Hello, I’m Bryony and I’m a second year PhD student at Cardiff University. I’ve been in Cardiff about 10 years now. I did my undergraduate here and then worked for a few years as a support worker and research assistant. My research looks at families where a parent has depression and the impact this has on both the parent and children over time, a topic I care a lot about. I also work part-time as a Wellbeing Champion, hosting coffee mornings and events for other postgraduate students.
We got our dog, Bernard, at the end of 2020, in peak lockdown, just after we had bought our first house and postponed our wedding. It was a rollercoaster of a few months, to say the least. There are many phases of puppyhood, including the adorable first few days, which soon descended into the shark demon phase, shortly followed by the false-sense-of-security obedient phase and then the inevitable and everlasting rebellious adolescent phase.
He’s three now and I wouldn’t change him for the world. He brings so much to our lives. Doing a PhD can feel isolating, frustrating and never-ending. Bernard is a companion on days when I feel alone, he demands attention by jumping on me when I’m having a bad day, which always makes me smile, and he encourages me to appreciate the small things that are happening right now. Having a dog that needs a lot of exercise gets me out of the house for walks, which importantly gives me a break from research and lets me reflect on what I’m working on. Often, I’ll come back to work afterwards with a clearer mindset and more motivation.
We rescued another dog earlier this year, not exactly planned but he’s settled into our life very easily. Alfie is older and is very cat-like. He sits next to me when I work from home, loves being picked up and cuddled, and snores very loudly. They get on well and keep each other company when we are out.
Some days are bad days, and I feel stressed about the responsibility of having two dogs on top of everything else. Yes, our life might be easier without having to think about dog care if we go away or how much food costs or insurance. But to be honest, most of those things just fall into place and we figure it out.
They are essentials.
Now I’m not recommending every PhD student gets a puppy. For six months we shifted our life to work around Bernard, and it was pure chaos. I think I’m glad I started the PhD when he was a bit older. It’s also not all perfect and idyllic; we’ve still made some compromises. We had this vision of getting a dog and going on lots of hikes and explorations across Wales. However, this quickly faded when we found Bernard likes herding sheep and pulls like mad on the lead…and Alfie hates the rain – perfect dogs for Wales!
At the end of the day, a PhD is not easy. There will always be good and bad days. But the important thing is finding ways to make it easier and more manageable. For me, the boys get me out of the house when I want to hide and give me unconditional love when I’m not feeling kindness towards myself. If you can’t get a pet yourself, there are apps where you can borrow a dog for a walk and animal shelters are often looking for volunteers to help walk and care for the animals. If all else fails, just walk around your local park and maybe you’ll meet a friendly dog to give you a cuddle.
Enjoy the dog pictures and good luck with your PhD journey!
