F.A.Q Puppies & Dogs

My vet has told me that my dog is going blind, and unfortunately there's nothing that can be done. Can you tell me how I can make his life better?

A pet's blindness can be very upsetting for all concerned, but there are ways of dealing with this and it is not the end of the world. Dogs react differently to blindness and the following factors contribute to how they react:

• The dog's age 
• The dog's general health 
• The onset of blindness. A gradual onset means that the dog will probably be better able to compensate 
• Previous training experiences. Is he capable of learning new skills? 
• His position in the 'pack'. Is he confident or 'worried'? 
• The personalities of those around him. How much are you able to help him?

Some dogs cope very well, and often owners don't even know that their dog is blind. To help your dog, you can do a few simple things

• Keep the furniture in the same place; don't move it around 
• Use sound to tell him where things are and for training purposes 
• Give him attention through physical contact, such as neck and shoulder massage, if there is no discomfort involved 
• Try to minimise anything that will stress your dog, such as other dogs sniffing him or children visiting that he does not already know