Living with blind dog: Caring for a blind pet

Опубликовано: December 24, 2022 в 2:00 am

Автор: alexxlab

Категории: Dog

Tips To Adjust To Vision Loss In Your Dog

Three years ago, my now 17-year-old retired service dog Mercury started going blind. Even though I had worked with dogs for 20 years before he started losing his vision, I didn’t know much about blind dogs. Naively, I thought his blindness would dramatically change his life.

It turns out, I had a much harder time than he did adjusting to his blindness. Initially, it was hard for me to realize that this dog who had saved my life wasn’t able to see me anymore. But, once I stopped feeling sorry for him (and myself), I was able to recognize that he wasn’t struggling or afraid. Watching my blind dog continue to love life, train, earn trick titles, hike, and surf—all while not being able to see—has inspired me to teach others not to shortchange blind dogs of any age.

What Causes Blindness in Dogs?

Canine blindness and loss of vision can be caused by a variety of conditions. Sometimes blindness is a natural result of conditions associated with old age. For other dogs, it comes on quickly when they are quite young. Common blindness-causing conditions include cataracts and glaucoma, as well as Sudden Acquired Retinal Degeneration Syndrome, or SARDS. As the name implies, dogs with SARDS lose their vision quickly instead of it slowly deteriorating over time.

If your dog begins bumping into things or seems disoriented and you suspect they’re losing vision, make an appointment with your veterinarian right away. In addition to diagnosing your dog’s vision issues, the vet may refer you to a canine ophthalmology specialist.

Safety First For Blind Dogs

For dogs who have lost their sight, maintaining routines as much as possible can help them adjust. Keep your furniture in the same spots to make it easier for your dog to navigate your home. If you redecorate, or when you bring your dog to a new place, bring them carefully around the area to show them obstructions. Because your dog can’t see, make sure that any potential dangers such as swimming pools or staircases are blocked off with fences or baby gates to prevent falls.

If you find your dog bumping into things frequently, talk with your vet or canine ophthalmology specialist. They may recommend a bumper like Muffin’s Halo that can help protect your dog’s face.

2014 Ace Award winner Xander the Pug went on to become an accomplished therapy dog after going blind.

Many blind dogs are able to happily return to activities they enjoyed before losing vision. So, where possible, don’t stop engaging in activities that your dog has always loved. However, make sure to always keep blind dogs on leash so you can prevent them from walking into things or getting hurt.

It’s also essential to inform people who interact with your dog—such as groomers and dog walkers—about your dog’s condition. Most people who see my dog Mercury have no idea that he’s blind, but I still like to advise anyone who approaches us so that they don’t startle him. You can also purchase leash and collar wraps that say “blind dog” to communicate to others that your dog is visually impaired.

Play

Just because a dog can’t see doesn’t mean they don’t want to play! Play is an important part of life for dogs and loss of sight doesn’t mean that playing days are done. When playing, blind dogs utilize their other senses to compensate for a lack of sight. So, opt for toys that squeak, rattle, and make noise when they move, so that your dog will be able to find them.

Training

Even for experienced owners, it can be shocking to see how well most dogs adjust to going blind. Blindness need not create a change in your training routines with your dog. It just may require some shifts in how you cue certain behaviors. Obviously, your blind dog will not be able to respond to visual signals. However, verbal cues work well to help blind dogs maintain existing skills and learn new ones.

Luring with treats and then incorporating physical cues can work well with blind dogs. For example, a shoulder touch to cue a sit or a back touch to cue a down. Keeping blind dogs physically and mentally exercised is important. Training continues to build self-confidence as well, which is particularly important for dogs with impaired vision.

Sports

The sport of AKC Scent Work is an ideal outlet for blind dogs because they’re relying on sense of smell to search for odor. Scent Work can build confidence for blind dogs and be an excellent way to channel energy. Other options for blind dogs to earn titles include the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) program, Trick Dog competitions, or therapy dog work.

While discovering that your dog has become blind might be overwhelming or even devastating for owners at first, it’s important to recognize that blindness isn’t a death sentence. Dogs who go blind can and do continue to go on to live enriched lives. They just need a little extra help from us to keep them safe.

Tips for Living with a Blind Dog

Little Miss Sweet Pea

Just like people, dogs can experience a loss of eyesight as they get older. While some dogs are born sightless or visually impaired, others may lose their vision due to cataracts, glaucoma, progressive retinal atrophy, or suddenly acquired retinal degeneration (also known as SARDS). While most fur parents would do anything for their beloved fur babies, caring for a blind dog or one who is losing its eyesight can present a special set of challenges. But it isn’t a difficult as you might think!

Ultimately, the loss of eyesight does not mean your fur baby must suffer a poor quality of life. On the contrary. You might be surprised how well your blind pup can get around without seeing a thing! As the fur parent of a blind, 12-year-old Boston Terrier, I am in a qualified position of experience to provide some insight and tips for living with a blind dog.

My husband and I adopted Miss Sweet Pea from the Humane Society of the Nature Coast in August of 2020. We didn’t plan on having a new fur-baby so soon. We had just lost our precious Mr. Maximus after a year-long battle with canine lymphoma and we were still deep in grief. Then we saw Sweet Pea, a 12-year-old, blind Boston Terrier with (what we have come to learn is) selective hearing and fell in love immediately. Then came our new challenge… living with a blind dog.

Of course, the first thing we did was to go online to find information and tips for living with a blind dog. Most sources offer the same common sense suggestions. But the ones we find the most helpful are the ones we’ve learned through experience. A selection of both are shared below.

Prepare Your Home for Your Blind Fur Baby

If you have just adopted a sightless or vision impaired dog, it’s a good idea to arrange the furniture in your home in a way that allows for ease of movement through each room. When you bring your sightless fur baby home for the first time, walk them through the house on a leash – slowly — so they can start becoming familiar with the layout of their new surroundings. Talk to them and let them know where they are.

Pay particular attention to showing them the way to their bed and their food and water bowls. Show them the way to the doors to other rooms and how to go outside and be sure to familiarize them with the backyard for when they need to go do their business. Help your dog create a house and yard roadmap in their mind.

If you have a pet that is going blind, keep as much of the existing environment and furniture payout the same as possible. They already know their way around and drastic changes could create confusion, fear and even injury.

WARNING: If you have a pool or a pond in your back yard, NEVER LET YOUR BLIND DOG GO THERE UNSUPERVISED!!!

Pols and ponds can be a fatal art of your backyard for a sightless pet.

We have a large pond in our backyard. One night, Miss Sweet Pea decided to cross the bridge that spans the width of the pond and, when she made that right turn too early, she fell straight into the pond and sank like a rock. I ran, jumped in and fished her off the bottom of the pond and she came up sputtering and shaking. That was a terrifying lesson I will never forget. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER LEAVE YOUR BLIND DOG UNSUPERVISED NEAR WATER!!!

Again — DON’T REARRANGE THE FURNITURE!

For anyone who knows me, they can tell you. For me to not rearrange furniture is like not tapping my foot when I hear my favorite song playing. I love rearranging furniture to keep things new… But “new” can be hazardous for your blind dog. Even setting something down on the floor for a moment, like a basket of laundry or a sack of groceries, becomes a roadblock for your blind fur baby. I was pressure washing the lanai one day and went to let Sweet Pea out to go potty and BAM… she ran face-first into it because it was smack-dab in the middle of the path she took going out to the back yard.

Sweet Pea has already learned her way around the house and is so familiar with the layout she gets around just as well as her sighted fur-siblings. In fact, when people come to visit, they are surprised to find out she can’t see.

Be Aware of Where They Are

Because Sweet Pea loves being around us, she follows the sound of our voices. Because of that and we frequently find ourselves turning around and almost tripping over her. Her tiny size only adds to the frequency with which she becomes a tripping hazard (hence her nickname “speed bump”). While it’s frustrating and sometimes scary for us, we can only imagine what it’s like for her. Imagine just wanting some company only to wind up getting a foot in the head.

Sweet Pea loves her beds but sometimes she loves to hang around our feet.

Pay Attention to Floor Textures

Another thing we’ve observed is “how” Sweet Pea navigates her way around the house and backyard. She is actually “listening” and “feeling” her way around. When her paws are tapping on granite tile, she knows she’s in the wide-open area of the living room and she zips around as fast as her sighted brother Einstein and sister cats, Little Bit and Miss Kitty Kitty. Because the tile in the dining area has a different texture, she knows precisely when she enters the dining area. When her paws touch the low-nap area rug, she knows she’s near furniture and she slows down. When her feet hit thick pile carpet, she knows she’s in the bedrooms.

Try to leave area rugs where they are. Moving them will confuse your fur-baby. When I had a runner from the hallway hanging on the fence to dry after a good scrubbing, she stopped abruptly when she came to where it should have been. She then moved cautiously forward until she came to where she knew where she was again before resuming her confident pace.

If you frequently leave doors open, don’t start keeping them closed. If you have a sliding door to go outside, pay attention when you open and close it. If Sweet Pea hears the door open she will sometimes come running to go out. If I shut it before she gets there, without knowing she’s coming… Well, it’s no fun watching her smash face-first into the glass.

Introduce Them to Their Fur (or Feathered) Siblings

If you have other pets in your home, take time to introduce your blind pup to each one of them with supervision, especially if any of them are known to be “enthusiastic” playmates.

While Sweet Pea’s sister kitties aren’t the “play-time” sort, they are known to snuggle with Sweet Pea for naps and at bed-time. Sweet Pea has already trained big brother Einstein to know she isn’t a push-over and se frequently claims his bed just to remind him who’s in charge! But it’s always adorable when they all nap together… and it’s always on mom and dad’s bed.

Sweet Pea and Nadya

Sweet Pea adored her sister Nadya. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to sped much time with Nadya because she was ill when we adopted her. But Sweet Pea helped us give her the best life ever.

Let others know your dog is blind

When other people see your dog, they may ask… “Can I pet your dog?” While you might be okay with that, it’s important to let your sightless pup know someone is getting ready to touch them. There are times when I look over at Miss Sweet Pea while she’s sitting next to me on the sofa and she’s just so darn adorable I have to reach over to give her a pat on the head… and she almost jumps out of her skin.

Always give your blind fur baby a verbal warning before you touch them. When others want to pet your pup, tell the person your dog is blind and ask them to call your pup’s name and to approach slowly. Have them put their hand near your dog’s face so they can smell the person is near them and allow the dog to lean forward to get their scent. It would also be a good idea to have your dog wear something that will identify their condition when around other people and especially in case your dog gets lost.

When we have company, Sweet Pea can hear the new voice in the house. As she goes over to meet them I advise the guest that she is bind and I ask them to stand still until she checks them out. She’ll go over, smell their legs, and then she walks away. Interestingly, when a guest returns that she liked and she hears their voice she will go over, smell their leg and when she has confirmed their scent she gets so excited, standing on her hind legs bouncing with happiness in a plea for them to pick her up so she can give them kisses!

Get things your dog can wear to let others know they are blind.

When going out in public it’s a good idea to prepare them with something that will let others know they are blind. Get a shirt, bandana or vest for your dog that reads “I’m blind” to wear on walks. Tell people about your dog’s condition so they approach slowly and let the dog sniff them first. Also, get a tag for your dog’s collar that says “I’m blind” in case the pup ever gets lost. There are also halos, which protect the pup’s head when exploring new environments.

If your dog is having trouble navigating your home, a Halo will protect their face while they learn their way around.

Give your dog a safe zone.

It is important to establish an area in the house that provides a safe place for your blind pup to “get away.”

So, to provide her a “safe space,” Sweet Pea and her big German Shepherd Dog brother Einstein have a little spot against the wall in the family room where they can be out of the way of “traffic,” yet still be part of the gang. There’s a large dog bed for Einstein and a small one for Sweet Pea. But, that’s not to say she doesn’t claim his bed now and then. We do find that Sweet Pea goes there often and will frequently sit facing the wall. We thought it was strange at first. But then we realized… No matter which way she is facing, the “view” for Sweet Pea is always the same!

Sometimes we forget, n matter which way Sweet Pea faces in a room, her view is always the same!

Fun, Pleasure and Play-Time

One of the greater challenges with a blind dog is finding ways to engage with them in play. Since they can’t see, “fetch” is out. But there are other ways to have fun with your sightless pup. The best way to discover what they enjoy is to pay attention. They will let you know.

Sweet Pea loves plush squeaky toys! In fact, whenever we come home (even if it was after a short trip to the grocery store), we give her a squeaky toy. She is so excite, she takes it in her mouth, runs to her bed and shakes it around until she gets the excitement out of her system. Then she finds you and insists on snuggles. It’s a ritual we all enjoy.

Sweet Pea loves sunbathing.

A peculiar thing we have noticed is Sweet Pea really loves sitting in the sunlight. While she can’t see sunlight, she can definitely feel it, and you can tell by the look on her face that it feels so very good.

Whether she’s inside or outside, she has her favorite places where she knows the sun will be shining and she will sit there, eye closed, for the longest time doing nothing but soak up the warmth.

She love dress-up! It doesn’t matter what it is. But you can tell, the moment you put something on her she literally smiles .

Sweet Pea loves going outside. But we never leave her outside unsupervised.

Sweet Pea absolutely loves playing dress-up hanging around the Silkie Chickens. Maybe their small size makes her feel like a big sister! When the Silkies are free ranging in the backyard Sweet Pea likes hanging together with them. Hedda Hopper has really boded with her. They often find a sunny spot in the yard and just sit there soaking up the rays together. On Tu Tu Tuesdays they get dressed up and Sweet Pea grins like she knows she’s pretty!

Sweet Pea and her Silkie Sister Hedda Hopper.

So, there you have it. Except for the fact that one can’t see, there really isn’t much difference between as sighted and blind dogs. While one might require a little extra care, they both love to play, they love to get snuggles and they love being part of a family.

If you have a vision-impaired dog and have some advice to share, or if you have a dog that is losing sight or plan on adopting a sightless pup and have questions, please share it in the comment section below.

Living with a Blind Dog

Living with and training a blind dog is very rewarding. Set realistic expectations, be patient, and always remember to celebrate victories – no matter how small. Give your blind dog a few weeks to learn about his new home and the people he shares it with. Once he has mapped out his home, figured out where everything is, and is bonding with your family, you can begin training!

Setting up your home

Carefully examine all areas of your home – inside and out – to look for anything at your dog’s level that could injure or scare him. There are several types of halo harnesses on the market that will help keep your dog from bumping into walls and furniture. You could also pad coffee table corners and furniture legs with bubble wrap until he learns his way around.

The location of your dog’s food, water and bed should never change; however, you can have food, water and another bed in a second location if you’d like. These areas need to be thought of as home base and can help reorient your dog if he gets turned around at any point. If possible, try to crate train your dog too – so he will be safely tucked away when you leave home.

Try not to rearrange your furniture. Relocated chairs and couches can be very unsettling for a blind dog that depends on his world staying predictable. You can use scent markers to alert your dog to where doorways are. A scent marker can be cotton balls with peppermint or vanilla flavoring dabbed on them. A change in texture can help him learn about hazards. Put bark chips around trees or bushes, such as roses, that have thorns and then work with him on leash so he learns not to run full steam into these “marked” hazards.

Block off stairs! Do not take any chances. Over time you can teach him about the stairs and how best to navigate them, but until then keep them off limits.

If you have a slippery floor, you can apply nonskid adhesive strips or introduce him to nonskid booties. Dogs don’t love these right off the bat, so pair yummy treats and praise with his slow introduction to the booties.

If there are other animals in your home, have them wear a cat bell. If he seems to have trouble locating you, you could always sew a cat bell onto a ribbon or elastic hair band to put on your wrist or ankle.

Helpful Tips

Be your dog’s advocate. Don’t let people or other animals approach him on their own. If your dog has just recently gone blind or is going blind, he may be feeling vulnerable. Supervise interactions and support him so he feels safe.

You will be your dog’s safety net, especially at the beginning. Let him know when you’re leaving the room and when you’re approaching him. Teach him a word for each!

Walking him on a comfortable harness may give you more control than a regular collar when you are on walks.

Make a list of words that can help him navigate the world: “step up/down,” “stop,” “left/right,” “slow,” etc.

Toys, like the Babble Ball, are available that make noise and may fascinate your dog. You can also teach your dog the names of his favorite toys. Soft puzzle toys can also be great as your dog will use his nose to locate the treats.

Blind and/or Deaf Dog Organizations

The Oregon Humane Society is not affiliated with any of the organizations listed below and is not responsible for the services offered. This is not a complete list of organizations. We encourage you to reach out to organizations on your own ask for details about training methods and practices. We recommend trainers that use force-free, positive reinforcement based training.

Deaf Dogs of Oregon | www.deafdogsoforegon.org

Advocacy, education and owner-support organization.

Deaf Dog Education Action Fund | www.deafdogs.org

Education and funding resource for the purpose of improving or saving the lives of deaf dogs

Amazing Aussies Lethal White Rescue of Arizona | www.amazingaussies.org

Adoptions, rescue and educational resources for blind and/or deaf dogs.

Australian Shepherds Furever | www.australianshepherdsfurever.org

Guidance and education for owners with blind and/or deaf Australian Shepherds.

Association of Professional Dog Trainers | www.apdt.com

Use the “Locate a Trainer” search tool to find a dog trainer in your area.

Need help? Call our free pet behavior help line at (503) 416-2983.

Passion for life: a few words about how to live and work with a blind dog

For a person, sudden blindness often becomes a catastrophe. Through vision, we receive such a volume of information that its disappearance literally turns our world upside down. Probably not even so: the familiar world simply disappears.

A dog who has lost his sight certainly experiences serious discomfort, but for him blindness does not turn into the end of the world. This is explained by the fact that, on the one hand, vision is not the main sense organ for the dog, and on the other hand, its psyche, unlike the human, is much more plastic and much more focused on survival in any conditions. I have not met dogs that constantly feel sorry for themselves, thump with grief or are angry at the whole world, because nature didn’t give them something there or suddenly took something away.

That’s the way a man is: he always invents much more difficulties for himself than he actually has. Loss of sight brings a lot of difficulties to the dog, but it does not become a sentence either for her or for the family in which she lives. Do not worry that now you will have to take care of an unfortunate animal, unable to even properly go outside, for the rest of your life. A dog blind as a result of injury or illness, and even more so blind from birth, perfectly adapts to life in changing conditions and is completely independent. She certainly does not consider her blindness a sentence.

I have worked several times with dogs that are said to have special needs. Surprisingly, it can even be difficult for a person from the outside, unfamiliar with the situation, to notice that the dog does not see anything. This becomes obvious only when you notice clouded pupils that are not able to let in a drop of light, or empty eye sockets.

You know, one day I realized that the dog is blind only after half an hour of communication, noticing that he does not follow his hand with sweets. Most dogs keep their eyes on the hand as soon as they find the connection between the pocket and the piece, but here the dog was just staring at one point, despite my very clear hints. This was a good lesson for me. As it turned out later, even the owners of this dog did not know how bad the situation was: the ophthalmologist who examined her eyes simply did not find the retina, its remnants floated inside the eyeball.

It is very hard to accept that your dog is blind, even harder to decide to adopt a blind puppy. Sighted – in bulk, why take on such hemorrhoids? – so many people who come to the shelter argue. Now I do not set the task of convincing those who doubt or reassure those who are worried, everything is much simpler: if a problem arises, it must be solved. The question is how.

Prepare your home for the appearance of a blind dog

Often a person from the outside does not even realize that the dog does not see anything. Photo: Fred Strobel Photography

Whether you’re picking up your dog from a clinic or considering adopting a blind puppy from a shelter, the first thing to think about is making your home safe for the dog. Be patient and go through your apartment or house several times, carefully inspect the garden for any sharp corners, steps, protruding pins or sticks – in a word, anything that can injure the dog.

“One of the visitors to the shelter, who was preparing to take home a blind dog, was not too lazy to get on all fours and in this position once again go around her house and yard. This helped her literally put herself in the dog’s place, and she was able to see what she had not paid attention to attention from the height of his height.”

Mary Jo DiLonardo, Dog Behavior Writer

Put secure barriers on all doors and stairs that could be dangerous to a blind dog. Close all hatches and pits with secure covers. If you have a pool or fountain, make sure that access to them is securely blocked. Check all available electrical outlets and be sure to close them with special covers.

Inside the house, it will be useful to lay carpets and rugs, thus marking safe places to move. In the yard, paths sprinkled with sand, bushes and trees will play the role of the same markers. Just be sure to check that the yard is securely fenced.

I’ll note right away: a dog’s blindness is not a reason to walk all his life only on a leash. It does not matter if the dog lost his sight as an adult or was born blind – he is quite capable of adapting to his condition so as not to cause any serious discomfort to himself or to you.

Of course, at first she will need your help, but how else? For some time you will have to walk her on a leash, giving her the opportunity to explore everything properly. In the courtyard of a country house, this period will take several days, in the city, most likely, several months. Not years, but months! Think over two or three routes of daily walks of different duration and walk your dog along them. Very soon the dog will make a sound, olfactory and tactile map of the area and will be able to navigate it no worse than a sighted one.

Create a safe zone at home

The house should be divided into zones, some of which will be specially prepared so that a blind dog can remain there alone, without the risk of injury, and in the rest it will need to be constantly supervised.

A safe zone can be created either by separating part of the apartment or house from other premises with fences, or by placing a sufficiently large aviary in a convenient place. It depends on what kind of apartment you have and what kind of dog you are talking about. The partitions and the aviary must be strong enough so that the dog cannot overcome the obstacles in your absence.

Naturally, inside the safe area there should be interesting toys, water, food, soft bedding – that is, everything that is needed for the comfort of the dog, while there will be no objects that can fall, prick, hook or injure the dog. Even better, if there is nothing inside this zone but dog things. At night, it will be safer to send the dog to sleep in an aviary or carrier cage.

Do not make repairs and do not rearrange furniture

Thinking about repairing or rearranging the apartment immediately after a blind dog has appeared at home is not a good idea. It will take a long time for the dog to make a stable map of the area and learn to navigate it confidently. For several months, you will have to make sure that things stay in place: push chairs, push ottomans and armchairs. Remember that any furniture that is not where a blind dog expects to meet it can seriously injure him.

Consider the format of training a blind dog

Training with a specialist is of great importance for the development of any dog, and when it comes to a dog with special needs, the importance of work cannot be overestimated. The ability to manage such a dog is vital to ensure its safety.

In addition to the standard set of commands, you will need to teach your dog to hear and understand special signals, such as “Caution” or “Stop” when the dog gets too close to a wall, bush, car, or your feet. With the right approach, the dog will quickly understand that at this moment it is necessary to stop as soon as possible.

When one sense organ is damaged or disappears, the brain distributes its functions among the remaining ones, this is a scientifically established fact. A deaf dog sees better, a blind dog has a sharper sense of smell and clearer hearing. When working, this must be taken into account.

You can’t “show” your dog what to do with visual cues, so a unique, dog-friendly, and well-localized audio signal will need to be used as a means of attracting attention from a distance.

Perhaps it will be a click or a special whistle, the squeak of a toy or the squeak of a ball, and gestures that are usually used in initial training, such as raising a hand at the command “Sit”, start from the dog’s nose, thus catching his attention.

Naturally, it is better to use a delicacy that smells strong enough. To emphasize the need to use the nose, at home you can play with the dog in search, hiding treats and asking the dog to find them.

Optional scent tags and special guards for dogs

For some dogs, bumper guards around the head are very useful. Photo: David Goehring

Some authors advise “helping” blind dogs navigate the house by marking doors with scents. For example, the door to the kitchen with a drop of vanilla, and the door to the bedroom with a pinch of cinnamon.

This is redundant in my opinion. Dogs have a very keen sense of smell and they can perfectly navigate without such prompts. Everything around has its own unique smell. I am sure that even you, closing your eyes, will determine by smell where the kitchen is and where the hallway is. Moreover, too bright and alien smells can confuse the dog and bring unnecessary confusion to his perception of the world around him. Changes in the matrix of familiar dog smells must be made very carefully: do not forget that the new causes not only curiosity, but also fear.

Even more damaging are protective caps that are recommended to be worn around the dog’s neck, ostensibly to avoid injury and make habituation safer. Bullshit. As many owners write, such caps only interfere with dogs, some are even simply afraid to move when it is on.

The dog learns to be careful just by bumping into objects and experiencing discomfort. The cap makes it difficult to form the matrix of reality and hinders the development of the ability to correctly navigate in space.

In fact, many owners of blind dogs are aware of how careful their pets can be. In new places, such dogs do not run like crazy, but carefully explore the area, making their map. The only time they can afford to relax and neglect security is during play. But at such moments, sighted dogs do not behave in the best way.

Obviously, no recommendations can be taken as dogma. If the dog is extremely insecure and unwilling to explore the space, if you notice that he can really hurt himself because he does not learn to be careful, then marking the room with smells or a cap around his neck may be the only solutions. But you should use them only when you are unambiguously convinced of their necessity.

If the doctor finds that the dog’s vision is not completely lost, then special sunglasses can protect the eyes from the bright sun and help to navigate the walk. Check with your doctor, sometimes their use becomes a very good solution. Glasses, by the way, can also help if the dog is not too careful and can damage the eyes by bumping into objects. Do not expect your dog to wear them immediately and with pleasure: most likely, it will take quite a long time to get used to the glasses.

Talk to the dog!

A blind dog relies on hearing much more than a sighted dog and constantly keeps its “ears open”. Photo: Fred Strobel Photography

Remember that a blind dog cannot see you, which means he needs cues to determine where you are, where you are going and what you are going through. The easiest way to do this is to talk to the dog. The intonation of your voice can replace your dog’s gestures and facial expressions, so don’t be afraid to be sincere and saturate your speech with emotions. Blindness makes the dog very sensitive to the slightest nuances of voice and over time it will learn to understand you literally from a half-word.

“Sometimes you will find recommendations to carry a bell in your pocket to help the dog locate the owner. In some cases this is justified, but often just your voice and smell is enough.”

Mary Jo DiLonardo, dog handler, author of dog behavioral issues

On walks, talk to your dog as much as possible, commenting on what is happening around and including special prompts, such as “Stop” near an obstacle or “Up” and “Bottom” near the curb or stairs. You can use any words for hints, the main thing is that they are convenient and understandable for you and the dog. Do not forget the simple rule: one action, one word.

Always warn people who want to pet your dog that the dog cannot see and they need to say a few kind words before touching him. Make sure that the dog heard and reacted, that is, turned his head towards the speaker, moved his ears or wagged his tail. Otherwise, the stranger’s hand will fall literally like snow on his head and can really scare the dog.

Your voice is a beacon for a blind dog. When you leave the room and see that the dog has raised its head and listens to what is happening, it makes sense to call him with you. The dog will be much more comfortable next to you, and not alone in an empty room.

Your departure from home deserves special attention. Some owners write that it is easier for their dogs to be alone if the person, when leaving, turns on music, radio or TV for them. Others focus on toys that make various sounds when they are manipulated: squeak, creak or crack. And the more disgusting and louder the sound, the more interesting the dog.

But not only with the sound: you can leave the dog toys in which treats are hidden in order to occupy its scent and head during the absence, of course. It is up to you to choose. The task in any case comes down to making the environment of the dog in your absence more interesting and brighter.

Do not forget about relationships with other animals

It will take a lot of time and patience to adapt a blind dog to a new pack, and a pack to a very peculiar companion. Photo: Mary Jo DiLonardo

This is the most difficult question in the context of adapting a blind dog to a new pack or restructuring old relationships due to vision loss. Obviously, a blind dog cannot see the warning signals given by other animals: the flattened ears and the silent grin of fellow dogs, the arched back and the twitching tail of cats. For any animal, this is a clear indication that now you need to retreat, as a conflict is possible.

Imagine the condition of a dog or cat that sees a stranger blatantly ignoring such signals and, in defiance of command, reaching into her bowl, drinking her water, or grabbing her toys. The most logical solution in this case would be an immediate attack, while it is quite possible that a blind dog will not have the slightest idea about the cause of the conflict.

A dog that has lost its sight as a result of an injury or disease and returned to the house after treatment will have a much easier time adapting, but still its behavior will cause some bewilderment of the rest of the pack. A strange dog will need from several weeks to several months to fully adapt to life in a new family.

This must be taken into account, even if you have mega-calm and super-duper smart animals at home. The appearance of a new tenant in any case will cause them stress, and his “impudence” can really lead to conflicts. Be sure to consult with a specialist if you have even the slightest doubt about the success of the entire event.

In general, nothing is impossible, just be patient

Blindness is not a death sentence for a dog. A blind dog is not a burden. It’s just that for her upbringing and training you will need a little more patience than other owners.

With a blind puppy, everything will be almost the same as with a sighted one. He will also taste your things and they will have to be hidden. He will also beg from the table and sleep on the bed. Only, perhaps, at first you will have more bruises on your body: not seeing an obstacle, a blind dog will crash into your legs at full speed, exposing them to the risk of being bent in the opposite direction.

Some blind dogs are afraid to walk up and down stairs (for them every step is like a step into the abyss) and therefore you may have to do step aerobics every day, carrying the puppy up and down the stairs.

But these are all small things compared to how attentive and devoted a blind dog can be. Daily communication with her will literally reopen your eyes to the world. A world in which there is no place for self-pity, depression and longing, a world filled with the desire to live and enjoy every day.

The life of a blind dog is safety and comfort.

There are quite a number of conditions and health problems that can lead to complete or partial blindness in dogs, and as your dog reaches maturity and then old age, his chances of maintaining the original level of vision decrease exponentially year from a year.

Finding out that your dog is losing sight – you can start worrying, no doubt, because blind and visually impaired dogs require more attention and care than dogs with healthy vision. But still they can live a full and happy life.

Whether your dog has been blind all his life, or just starting to lose his sight, there are a number of different things you can do to make your dog’s life safer and more comfortable, and thus minimize the impact of vision loss on daily life.

In this article, we will share eight suggestions on how you can make life safer and more comfortable for a dog that is blind or losing sight, to help them maintain a sense of security and quality of life. Read on to find out more.

1. Do not change the situation in the house much

Once the dog has lived in the same house for some time, he will be able to navigate it by memory and other senses, but for blind dogs all this becomes useless if you Start rearranging furniture! Keep furniture and other things in the same places and do not rearrange them unless absolutely necessary.

Even moving a chair or table a couple of inches to one side can cause your dog to bump into it or become disoriented, so once your dog knows the layout of his house, keep it the same – and be careful when it comes to in order to leave things on the floor or in the aisle where your dog can trip over them.

2. Smells are the main reference point for visually impaired dogs

A dog’s sense of smell is their pungent scent and this really becomes a matter of course if your dog has lost their sight, which means they will rely on it a lot more feeling than otherwise.

Every room, person, and thing in your home will have a distinct scent, and your dog will probably recognize the smells of the kitchen, bedrooms, and other rooms. However, things like air fresheners or even the smell of clean laundry can interfere with background scents that your dog can rely on to navigate. So think carefully about what you use at home and how it can affect your dog’s sense of smell.

3. Carpets and floors will help you find your way

Different types of carpets have different textures, as do other types of floors: tile, linoleum, carpet and wood floors. Having different types of flooring in different rooms or areas of the house can also help your dog navigate and develop an understanding of where he is and what is around, it can help keep them on level ground.

4. Verbal commands are the main way to control a visually impaired dog

A blind or visually impaired dog will not be able to follow gestures or facial expressions, so it is important to teach your dog to respond to voice commands if they cannot see you. If your dog is already trained in combination commands and has progressive deterioration in visual acuity – use this time wisely to begin teaching him verbal commands to accompany the signals he is used to. Then, if she completely loses her sight, she will still know what to do!

5. Sound signals for better coordination

A blind dog who doesn’t know that someone is nearby will get a real shock if you suddenly touch him or talk to him nearby. This can lead to mental disorders. This means that you should develop the habit of making a noticeable sound signal that your dog will hear when approaching you, such as stomping your feet or saying something when you enter a room. These signals should also be used when moving around the dog when he is sleeping.

6. Other pets must be noisy

Other pets, such as cats or other dogs, may not be aware that your dog cannot see them and could potentially startle your dog and cause a negative reaction if they approach took her by surprise. Using a bell or token on a collar that will jingle ensures that when other pets move, they cannot do so silently, allowing your dog to know where they are.

7. Your walking tips will help you pass obstacles

When you walk your blind dog, it is better to use a harness, not a collar and leash, and stick to familiar places with them, especially if you have to walk near roads. Your dog needs to be taught stop commands and other cues so he knows what’s around him, such as a curb or a step.

8. Inform others about your dog’s visual impairment

Finally, it is important that anyone who may come into contact with your dog knows that he is blind so as not to surprise or frighten your dog. This information should be marked in large print on the dog’s collar, or additionally wearing yellow tape to warn people to give your dog some space.

How to make life easier for a blind dog?

Any dog owner may face such a problem as deterioration or complete loss of vision in an animal. But this does not mean that a disabled pet should drag out some kind of miserable existence. Such animals adapt perfectly and can lead a completely normal life.

Blindness can be caused by various causes – due to injuries, past diseases, age, and also as a result of genetic characteristics. Very often, the owner may not even realize that his dog is completely blind until he enters new conditions for himself. This suggests that vision does not play a decisive role in the life of an animal, and a pet can very well compensate for it with other senses. However, there are rules for keeping a blind dog that the owner needs to know.

If you suspect vision loss in your pet due to a cloudy lens in the eye, a change in gait, frequent collisions with objects while walking, or any new behavior that is not typical for your pet, take him to the veterinarian as soon as possible. In some cases, it is possible to help a blind animal, or at least slow down the process of vision loss.

Predisposition to blindness

There are breeds of dogs that are prone to developing visual anomalies. To identify the breeders carrying the genes responsible for blindness, it is necessary to carry out special genetic tests. Pedigree animals may only be allowed to participate in breeding on the basis of negative tests for such diseases.

If you are interested in purchasing a pet, ask about the diseases that this particular breed may suffer from. Now the information is available, it can be easily found on the Internet. Check with the breeder if tests and health assessments have been done on the puppy’s parents. These precautions may help you avoid problems in the future.

Complexities of blind dogs

An animal blind from birth has no idea what vision is. It initially learns to rely on other senses. Hearing, smell and touch develop much more in blind puppies than in their sighted peers, which helps them to adapt very well to life. Most likely, a blind dog will not survive without human help, but if the owner of such a pet follows a number of simple rules, his pet will live a long and fulfilling life.

If an animal suddenly becomes blind as an adult, it will quickly be able to remember the location of objects in the apartment, house and on the site. This process will take a maximum of a month. If you go around with your dog around the perimeter of all the space along which he will move in the future, patiently show him all the turns, possible obstacles, talk to him in a calm voice and patiently encourage small successes, then the dog will be able to learn and remember the space for a maximum of month.

Miscellaneous pets

Blind dogs can be completely different in character and temperament. To a greater extent it depends on age, health status and complexion. At one time, a blind Pekingese lived in our clinic, who led a sedentary lifestyle, although she loved walking very much. Now I am the owner of a blind Aussie, this is a battery dog. Blind from birth, she knows how to navigate perfectly, spends all her time in the yard playing with her friend, also an Australian Shepherd, a Blue Heeler. The presence of a second dog greatly simplifies the process of adapting a blind pet in space.

Organization of things in the house

Of course, a blind dog must be secured and protected from dangers and injuries. Think carefully about the action plan and remove all large things in the house that can injure the animal. A poorly fixed unstable object, for example, a floor vase, a floor lamp, a decorative element, may fall on it. So that the animal does not crash into them, it is better to remove such things in a place inaccessible to him.

There are far fewer dangers in an apartment than in a private house. It is necessary to check the fence for the presence of manholes in it, into which the dog can go, to reliably block ponds, fires, heating elements, fireplaces, stairs, basements. It is necessary to repeatedly walk with the pet along the perimeter of the site in order to give him the opportunity to remember the location of objects, talking to him, gently encouraging him with stroking and delicacy.

There is also a rule: try to change the arrangement of things in the apartment, in the house, on the site as little as possible. The absence of an object in a familiar place can disorient a blind dog, scare him. And most importantly, do not change the place of your pet’s feeder and water bowl.

How to entertain a blind animal

Toys for a visually impaired dog should be “sounding” or “scented” – such that he can find without the help of vision. A bell, a rustling toy or a fragrant bone can be good entertainment for a blind dog.

Also, in my experience, blind animals are very well oriented towards different types of training. Such work brings them untold pleasure, the opportunity to communicate with a person, receive food rewards for a correctly completed task, and most importantly, great joy.

Walks

A blind dog must be walked ONLY on a leash! During the walk, she must always have a collar with a token, on which it is necessary to indicate that she is blind, as well as a telephone for communication and a request to return the pet. It is good if the dog is chipped or has a brand on it. In the event that an animal is lost, any means to help find it as quickly as possible are good.

Remember: if a tragic accident occurs and a blind dog is lost, you need to organize a search for it as soon as possible. Without the help of a person, it is impossible for such a pet to survive on the street, avoid a collision with cars, fight off a pack of stray animals and human aggression!

If the dog lives in a private house and walks on the site – “measure a hundred times” before letting him go alone. Examine all possible dangers awaiting the animal. Keep outside dogs out of your yard.