicole with her children Jack and Grace and husband Matthew (seen left to right)

While the delivery is a team effort for her and the other midwives, Nicole said the volunteer families are crucial to the whole process (Nicole seen with one of the puppies)

‘For some, it doesn’t suit their temperament but they are redirected to other UK charities or rehomed as family pets.

‘We are constantly looking for new volunteer homes, within an hour of the centre, where someone is not in full-time employment, so the dog is not left for more than three hours and where they are able to devote six weeks to a litter of puppies once a year. And we’ll give lots of training and support to the right person, with a lovely, caring disposition.’

And speaking about devoting her life to dogs, she remained adamant that it is the perfect job for her, adding: ‘I have the best job in the world!’

Matthew, Grace, Nicole and Jack are seen (left to right) enjoying family time in between their busy schedule

Nicole herself has a grand basset griffon vedene dog called Gavin, who she spends as much time with as possible (seen)

 

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