#6

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As I write this page, my fifth guide dog Sophie is almost 9 years 3 months old. No one has told her that of course, she still behaves more like a 9 month-old puppy. She’s full of life, is still very inquisitive, and we are often amazed at the speed she runs when enjoying a visit to Pontypool Park. In fact, all the dog owners we meet while we’re there are flabbergasted that she’s 9 years-old!

Sophie has been working for over seven years now. Troy worked for only five and-a-half years, Max worked for seven years nine months before being so cruelly snatched from us by cancer. Isaac and Eddy both worked for almost eight and-a-half years, something I think of as a ‘full term.’ It looks like Sophie might be following in their paw steps!

On Friday 19th June 2026, Sophie and I had an after-care visit, where we were assessed on how safe we were when out and about, and Sophie will be observed as to whether she’s still happy working, or whether she’s happy to be out with me but is feeling that guiding me isn’t something she wants to do anymore. It certainly feels to me that she’s happy guiding me, but guide dog trainers know all the signs and flags to look out for. Thankfully, Dave Wilde was very happy with how Sophie worked, and how I handled her on that walk, and pointed out just one or two things for me to be aware of as Sophie grows older. He signed us off as good to work for another six months, so we can expect another after care visit in late 2026 or early 2027.

Obviously, with Sophie being over 9 years-old, I have to face the prospect of dog number 6. It’s never an easy time changing to a new guide dog. After spending however many years with them working faithfully at your side, you’ve built up a level of trust that cannot simply be transferred to another dog. You’re aware they’ve had a high level of training, and you know they know how to do their job well. That doesn’t change the fact that you need to build up trust in the new dog’s abilities. No matter how many guide dogs you’ve had, trust still needs to be built up in them individually.

So, depending on various things, number six could be in the pipeline. Then again, there may not be a number six for some reason or other. Time will tell! All I can say at this stage is: “Watch this space!–