A PUPPY raiser for Guide Dogs has looked back on her 10 years of volunteering as she welcomes her 11th puppy.

Glynis Telford, 63, from Northwich, decided to help raise future guide dogs after her early retirement in 2011 and the sad death of her pet Labrador Molly.

Glynis said: "As a child I remember reading a book called ‘Dogs in Action’ by Angela Sayer.

"There was a story in there about a working guide dog and this always stuck in my mind, so really it’s been an ambition since I was around 10 years old.”

The puppy raiser role is a 24/7 one.

Volunteers take on a young pup who lives in their home until they are ready to start their formal training after 12 months old.

Over the last 10 years, Glynis has raised, Thomas, Aruba, Nugget, Carla, Watson, Carol, Dennis, Arthur, Clara, Kola and now she has puppy Derek.

Thomas, the first pup, was a learning curve because Glynis had some previous experience with pet dogs doing obedience classes, but she had to re-learn everything 'the Guide Dogs way'.

When Glynis looks back now after 10 years of experience, she says that Thomas was an easy pup.

He was a clever dog that picked things up quickly.

Derek, the pup she has now, is much more of a challenge, but Glynis will work her magic on him to prepare him to start his formal training at Guide Dogs.

She said: "You put your heart and soul into puppy raising these dogs and a bit of you goes with each one of them that leaves, but the guide dog owners love them even more than we do

"I get a lot of satisfaction moulding them into dogs that are ready to go in and start their training."

Volunteers like Glynis are an incredible asset to Guide Dogs.

To find out more, visit guidedogs.org.uk.