I’m thinking about adopting a tiny 12yr old scruffy mix (< 10 lbs). I have a span of 25yrs experience with my own dogs (both deceased now) and have since done fostering during the pandemic, but no blind dog experience. I have no other pets, single story house and nice fenced-in backyard. fwiw: I also have a Japanese bed, so it’s very low to the ground. the dog is currently in a foster home, and their preference is someone with blind dog experience. Other than that, I think I have a pretty good setup, but was hoping for some input from others. here’s Howard https://adopt.adopets.com/pet/8168a...tracking=63fb72d3-2c56-4fd5-9d3e-f50ef8fed758
if the dog has been blind for a while, the dog will likely be fine once it gets the lay of the land, best to start small (kitchen) and then once the dog knows the territory gradually expand its zone to other rooms. but I suspect the dog itself will be fine. At 12 years old it will also be slow moving.
Our 17yo dog is mostly blind and deaf. Other than needing prompting every now and then, he gets around just fine. Seriously, they have other senses much better than ours, the dog will do fine.
Howard is a cutie. Once he gets acclimated to your house he will be fine, lead him around and show him a few things and you will be surprised how quickly he sniffs his way around and picks it up quick......good for you man!
A few tips: remove whatever doors you can spare, it'll make their life getting around that much easier different flooring in each room will help them understand where they are and orient themselves same goes for different scents/smells tie a bell around them or just generally be wary about them being underfoot... they can get stepped on easily if they're small or trip you if you're not careful
Howard fits the age/size I’m looking for, and there’s nothing sudden about me wanting to get another dog. It’s just that before recently, I wasn’t in a suitable situation.
blind just seems like a hassle. also im not a dog breh so wondering if you adopt a dog, couldn't you change the name and call him something else like stevie and the dog would be just as responsive?
I think blind dogs are easier than deaf dogs--there are plenty of instances where deaf dogs are surprised by someone coming up from behind them and snap-biting in response. I've not heard anything like that to be an issue with sight-impaired animals
My poodle has one missing eye and probably mostly blind in the remaining eye....and he is most deaf. Yet he cruises around our downstairs fine. Doesnt do too well in the shore house...unfamiliar. I give him drugs. He chills.
I got him. Dude farted the whole way home. Lulz, but a volunteer was giving him string cheese for treats, so probably that. Turns out he’s a KPRC dog, meaning he’s been featured on their pet segment, so our adoption photo might get shown on TV. He’s super chill. I don’t think he barks. He was rescued from a animal cruelty situation ,,, a hoarder. But, living with too many dogs doesn’t seem to have created any bad habits, maybe even contributed somewhat to learning the benefits of being chill in crowds. Turns out Howard was his shelter name only. So he’s not attached to it. Will probably give him a new name. Severo? @Os Trigonum
