Week 1 – Settling Ulani into Her New Home

Our beautiful Guide Dogs puppy arrived on Thursday, and with her, our puppy raising journey officially began!

From the very first moment, Ulani stole our hearts. As soon as her little paws touched the floor, she bounded straight into Martin’s arms for the biggest cuddle. A few seconds later, I got the same treatment — and since then, she hasn’t really left our side. Ulani loves being close; she’s forever sitting on our feet or curling up the moment we stand still. Every time I head to the kitchen sink, there she is, tucked right on my toes. I feel guilty when I have to step away, but she simply waits and reclaims her spot the second I pause again. It’s the sweetest thing.

Of course, with that affection comes plenty of energy! She’s curious, playful, and currently believes the world (and everything in it) is for chewing. Turn your back for a moment and she’s tugging at the curtains or testing her teeth on a chair leg. She certainly keeps us on our toes! We’re working hard to establish a routine, learning her quirks and rhythms. There have been a few toileting mishaps — naturally — but we’re treating it as part of the process. Nights have been trickier; she hated being alone at first, so I camped downstairs with her for three nights (not much sleep was had on my end!). But by her fourth night, she settled more confidently, and I finally made it back to bed. Bliss!

One lovely surprise has been her calmness around noise. The washing machine, dishwasher, even the vacuum — none of it bothers her in the slightest. In fact, gentle background music seems to soothe her, so we’ve been playing cosy autumn coffee shop jazz. Strangely enough, Martin and I are really enjoying the vibe too.

I’d forgotten how all-consuming it is to have a puppy in the house. Life feels a little chaotic and not much else is getting done, but I’ve decided to embrace it. For now, my energy is devoted to helping Ulani feel safe, settled, and loved. A few extra pairs of hands wouldn’t go amiss, but truthfully, I can’t think of a more joyful way to be kept busy.

Raising Ulani is already proving to be an adventure full of love, laughter, and a fair bit of puppy chaos. But beyond the cuddles and the chewed chair legs, there’s a bigger purpose at the heart of it all. One day, if all goes to plan, Ulani will go on to transform someone’s life as a fully qualified guide dog. For now, we just feel incredibly privileged to be the first step on her journey — helping her grow in confidence, learn about the world, and feel completely loved along the way.

Nicola x