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Three years with my guide dog: the things nobody tells you
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…
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Lessons from a guide dog owner
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?
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6 months of having a guide dog
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.
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The emotional adjustment of getting a guide dog
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!
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On class: Guide dog residential training
Friday 21st April at about 3pm, I got the phone call that changed everything. The phone call I had been waiting 2 and a half years for. I had been matched with my first guide dog!! He was an 18 month old yellow Labrador cross retriever called Dezzie.
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Attending a Guide Dogs client day
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.
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Getting a guide dog: I’m on the waiting list!
In November 2019 I applied for a guide dog, then a year later I was added to the waiting list! The process was more in-depth than I had anticipated. However, I cannot thank the team at Guide Dogs for their amazing support so far. Since sharing my news about a guide dog I’ve had a lot of questions about what it involves and why I qualify for one. So I thought I would share my experience. I hope this post helps you on your guide dog journey and allows others to learn more about the process.
