Sunderland's Doggy Diner hosts family reunion '“ for a golden retriever and her puppies

Dog breeder Lyn Skee and dog Lexi reunited with some of her ten puppies.

Sunderland’s Doggy Diner has played host to a get-together between a golden retriever mum and seven of her puppies.

Breeder Lyn Skee organised the six-month reunion so she could meet up again with her bitch Lexi’s puppies and their new owners.

Lexi and her puppies on the beach with their new owners.

And people came from as far afield as Scotland and Yorkshire to enjoy the event.

Lyn, who kept one of the pups herself, Fizz, said it was a fantastic day and they plan to do it again to celebrate the puppies’ first birthdays in the summer.

She said: “It was heartbreaking letting the puppies go because I had been with them 24 hours-a-day for eight weeks. But I set up a web page and all the owners keep in touch.

“We decided to have the reunion at Seaburn, so the dogs could have a run on the beach, but I didn’t know what we would do if it was raining.

“One of the owners lives in Roker and told me about the Doggy Diner. I got in touch to see if they could accommodate us and it was really good.

“There were only owners of three puppies who couldn’t make it and they were really upset they couldn’t be there, but hopefully they will make it for the birthday reunion.”

Lyn, who lives in Gateshead, said three-year-old Lexi loved seeing her puppies again and all the pups recognised each other.

But, even though she had helped rear the dogs Lyn couldn’t tell some of them apart.

Adrienne Dickson, owner of Doggy Diner at Seaburn, which caters for people and their pets, said they were more than happy to accommodate all nine dogs, which included Lexi’s sister, and around 30 of their humans.

She said: “It was just lovely seeing all the puppies together. They were six-months-old and absolutely gorgeous. They all looked identical, but hopefully they all went home with the right owners.”

Adrienne said the event was such a success they are hoping to encourage other breeders to use the diner for family reunions and everyone is looking forward to the golden retrievers coming back for a birthday bash.