By your side: navigating life over decades with a guide dog, and how the partnership evolves over time

Father of two, Nathan Foy, has worked with a guide dog since he was 18 years old.

Nathan explains the profound loss the accompanies the end of a partnership, as well as the gratitude he feels every time he steps outside his house with his guide dog partner.

It is also a fascinating insight into the human guide dog partnership and its evolution over time. Nathan explains the efficiencies that mark out a veteran dog and how non-verbal communication takes over from verbal commands over time.

Each of his (very different) dogs have accompanied him through various stages of life, according to their personalities and strengths:

• Hughie, his best mate saw him through his teens into his twenties, with many firsts experienced together;
• Bessie, whose intelligence and sociability made work trips all over the UK an adventure;
• Mason, whose steadiness guided Nathan, a toddler and a baby in a buggy safely across town every day and through Covid; and now
• Joey, who sits at the heart of family life, while supporting Nathan with the challenges of blind parenting.

Nathan works for Guide Dogs for the Blind Association (Guide Dogs)

Connected episodes on assistance dogs

• Ralph, the owner-trained, multi-tasking assistance dog - perfect for a Rogate teenager
• Darcey, the Canine Partner: an assistance dog relationship in full bloom
• Benjy, the trainee guide dog's first five weeks on the job
• Daisy, the autism assistance dog - practical, psychological and emotional support
• Breck, the retired guide dog

Dogs with Jobs features the full range of working dogs, therapy dogs, military and service dogs, assistance dogs, bio detection dogs and other, random occupations such as truffle hunting, modelling and more. Browse more dogs with interesting jobs.

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