Clicker Training Blind Dogs - It CAN Be Done!

Ever since we discovered that our senior, partially paralyzed Dachshund, Greta, is blind, I've been investigating new ways to communicate with her. It turns out that the clicker can be a great tool for blind dogs! Have a look...

A Special Kinda Love...

Hello again, everyone! Sorry for the long absence - things have been supremely hectic between moving from Seattle to California and beginning a new job. Now that I finally have a chance to pause and catch my breath, I can get back to blogging.

Our first California post comes from Fetch - The Paper, a Bay Area publication devoted to all things dog. Last January they ran a great article titled "Looking For A Special Kinda Love? Special Needs Dogs, Extraordinary Rewards." Check out this excerpt...

Adopting a Special Needs Dog

Just as many great families don't match Norman Rockwell paintings, many great dogs might not look like a Norman Rockwell ideal dog. A family with two moms or dads, just one parent, or no kids might be the perfect family for you. Likewise, you might find that a special needs dog is exactly the pet you've been looking for.

A special needs dog is a dog with a physical or emotional handicap. She might be missing a limb, or blind, or have a behavior problem. Whatever the issue, sometimes with just a little extra effort you can help a dog find a home, while helping you find your new best friend.

Think before you leap

Before you adopt an emotionally "needy" dog, one whose main source of comfort and security is you, consider your reasons for adopting. If you're looking for a constant companion, a pup that thinks the sun rises and sets on you and will adore and follow you every day of its life, then a clingy dog might be just what you need.

But beware... emotionally needy dogs do need a great deal of your time. If you can spend most of each day with your dog because you can take your dog to work, you work from home, or you're retired, then you can probably handle the time commitment required. Remember, however, some dogs are afraid of the dark, so even if you spend all day with your dog, they may become even more anxious if you regularly go out at night. If you can't pay her enough attention, she may start acting out: chewing, soiling furniture, or otherwise indicating that she is lonely and nervous without you.Don't get a needy dog if your situation is temporary. For example, if you are unemployed now but plan to find a new job soon, or if you're planning to move in the near future, this may not be the time to bring a dog home. It would be hard on the dog to be adopted, become attached to you and dependent on you for his happiness, and then be given up.

Deb Winters from HandicappedPets.com says the most important thing when adopting an emotionally needy dog is that “a family should be educated on what the needs are. Sometimes they see this cute dog and don’t realize how much extra care it’s going to take, and that’s the scary part, because sometimes they end up giving the animal up again. So, make sure you are completely educated about the needs of the dog and make a decision as to whether you want to take it on.”

Differently-abled pets

While they come with their own set of problems, in many ways a physically handicapped dog can be easier to handle than a dog with emotional or behavioral issues. And a dog with a physical impairment will still love you unconditionally. In fact, “many times they have a lot more to give because they instinctively understand they are being well taken care of, and are so grateful for being given a second chance,” said Holly Stempien Fink, Adoptions Director at the SF/SPCA.

Dogs with missing legs, injured paws, hip problems or other walking impediments can be served by various products. Carts for their back legs, special harness leashes and enforced rest periods can help your dog get around on her own. If you’re thinking about adopting a dog with walking problems, make sure you live in the right kind of terrain. If your house has stairs or split-levels, you might not have a limp-friendly home. Also be prepared to put effort into your dog’s exercise regimen. You might not be able to just turn him loose in the yard to run around.

Adopting a blind dog can be intimidating, but remember that dogs also “see” with their noses. A blind dog will do well in a relatively stable environment, where furniture and general layout remain the same. If you have kids, work with them to keep their toys off the floor so your dog doesn’t trip on a Transformer and take a header down the stairs. Be prepared to spend some time showing your dog around every part of your house so that he can learn where things are.

One truly excellent resource for guardians of disabled pets is HandicappedPets.com. Mark Robinson founded the site after his epileptic dog, Mercedes¸ was put to sleep. Only later did Robinson realize there had been treatment options available for Mercedes. He founded the website to offer multiple resources for people with special needs pets.

Deb Winters from HandicappedPets.com says “We would never say ‘Don’t listen to your vet.’ But we’re here for people if they’ve made the decision not to euthanize.” The site offers a wide range of products, services, support and success stories for and about people who live with special needs pets. You can find everything from dog wheelchairs to holistic healing to pet diapers.“Animals that are classified as special-needs just require a little more love from adopters,” says Holly Stempien Fink of the SF SPCA. “Animals are very adaptable and are able to get around very well with various ailments and infirmities.”

If you have extra love to give, consider adopting a special needs dog. You won’t be sorry.

Rebound Hounds On The Move

Big news: We are in the process of moving to the SF Bay Area! That means a new shelter job for me, more opportunities for Michael, and lots of fun and sun for Greta and Dewey! There may be a few lulls here during our move, but I will still be blogging away with all the latest news about disabled dogs once we're settled in California. Stay tuned!

Tripod Is A Lifesaver

"God sent a little hero," said Mary Smith of Batesville, Arkansas after she and her wheelchair-bound husband survived a devastating house fire. That little hero is Tripod, their rescued Rat Terrier who has four legs, but can only walk on three. It was Tripod who leapt into action last year when the fire broke out in the elderly couple' bedroom. By the time she was able to wake Mary and John, flames were already surrounding their bed. Overwhelmed and disoriented, they were immobilized with fear. Tripod, however, refused to let her guardians perish. The five year old pooch pulled at Mary's nightgown and remained present until she and John were safely out of the house. In recognition of her bravery, the Humane Society of The United States nominated Tripod for a Dogs of Valor Award. She has received accolades from newspapers across Arkansas and beyond. But her biggest fans are Mary and John. "I can just say that she's my angel," her grateful guardian told a TV station. Three cheers for Tripod!

Portraits Of Special Needs Dogs

I'd like to introduce you to the work of three animal-loving artists. Kevin Rockwell, Elizabeth Fraser, and Karen Derrico don't just render portraits of picture perfect pups, they also celebrate disabled dogs!

Rockwell's "Pug On Wheels" image is available on a range of t-shirts, tanks, and hoodies. It can also be purchased as a framed print through his Cafe Press store.


Elizabeth Fraser is a self taught artist based in Portland, Maine. She creates original, commissioned pet portraits based on photographs. Her website has all the details and a gallery of past pictures, including portraits of the one-eyed beauties shown above.

Karen Derrico's creations are inspired by her commitment to animal rescue. She donates 15-25% of the proceeds from her work to pet charities, and has contributed over $25,000 since 2004 through her Painting 4 Paws project!

Wobbly Dogs

Have you ever wondered what it means when a dog or cat is described as "wobbly"? Noodle and Soba are two so-called wobbly dogs. These Collie mix sisters have cerebellar hypoplasia, a condition that occurs when pups (or kittens) are exposed to the distemper virus in utero. As a result, some puppies are born with underdeveloped cerebellums - the area of the brain which controls balance and fine motor skills. They can end up wobbly and uncoordinated, like Noodle and Soba.

Despite their limited mobility, these animals still deserve a chance. Noodle and her sister Soba are lucky enough to live at Rolling Dog Ranch animal sanctuary in Montana, where "they enjoy every minute of their lives," according to caretakers Steve and Alayne. Click here to see a video of Soba - you can't miss the huge grin on her face!

Spring Photos

I wanted to share a few of my favorite photos from the past month, including a long overdue family portrait with all four of us! We've been enjoying lots of outdoor adventures and trying to squeeze in as many walks/hikes as possible. Happy spring to all!

Hats Off To Chanel - The World's Most Senior Dog!

When she goes out in public, Chanel usually sports brightly colored sweaters, booties, and vivid red glasses. As the world's oldest dog, Chanel's accessories are more about comfort than fashion -her eyes are sensitive because of cataracts and she gets cold easily. Still, this geriatric Dachshund is going strong. Today, she celebrated her 21st birthday - that's approximately 120 in human years!

Chanel's story began back in 1988 when Denice Shaughnessy found her at a Virginia animal shelter. She adopted the little puppy to be a companion for her daughter, LaTonya. Although the family has had three other Dachshunds over the years, Chanel has outlived them all. She currently holds the Guinness World Record as the world's most senior pooch.

At home on Long Island, Chanel enjoys royal treatment. She has two dog beds that she likes to alternate between at night, and Denice regularly cooks her favorite meal of boiled chicken and multigrain pasta.

Earlier today, Chanel celebrated her birthday with a party at the New York Dog Spa and Hotel. "She's doing fine," Denice told the TODAY show hosts. "The vet says he's never seen a dog her age do so much."

Greta Update

Greta had her first vet visit of the year the other day and we learned some important information about our little rebound hound. The good news: she doesn't seem to be in any pain or discomfort from her 2007 back injury, and her heart is in nice shape (no murmur). The bad news: she has grown completely blind due to cataracts.

Although we have known for a while that Greta's vision was limited, we didn't realize that she lost her sight entirely. I feel awful for not figuring it out sooner, but it's tough with a largely immobile dog. Because most of her walking takes place in the living room, she navigates pretty well. And she's super good at following scent trails and responding to sounds.

No one ever wants to hear that their dog has become blind, especially when they are already disabled. Still, we are trying our best to stay positive for Greta's sake. I know that sightless animals can still have happy, fulfilling lives, and we are making adjustments to help Greta feel as secure and comfortable as possible.

I found a great list of tips for living with a blind dog that include using a small fountain as a water bowl (the sound of the water will allow the pooch to find it easily) and outfitting other family pets with a bell or tags so that the blind dog can follow them around the house and hear their approach. I also found this handout from Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialty Center to be helpful. If you have more advice/insight to share with us, please don't hesitate to get in touch!

A Happy Tail

Here's a "happy tail" from www.petfinder.com to brighten your weekend!

My husband Ron and I adopted Reggie (renamed Tres) a couple of years ago. He is a wonderful three-legged rottie, missing a rear leg.

Tres game to us as a two-year-old Rottweiler who found himself not only in a high-kill shelter but with a broken leg! They shelter had a splint put on him, but by the time he came in to the rescue 19 days later, it was determined that his leg needed to be amputated. A lady came to the vet and claimed she was the "owner's neighbor" but declined to pay after she was told his leg had been amputated. I assume she was the owner (but too cowardly to say so) and I'm glad she didn't get him back.

It was clear from the get-go that he had been neglected and abused. He was timid and very quiet. Loud noises and the sight of a garden hose sent him running in the other direction. In addition to the multiple scars around his neck, I discovered another scar on his right ear. I was hoping it was ringworm (I have never hoped for ringworm on any animal) because the implications of what it really was were too horrible to imagine. At first it looked like a cigarette burn, but after examining it for a week (hoping it would really be ringworm), it turned out to be from a cigarette lighter. During a visit to the vet, we discovered from the x-rays that he had been shot three times with a BB gun - the BBs were clearly visible on his x-rays. Who would have done this to such a sweet animal?

He has come a long way since then. In general, he has become a much happier dog. He now wags his little nubbin' (tail) much much more--when he sees us, when he plays, when he goes for rides in the car. I gave him a bath on Saturday and brushed him for a half hour, and he was so happy! He has learned how to shake--and properly too--right hand to right hand. He also plays fetch now. He is continuing to learn to play with other dogs. (He has never been aggressive towards them; I just don't think he was socialized enough with other dogs to learn how to play with them.) He continues to be my hiking buddy. He climbs steep hills, over rocks, and is even learning to swim.

We also play games together now. The game we invented is called "To and Fro": He runs and hops up on the couch and barks with happiness/excitement (he never barked before!), I call him and he runs towards me and turns a 180 so he can sit down between my legs. (Trust is having a 95-lb. rottie run at you full speed!) I give him lots of love and belly rubs, then I send him back to the couch to start the game all over again.

I am so thankful to Petfinder, Wing and a Prayer Rescue, and Second Chance Rottweiler Rescue for giving us a chance to bring Tres into our lives.

~Lyn of Livermore, CA