I’m writing this sat at home with Dezzie curled up in his bed, sorting the last minute bits for the wedding. Dezzie is my first guide dog. He’s a yellow Labrador cross retriever. We qualified as a partnership in June 2023. I’ve already written about our journey so far, so consider this the next instalment as we pass three years together. Read more: Lessons from a guide dog owner This time I want to talk about the things nobody tells you. The bits that don’t make it into the leaflets. Nobody tells you how often you’ll answer the same questions There are always questions. I get asked at least three times…

Just over two years ago, Dezzie and I qualified as a partnership. During that time I’ve experienced independence like never before. I’ve been able to leave the house, see friends and travel with less reliance on others. But what have I learnt during this time?

I’ve been qualified with Dezzie for 6 months now. If you don’t know, Dezzie is my first guide dog. He’s a 2 year old yellow Labrador cross retriever who has so much love to give. The last 6 months together has gone so quickly. If anything, it still feels like we’re getting to know each other. Here’s an update about what we’ve been up to in the last 6 months.

I’m writing this blog post while sat in a cafe, with Dezzie sleeping at my feet. This seemingly mundane task is something I’ve looked forward to for a long time — it’s huge and I’m actually emotional. Dezzie is oblivious to the enormity of this moment, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Dezzie and I are now a qualified partnership! It’s been about a month, it has gone so quickly!

As some of you may know, I’m on the waiting list for a guide dog. With the pandemic causing longer waiting times, I’ve been on the waiting list for nearly 2 and a half years. A client day was the chance to learn more about the process and meet some of the staff at Guide Dogs.