Help for my dog!

puppypants

My lovely little Lhasa Apso, Katie is rapidly going blind. No reason has been found by the Vet, i.e. no glaucoma or cataracts etc. She is only 8 years old and spent the first 3 years of her life as a neglected breeding !!!!! in a puppy farm! (SPIT!!) She had never been in a house or on a lead. I have had her for 5 years now and it has taken her years to get to know people (even family members) and she is a different little dog than the scared, nervous little scrap I took on. She is lovable, funny and loves everyone that visits the house now. Even the dog groomer!

I feel so sad for her. It doesn't seem to affect her much, but she used to love running hell for leather around my flat having a mad half hour. She can't do that now as she will bump into things. If the light is dim for instance she will get completely "lost" in a room or outside.

I have bought a clicker today, with a view to using it for her to find me, she gets a bit confused if I call her as if the sound if echoing around the room. (I have big rooms). My question is, has anyone had to deal with this? If so, how would I go about using it with her. The only clicker training bits I can find are to do with training and treats. She is not food led at all and doesn't play with toys etc due to her bad start in life. Any suggestions from you doggie lovers would be great. XX:T

rising_from_the_ashes

Awwww poor wee soul - sorry no experience of this but didn't want to read & not say anything.

I guess the obvious things are not moving furniture around etc.

Person_one

I've no experience myself, but If you haven't spotted this yet maybe there's something on here that can help: http://www.blinddogs.com/new-owner.htm

It looks like there are also a few books on the subject: http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=blind+dog&x=0&y=0

Even blind, I'm sure her life is about a million times happier with you than stuck in a dark shed on a puppy farm, its clear how much you love her. Good luck with everything.

puppypants

Thanks so much both for your replies. Thanks Person One for the links to the websites. Lots of reading for me to do there.!!

janeys

Our dog went blind through diabetes, it happened quite quickly over about 4 days. At first he seemed to be 'scared' of everything not wanting to go anywhere at all even in the house. We just encouraged him with our voices and introduced a few new commands, like hup for 1 step and hup hup hup for several steps, when walking we would say 'this way' and he would go in the opposite direction. He other senses became very acute and we would be able to walk him off his lead and throw a toy for him in the park which he would go and retrieve, he could smell the toy and hear where it was and we would clap our hands when he was near to it. What I'm trying to say is, you will both adapt and your wee dog will learn to trust you more than ever before you will learn to anticipate things and be able to warn her of what is coming. Many people didn't believe our dog was blind as he just used to get on with it, including running round the house like a loon after a bath. Yes he would have the occasional bump but we tried to minimise risk by not moving furniture about leave doors open dont leave things lying about the floor. It is hard at the beginning to see your dog going through this but please trust me you will get through it and your old katie will gradually get her confidence back with your help.

Pthree

Years (and years) ago my grandparents had a blind lab (I was always told she went blind after being kicked by a horse, but typing that now it seems a bit odd!)

Anyways.... she was blind from around 3 yrs and to be honest as long as the furniture wasn't moved around and certain doors were left open you could barely tell.

She could couldn't go after balls but had a things for small beanbags (I suppose it held on to the scent more) and could run back and fore for hours chasing one, she still had a bit of "mad lab" in her and she locate food from anywhere in the house!!

The thing that always amazes me with dogs is how they adapt, a friends dog recently lost a leg and within 2 weeks was charging up and down stairs like a loon.

Good luck!

P3

puppypants

Thank you all for your kind replies. You have restored my hopes. As I say its more upsetting for me than for her. I shall read the websites suggested and follow tips you have given me and I'm sure we'll get there eventually.
Thanks again XXXX

rising_from_the_ashes

Just had a thought Puppy (you may well do this already) - Ben's sight deteriorated a lot when he got to be ancient (but he wasn't totally blind) and he used to get in a bit of a panic if he got too far away and couldn't see me or if there was maybe a loud noise from somewhere etc.

Anyway, I found that chattering away to him pretty much constantly seemed to reassure him and meant he always knew where I was. HTH