Guide dog puppy Triumph is living life in the fast lane thanks to his Cumbrian family.
Triumph is living with the family in Wigton, who are volunteer puppy raisers.
Earlier this year, Guide Dogs appealed for motorcyclists to volunteer to help socialise young dogs, following research showing they could be afraid of motorbikes.
Over half of dog owners in the UK said their dogs became stressed around motorbikes, with eight in 10 stating engine noise was the biggest trigger.
For guide dogs working alongside people with sight loss, an unexpected fright triggered by a passing motorbike could pose a danger, the charity said.
Early and gradual exposure to motorbikes and other potentially challenging situations is a crucial part of a puppy’s socialisation to new environments.
Triumph is living with Cat, Michael and their six-year-old son Alfie.
The family own a Triumph motorbike, allowing the puppy to get gradual exposure to the machine.
The family introduced the young pup to the motorbike and ensured it was a positive experience for him.
Rachel Adams, puppy development advisor at Guide Dogs covering Cumbria, said: “Our research shows just how unsettling motorbikes can be for dogs.
“But for a guide dog, that fear isn’t just a nuisance – it can be a genuine safety risk for the person relying on them.
“Socialisation is such a fundamental part of a guide dog’s training. Our puppies need to encounter the real world in all its noise and unpredictability.
“None of that happens without our incredible volunteer puppy raisers, who are pivotal to what we do.”
The charity is looking for an additional 30 puppy raisers in Cumbria.
Volunteers take puppies into their homes for between 12 and 16 months to help build their confidence and expose them to everyday sights and sounds before formal training begins. All volunteer puppy raisers require a car.
It costs around £77,000 to breed, raise and train each guide dog. The charity relies almost entirely on public donations and volunteers.
To find out more about becoming a Guide Dogs puppy raiser, visit www.guidedogs.org.uk/puppyraiser
