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Default Jan 03, 2019 at 04:54 PM
  #1
Hey all!

Well, I MIGHT be adding to the fur family soon. I lost my beloved husky in Oct 2017 and have had no interest in adopting another dog, I still have his brother so I am fine. I am not currently actively looking...

However, I volunteer for this rescue and saw on their site they had a blind dog, and the more I read about him and saw pics/videos, the more he stole my heart. I went through the process and got approved to adopt. I finally get to meet him this weekend to see what I think before deciding.

I've never had a blind dog before but have long wanted a special needs pet. He seems like such a doll from everything I've read but then his foster mom tells me he has some issues to be aware of... I am fine with the first one because I think it's a lot related to his food and environment... but the second could be an issue, because I have a disabled sibling that I care for as job

I am a dog trainer but have not worked personally with special needs dogs. I also have not done much training at all since my dog died. Anyway, has anyone here had a blind dog? Do you think the following issues are related to his environment in the foster home or something about him in general that may be harder to fix?

Issue 1-- He poops often, even in his cage. While I completely expect this in a new environment, she said he's been in foster with her for months and this is still an issue. I know he lives with 4 dogs and 4 people and she and her hubby leave him outside when they go to work, he also likely eats various foods as fosters tend to eat whatever is donated. I feel like with me working from home and sticking to one food, this could be an "Easy fix" but I'm unsure as maybe it's common in special needs dogs?

Issue 2-- He supposedly lunges/bites people often. She told me of several instances and one involved a trainer. She said he has not drawn blood but he gets like this often with new people. I've trained aggressive dogs before, but again, none that are special needs. With him unable to see, I can understand being easily spooked, so is this something that sounds un-fixable or could it again be related to her and the environment?

I am glad she is letting me meet him for a few hours this weekend before even having him meet my other dog. I will do a lot of observing and such but just was looking for feedback on people who may have had special needs dogs OR just in general, what you might do?

Again, I'm not actively looking so "find a different dog" is not happening right now. It's him or none for now. Thanks for any help you can give me.

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Default Jan 03, 2019 at 05:03 PM
  #2
Not sure if this is helpful, but I had a dog who went blind about a year before she died. She did sometimes bite people when she was startled but never in an aggressive way, more of a protective thing. She didn't know they were there and they scared her and she reacted. But she went through that biting stage for maybe 3 months and then she became "used" to being blind, and my cat, my oldest one, took on being a seeing eye cat for her all on her own and would groom her and bop her on the head gently with her chin when she was finished and would lead her to the food and such, and they got on quite well like that for the last year of my dogs life. Kit
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Default Jan 03, 2019 at 05:05 PM
  #3
Thanks Kit

I was thinking it's probably related to that and his foster mom said she is nervous when he meets new people, so he is probably picking up on it. I think it's potentially trainable but I'll have to observe him myself I guess.

I kinda was wondering if my current dog would be like his seeing eye dog, if they naturally take on that role, thanks for your input

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Smile Jan 03, 2019 at 05:22 PM
  #4
I'm not a dog trainer. But my wife & I have always had dogs. I used to enjoy reading the dog training books of Brian Kilcommons. And what I recall from reading his, as well as other dog trainers' books, is that dogs have a natural instinct not to foul their nesting areas. That's why they can be trained not to go in our homes. Dogs that are kept in crates or cages to the point where they are forced to do their business in the crate can lose this instinct. And once it's been lost it can be difficult to re-instill it.

I don't recall you mentioning what the breed is or how old it is. I can't speak authoritatively to the question of him lunging & biting. We live in an area where lots of people have dogs, especially smaller dogs since there are lots of condos & apartments in our neighborhood. There have occasionally been blind dogs we have encountered & none of them lunged or bit. So, personally, my non-professional thought would be that this dog's lunging & biting may or may not be related to the fact that it's blind. It may simply be an aggressive dog that also happens to be blind. Since you're a dog trainer, though, you'll be in a good position to judge what's going on & how best to deal with it... much better that most potential owners would likely be. Good luck... let us know how it goes!
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Default Jan 03, 2019 at 05:32 PM
  #5
I'm sorry, I forgot that info
He's guessed to be 2 years old.... and he's a husky mix. No idea what the mix.

I'll for sure keep you posted

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Default Jan 03, 2019 at 06:06 PM
  #6
DP, you might want to PM eskielover?
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Default Jan 03, 2019 at 06:42 PM
  #7
I’m not a dogtrainer but a very experienced small animal veterinary surgeon latterly in the charity sector where I handle /treat/approve (or occasionally not) for rehoming/ extensively interview and home visit prospective adoptees etc
I’m interested in the type of blindness which I assume is hereditory?
History/reason for being in foster care/general condition/ behaviour /social skills with humans and other companion animals /does the dog play /sex/age at which neutered /diet/size of and reason for caging/does it cage guard/does it show happiness/-pricked ears tail wagging rolling over for belly rub etc
Sorry ling list I could go on....
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Default Jan 03, 2019 at 08:16 PM
  #8
If you meet this dog and still want to take it on then maybe it would also be prudent to have your dog meet this dog on neutral territory like a park. They could both be on leads for protection at first. See how they like each other.
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Default Jan 04, 2019 at 04:19 PM
  #9
I think this dog knows how to choose his owner.
I’m sorry that I can’t add any helpful insight.

A question is pinning my head. Does this doggie have any other special need, apart from the blindness? I was thinking that if he has his brain sane, the biting thing is something that can be overcome, especially in your hands.
Good luck, and please, update us about that doggie, from time to time.

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Default Jan 05, 2019 at 09:32 AM
  #10
Seems I will meet him today instead. I'll keep you posted

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Default Jan 05, 2019 at 10:08 AM
  #11
Wish you good luck, DP_2017! Let us know how it goes. Sending many hugs to you
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Default Jan 05, 2019 at 12:45 PM
  #12
We are looking forward to meet this puppy.

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Default Jan 05, 2019 at 02:29 PM
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I had a blind cat (Ebony) if me talking you through helping a blind pet settle in would be helpful?

One of the most important things about having a blind pet is never move furniture around in the house - the blind pet won't be able to know it's there until he/she walks into the item. I had that with poor Ebony when she went blind, I bagged up some stuff for the charity shop before knowing she was blind and left it beside one of the chairs. Ebony didn't realise it was there and walked straight into the bags, panicked thinking the scary Bag Monster was trying to "get" her and it took me physically going over there and kindly talking to her and letting her smell me before she calmed down.

Furbaby Tigger became "guide cat" for Ebony and used to help her get up and down the stairs, find her food, etc, before Ebony got sicker and ended up no longer even knowing where she was walking cause of what she had wrong with her we think she couldn't feel her paws any more so didn't know where she was putting them

Three paragraphs so I better add this to make it four
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Default Jan 05, 2019 at 07:30 PM
  #14
Hi all

So it went well, he was such a sweetie and he even kissed my hand a few times. My dad came a long and he took to him too.

HOWEVER....

The foster mom says he poops constantly, and its bad like all over the place. She says it's indoors and in his crate. She says he eats at 4pm and lets out at 11 and still poops at night. He's left outside all day when she works and he's still doing it. she outright told me, she doesn't think in his case its trainable. It's something he will always have

This could be an issue, there's no way my family would tolerate this long term. I'm trying to find people online who have trained blind dogs and ask stuff but no luck so far. Real bummer but I gotta be logical.

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Default Jan 05, 2019 at 07:34 PM
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I once took care of a dog who pooped every time I left it alone in the house (out of anxiety I guess). Seriously, even if I was gone for less than an hour there would be poop. It was a very sweet dog, but I don't know if I could handle that.
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Default Jan 05, 2019 at 07:48 PM
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Long term but you can ask your family for a little of patience at the beginning. You can do it. You’re a doggie trainer. Here is your challenge. Do it.
As soon as you can put a pic of him here, don’t hesitate, please.

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Default Jan 05, 2019 at 08:15 PM
  #17
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Originally Posted by DP_2017 View Post
Hi all

So it went well, he was such a sweetie and he even kissed my hand a few times. My dad came a long and he took to him too.

HOWEVER....

The foster mom says he poops constantly, and its bad like all over the place. She says it's indoors and in his crate. She says he eats at 4pm and lets out at 11 and still poops at night. He's left outside all day when she works and he's still doing it. she outright told me, she doesn't think in his case its trainable. It's something he will always have

This could be an issue, there's no way my family would tolerate this long term. I'm trying to find people online who have trained blind dogs and ask stuff but no luck so far. Real bummer but I gotta be logical.

Thanks for the update. Maybe this dog needs a change in his diet or it could also be a physical issue. You may or may not be able to solve it. Do you really want to take this on? What does your Dad think?
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Default Jan 05, 2019 at 08:30 PM
  #18
it's my choice.

i have no idea, i could deal with all of it but long term constant pooping, because i know if i was on vacation and left him with my family, they would not tolerate that at all.

that's why I'm talking to people to see if they have any advice

the most maddening part is his bio page for adoption says he is housebroken

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Default Jan 05, 2019 at 08:37 PM
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What does housebroken means?
Yes, if you are gonna leave him in another one’s charge, unless if it was a resident for doggie, it’s a problem.

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Default Jan 05, 2019 at 09:08 PM
  #20
housebroken... doesn't poop/pee indoors.

anyway i cant take him, they have decided the sanctuary is the best place for him, i had no chance the minute i went in there. sigh... oh well. thanks for the posts anyway

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