“The bond between a Guide Dog and it’s human is so special and unlike any other” ~ Unknown

Photo: Owner, Zee, with guide dog, Mitch

Guide Dogs are supporting 3,608 partnerships around the UK. Currently, 363 partnerships reside in Scotland. One of these guide dog partnerships happens to be strolling around the University of Glasgow campus. You may have noticed a furry friend walking around University Avenue beside his human. Sometimes he can be spotted heading to the Advanced Research Centre. That furry friend is my guide dog, Mitch, a handsome, three-year old Golden Retriever. Mitch and I were matched in August before we qualified as a guide dog duo in November of last year.

Having Mitch by my side guiding me through the remainder of my journey of my PhD at the University of Glasgow has been a whirlwind and a beautiful adventure with twists and turns at every corner. While we have only been a working team for ten months, I have learned a lot not only about myself, but also about what it is like to work on your PhD with the addition of some paws.

Balancing your responsibilities by having a consistent routine

One of the important things I learned during my training with Mitch is that even guide dogs need a consistent routine. This is to ensure consistency throughout the days when they are working. This could also be applied to being a PhD researcher. We need consistency in our own routine in order to get our thesis ready by the deadlines we are given. In this case, I had to make sure my routine and Mitch’s matched in order for us to have a balanced partnership where we are both happy and healthy.

This meant that I had to make sure that we were out and about walking every day, which gave me the confident push to go out more of the house. I was able to get my motivation back for walking to campus every day to work. This also boosted my work ethic in the sense that I am getting more out of my day. On the other hand, having Mitch means double the responsibilities as I am now taking care of both of us instead of just myself. With the consistent routine, I am able to allocate hours throughout the day where I focus on Mitch’s needs such as feeding him his daily meals, taking him out on his free runs to make sure he has sufficient exercise, and grooming him (Golden Retrievers shed six months in the summer and six months in the winter).

Time for a wee break

As a PhD researcher and a workaholic, I tend to focus on my writing and my research as I am passionate about what I am researching and writing about. However, with time spent behind the computer screen, we forget to take little breaks in between to give our mind, soul and body a rest. By doing so we jeopardise our mental health and our physical health which, at times can lead to burnout. Having experienced burnout after my first year of my PhD, it is not an experience I would wish for anyone to undergo.

However, thanks to Mitch by my side and going on our daily walks, I am able to step away from the screen and my chapters and go to new places to walk. Walking helps clear the mind and is a great way to stay fit and healthy. What better way to clear your mind than being out in nature? During these walks I am able to switch off my mind and just be one with my surroundings, listening to what nature has to say can soothe a researcher’s soul. One of our favourite areas to visit and walk through is along Troon Beach, Mitch loves to swim so you can imagine lots of zoomies, as well as the nature trail around Aberfoyle.

Photo: Owner, Zee, with guide dog, Mitch, looking at the landscape

Seeking new places to explore

One of the best things about having an energetic dog is that you get to explore new places together. After being diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) and losing most of my sight in my teens and early 20s, I wanted to visit and see as many places as I can before I go blind (God forbid). With Mitch by my side, I have been able to adventure and check out new places around Scotland and England.

Having Mitch guide me around new places adds fire to my confidence as I know I can trust him to weave me through any winding twists and turns even when off the harness. So far, Mitch and I have visited 25 different places around England and Scotland combined. I even got to tick off the Isle of Skye off my bucket list as well as see The Jacobite Train in Fort William.

By taking time off during the weekends to explore beautiful Scotland, I am able to get some positive energy from the nature around Scotland. This helps give me the push I need to continue writing but, also gives me the opportunity to adventure around this beautiful country. I am hoping once Mitch and I pass our one year mark, we can start going on solo trips together.

An angel wrapped in fur

As mentioned in the beginning of this blog post, the bond between a guide dog and its human is one that is like no other, which is true. Mitch has brought so much joy to my PhD journey here in Glasgow. He makes me laugh even during the darkest of days. Not only did I add paws to my PhD journey, I gained a companion and a friend. The loneliness of doing a PhD subsided as soon as we became a guide dog duo. They call guide dogs life-changers – so far Mitch has been living up to that title.

Zein Al-Maha Oweis is a third year PhD researcher at the University of Glasgow. Her research focuses on disability representation in the Jordanian media. When not researching you can find her reading a book, adventuring around new places in Scotland with her guide dog Mitch or trying out new coffee spots with other fellow researchers.