Blind Dogs Can Make Wonderful Pets—Leo Was Proof

Some of you know this is a topic near and dear to my heart. Leo, our Leonberger—really original name, I know—was about 70% blind from birth. We adopted her when she was three months old, and we were blessed to have her in our lives.

When people hear that a dog is blind or deaf, some assume that dog wouldn’t make a good pet. Having shared my life with Leo, I’m here to tell you that isn’t the case.

Does it take time and patience? Absolutely. You have to learn how to communicate with the dog in front of you and put in the training up front. But that’s something we should be doing with every dog, isn’t it?

That lesson carries into my work as a Kansas City dog trainer. Whether we’re talking about training a blind dog or helping a dog with everyday manners, we need to understand the dog in front of us and teach in a way that dog can understand.

The article below offers good basic information about raising a dog born blind. It covers making your home easier to navigate, establishing familiar routines, teaching useful cues, and making time for play and companionship.

Before you give up on the idea of a blind dog, take a look at this article. It’s got some great information.

And take it from me. If I had not taken Leo, I would not be near the dog trainer I am today. I learned so much from her. It’s not even funny. And she learned a lot from me too. Everything from being Canine Good Citizen certified to being a therapy dog that worked in elementary schools.

I guess the moral of the story is even dogs with disabilities can be amazing companions. And let’s face it, they need us more than we need them in some cases.

Read the article: How to Care for a Dog Blind from Birth

If you need help figuring out where to start with your dog, explore K.I.S.S. Dog Training and my approach to in-home dog training. Then tell me what’s going on with your dog so we can discuss whether I’m the right fit to help.