Hi lovelies,

Well, it’s been a busy few months with lots of changes happening in my life. At times, it feels like there’s nothing but change, both personally and in the world around me. What I’ve come to learn is that flowing with change creates a more resilient and joy-filled life. Of course, change can be good or bad, but I truly believe it’s our outlook and attitude toward it that shape who we become.

One of the most joyful and life-changing experiences I’ve recently had is my partnership with my amazing, handsome guide dog, Donavan, or Donny, as we’ve all come to know and love him. I found out about a potential match in December 2024. It’s a day I’ll never forget.

Honestly, when I got the call, my first thought was, “Here we go again…” because I’d already been through a few potential matches and had now waited three years for what they call the “perfect match.” I always thought that sounded a little far-fetched, after all, is there really such a thing as a perfect match? (Kind of like finding a romantic partner but that’s a whole other blog post!) But when I first met Donny, we clicked instantly. He was so loving and excited to meet me and I felt the same. It wasn’t until I received the official offer after our matching walk that I truly believed he’d be my partner. It can be hard to stay optimistic when you’ve had to climb over so many walls you get tired, but it was meant to be. We began our training together in early February, starting with a stay at the dedicated Guide Dogs hotel in Bolton. That was an experience in so many ways. It was actually the first time I’d ever stayed away from my son, my family, and my home completely on my own. Even when I had usable sight, I never went away without a partner, friends, or family so I was equal parts excited and nervous.

As I’ve said before, my sight loss has brought me things I might never have had with sight. That week flew by, and we learned all the basics of owning a dog and more importantly, of working with a guide dog. While they’re still dogs, there are a few extra rules! We learned about their feeding patterns, grooming, health, and the basics of loose-lead walking and guiding. It was great to have the space to really get to know each other. I learned that Donny is hard working but playful, fun, and absolutely loves being around people, just like me.

After a solid start and as the nerves began to settle, we moved back home and just like that, Donny officially moved in. It was a bit of a rollercoaster for him too; like me, he’d been in a few different homes before finding his forever one. We began training on our home and work routes. You choose three main routes to train on to qualify together. I chose the walk to our local Co-op, the route to my yoga class, and the path to a free-run area because I want both of us to be able to get some exercise independently. Oh, and of course, the route to my new office for my new role at Walthew House.

Yes, I snuck an extra one in there! If you know me, you know I like to challenge myself just that little bit more.

The smaller routes were easier to master. And as I got to know Donny better, I began picking up on his little traits: if he saw another dog, he’d speed up a little; if he was tired or unsure, he’d sniff more. If we got a bit lost, he’d lead me to a safe point where I could figure things out or ask for help. Every day, we became a stronger team. .

We did have a little bump in the road due to a strong distraction (a person on one of our routes who kept pulling his attention). But we went back to basics, rebuilt our confidence, and got right back on track.

This is where the training from Guide Dogs is truly invaluable. They know the dogs so well and work with you at *your* pace, adapting to meet your individual needs. They really encourage real-time problem-solving to build your partnership because that’s an essential skill once their support phase ends. My experience with the team and my trainer has been amazing. I’ll be forever thankful for their support.

Donny and I officially qualified on Thursday, April 10th, after successfully completing my work route entirely on our own. That route involves getting a bus from Manchester to Stockport, then walking from the bus station to my office along the busy A6. It’s a solid 30-minute walk with lots of obstacles and crossings. My trainers were initially a bit concerned about the complexity, but they also saw how important it was to me. They recognized how confident I’d become and supported the challenge and qualifying on *that* route made it even more special.

To celebrate and relax before starting my new role, we took a trip to the beach in North Wales. It was Donny’s first time at the beach and he absolutely loved it! It was a perfect reward for such an amazing dog. Dylan (my son) is Donny’s best mate and is genuinely amazed by the work Donny does for me. He’s so grateful that Donny keeps me safe. It’s also been wonderful watching Dylan’s relationship with dogs grow Donny really has become part of the family. He keeps both of us entertained and busy.

Since qualifying, I’ve done so many things independently things I hadn’t done alone in six years. I bought my mum flowers by myself, picked up treats for Dylan, took a solo bus ride, and had a walk in the park. And this is only the beginning I can’t wait to see what other adventures lie ahead for us.

I know having a guide dog isn’t for everyone it’s a bit like having a child. But if it’s something you’re even a little curious about, I highly recommend looking into it. I won’t sugar coat it, it’s hard work, just like parenting but what they give back to you in terms of independence, confidence, and love is priceless.

I also use a cane and have just ordered a Glide, a robotic guide dog of sorts! My goal is to use all the tools available to me to reclaim my independence. It’s like having a wellbeing toolkit to support you through life’s ups and downs only in this case, my toolkit helps me get out and about, which is amazing for my mental health. I like to think of it like this: for many sighted people, a car gives them freedom. My toolkit does the same for me, with the added bonus that my tools love me back and give great cuddles!

This has just been a little sneak peek into my guide dog training experience. There are so many stories out there so please take the time to read them, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. And one last thing please never distract a working guide dog. It really does make a difference! But do say hello and always ask before greeting the dog. We don’t bite, promise!

Sending love,

Nina 💛