Caring for a blind dog is a huge commitment. It’s not for everyone.
Before you pity adopt, consider doing these:
Stairs, steps, balconies, and any sudden drops must be securely fenced off. Think human toddler and understand that the pet will never grow up, so this is a permanent feature of your home.
Moving furniture, especially essentials like the water bowl or pee pads, will lead to accidents. Once your pet has mapped the house, don’t move anything.Also, you will have to maintain a tidy home. Anything left out like laundry on the floor or a coffee cup by the chair will be confusing or knocked over and broken.
Gardens seem safe but they have bees, snakes, stray dogs, aggressive birds and other animals, so leaving your dog outside as a furry security guard isn’t an option.
While dogs have excellent hearing, they aren’t bats – they rely on sound, not echolocation.Loud music or running children can easily disorient them, so a calm, quiet environment is best for a blind dog’s well-being.
Blind dogs can’t read facial expressions, so they take longer to understand you. As they’re settling in, they will accidentally bump into you if you’re sitting still.
They’ll also knock things over and break stuff at first – and a clumsy pet may always do so.
Love and adaptability go a long way in creating a happy home for a blind companion but it’s not easy.
If you’re not up for it, please reconsider. There are lots of sighted pets desperate for a good home, sitting in a shelter.
