Vet Trips, Puppy Class, and Our First Garden Centre Visit!

Hello everyone,

I hope you’re all well.

We’ve had an eventful couple of weeks with Ulani — she’s now three months old and already hitting some exciting milestones!

First Vet Visit

Ulani had her first trip to the vet for her 12-week vaccinations, and we’d been preparing her for it by getting her comfortable in the car. We started by having her sit calmly in the boot, then gradually introduced the sound of the engine, followed by short drives around the block. She took it all in her stride, enjoying lying down and watching the world go by through the rear window.

Thanks to this preparation, her visit to the vet was calm and positive. Ulani greeted everyone with her usual charm, happily accepted cuddles, and didn’t even notice the jab! Plenty of treats afterward ensured she now associates the vet's practice with fun and rewards. We’ll make a few more casual visits over the coming weeks to keep reinforcing that positive experience.

Puppy Class at the National Guide Dogs Centre

Ulani also attended her very first puppy class at the National Guide Dogs Centre in Bishop’s Tachbrook. There were three sets of Puppy Raisers in our group, making it a lively and exciting session.

We practiced some basic cues and then worked on calmly walking through a “doorway” — in this case, the noisy metal gate of our training pen. Ulani quickly learned to wait for her cue before walking through and has since transferred this behaviour beautifully at home. She now waits patiently at doors and gates until I say “Okay.”

We also practiced recall and tackled a fun confidence course designed by the instructors. It included all sorts of intriguing items — hairy gorilla gloves, cones, a crumpled cardboard box, a talking pumpkin, a moving witch’s hat, and even instructors dressed in ghoulish costumes! Ulani was slightly cautious at first but handled it brilliantly, exploring everything with growing curiosity and confidence. We were so proud of her!

First Lead Walks

We’ve started her lead walks around the local area — a slow and often comical process! It’s important that Ulani learns to stay on my left, as this will always be her walking position with her future owner. Naturally, she wants to explore everything — sniffing, pulling, and occasionally attempting to sample what she finds on the ground!

At this stage, we’re encouraged to let the puppies explore freely and only step in if there’s a hazard or if we need to move aside. The goal is to wait until the lead slackens, then reward her for returning to position. It’s a time-consuming process (I don’t get very far in half an hour!), but she’s improving every day.

Her confidence around people has grown too — she was initially wary of other pedestrians, but now she often seeks a friendly cuddle. As her handler, I sometimes need to politely decline so she stays focused on her training, but we allow those interactions when the timing is right.

Garden Centre and Café Adventure

Our biggest outing yet was a trip to a garden centre and café last Friday. Ulani handled the car journey beautifully and was full of excitement when we arrived! The garden centre was bursting with fascinating sights and smells — from plants and Christmas decorations to clothes and toys — not to mention lots of people!

After a brief spell of excitement, she settled into calm exploration, walking nicely by my side without grabbing at the tempting items around her. She even tackled her first supermarket and lift ride with confidence!

At the café, she relaxed on her blanket with a rice bone, taking in the bustle around us. Ulani is very much a “doer” — she likes to be engaged and on the move — but after a little fidgeting, she settled herself again. It was a busy couple of hours, and she was fast asleep as soon as we got home. The whole outing was a fantastic training experience, and we were so proud of how confidently and calmly she handled it all.

Looking Ahead

We have another training session coming up in a few weeks. In the meantime, we’ll keep building on what we’ve learned and take Ulani on more little adventures. Every new experience helps her grow in confidence and skill — and we feel so lucky to be part of her journey to becoming a Guide Dog.

I hope you have a wonderful week.

Nicola x