The Guide Dogs charity is opening the doors of its new National Breeding Centre and offering tours of the building and facilities to the general public...

The UK charity Guide Dogs, aka Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, launched its new National Breeding Centre last October near Leamington Spa in Warwickshire...

The new breeding centre, that was funded entirely by public donations, was designed to increase the disability organisation's capacity to provide puppies for guide dog training, increasing the numbers of puppies from around 1,000 annually previously to around 1,500...

The new centre, officially opened last year by HRH Princess Alexandra, Patron of the Guide Dogs charity, has been a major development for the organisation, because it significantly expands its ability to help more blind and partially blind people lead independent lives and be more mobile....

The Guide Dogs charity uses genetic screening tests to ensure the highest success rate from its breeding stock to produce the best possible chance of providing its clients with expert dogs with the right aptitude to support them in their day to day lives...

In addition to offering newer facilities to help the charity, Guide Dogs says it is able to invite supporters and those interested in its work on guide led tours...

The free trips are open to dog fans and professionals and suitable for school trips and other educational visits, says the charity...

The charity that began providing its service in 1931 is now offering tours of the new facility that Guide Dogs says is committed to ethical welfare standards...

Part of the centre's work is to help the dogs become accustomed to normal sounds of everyday life including those from traffic; as well as washing machines and other household activity...

The tours will also provide info about the general work of the charity and how it helps people with sight loss become more independent...

The guide led tours take visitors across specially built walkways so the dogs are not disturbed....

It costs about £50,000 to breed, train and support a guide dog throughout its working life says the charity.

The tours can accommodate up to 50 people in a single go and while there is no cost, donations are gratefully received...

Guide Dogs has been going for over 80 years and saw the arrival of its first new puppies at the centre last year. It relies totally on donations to support its work...