Life With a Guide Dog Puppy: Ulani at 6 Months 💛

Hello everyone,

I hope you’re all keeping well and finding little moments of brightness during these long, grey winter days. January felt especially wet and gloomy, and February seems determined to follow suit — but the first snowdrops and daffodils are beginning to appear, quietly reminding us that brighter days and spring walks with our dogs aren’t far away.

On 3rd February, Ulani turned six months old, and it’s hard to believe just how quickly she’s growing. She’s blossoming into such a beautiful, gentle, and affectionate girl, and I feel incredibly lucky to be part of her journey. Every week brings new changes — more confidence, calmer behaviour, and a deeper bond between us.

Learning to Slow Down

One of our biggest focuses recently has been helping Ulani learn to relax and settle in public spaces. For a lively, curious puppy who adores people, this has been quite the challenge! We’ve spent many afternoons tucked away in cosy coffee shops, practising calm behaviour while the world bustles around us.

At first, it was anything but relaxing. Ulani wanted to greet everyone, explore every noise, and investigate every crumb. Five peaceful minutes felt like a triumph. But slowly, something wonderful began to happen — she started to understand. Now, she’ll curl up quietly beside me, watching the world go by while I enjoy a warm drink. These moments feel very special, and they’ve become one of my favourite parts of our days together.

Although many people can’t resist stopping to say hello (and who could blame them?), Ulani is learning that not every moment needs to be exciting. Seeing her develop this calm focus has been incredibly rewarding.

Mud, Mayhem & A Sibling Reunion

Ulani recently attended another puppy class, which is always a fun-filled event — particularly because her brother is there too! Their excitement at seeing each other is always completely infectious, although not exactly helpful when it comes to focusing on the task at hand. We started the class with Ulani and her brother in neighbouring pens, but it soon became clear they had eyes only for each other, and training quickly took a back seat! Watching their joyful reunion made us realise just how strong their bond is, so we arranged a sibling playdate — a decision that led to one of Ulani’s happiest days yet.

We met at our local riding club for a muddy countryside walk, where the pups ran, wrestled, splashed, and chased each other with pure joy. They were completely in their element, covered in mud and grinning from ear to ear. Watching them together was incredibly touching, and although bath time afterwards was lengthy, it was entirely worth it. We’ve now promised them regular reunions, which I suspect will always involve mud, laughter, and soggy towels. Check out the photo evidence below!

Finding Her Confidence

We also had a lovely visit from our Puppy Development Adviser, who joined us for a walk and helped us introduce Ulani to her harness. She took to it straight away, walking calmly and confidently by my side. As she grows bigger and stronger (she’s now nearly 23kg!), the harness has been a wonderful support, giving us both confidence and comfort while we explore together.

A Little Adventure Ahead

Later this month, Ulani will be heading off on a short stay with a Guide Dogs fosterer while we take a brief trip away. We’re excited for her to experience something new, but we already know we’ll miss her terribly. It will be such a valuable experience for her, helping her grow in independence and adaptability — and I can’t wait to share how she gets on.

Thank you so much for following along on our journey. Sharing life with Ulani continues to remind me just how fleeting these moments are — from muddy adventures and playful reunions to quiet cuddles and sleepy afternoons. It’s this deep connection and individuality that inspires my pet portrait work, where I aim to capture not just how a pet looks, but who they truly are. If you’d like to see more of my artwork or read more stories from our journey, you can explore my pet portraits and latest posts on my website.

Nicola x