I just joined the forum about 5 minutes ago, but I have been looking around for a site that has a rescue dog section and was happy to see that you had one.
I work at a shelter and a little, old, shaved down shih tzu was there one day when I went in to work. I quickly realized he was blind and deaf, I read his medical sheet and found out he had been extremely matted when he came in, his nails were overgrown, and he had dry eye which had been neglected.
Over the next few days while I worked with him I bonded with him a lot and long story short....he came home with me.
I named him Mister Theodore Winston, Theodore or Theo for short. Theodores teeth were awful and I got him a dental asap, he had 11 teeth pulled and now his teeth are beautiful and his mouth no longer smells like decaying teeth.
I am having issues however figuring out how to teach him where his water bowl is. I know a lot of people say when it comes to blind dogs you just have to let them figure it all out, however, I think he should have water all the time and would rather not wait for him to just figure that out. I have tried standing him next to it and placing water on my hands and letting him lick it off. But he has yet to kind of figure out where it is on his own.
I am also having trouble finding information about training a blind AND deaf dog. A lot of the things I am finding that information is usually either for one or the other. I am by no means trying to make him do anything fancy because I think as old as he is and with being blind and deaf that I realize even most of the basic training is out of our league now. I think my main things I would love for him to be able to do are sit and come. So I'm just wondering if anyone has some tips on that?
Also, maybe some tips on helping him feel more comfortable in a new place. He tends to seem a bit more anxious when we are outside of our house. Some people say to wear perfume on your ankles to help blind dogs follow you and know you're there. I'm just wondering if anyone has any other ideas as far as that all goes?
I have attached a picture of Theo just for everyone's viewing pleasure
First of all welcome to the forum! I wont really be much helpful to you as I don't know much to tell you...I will make some search though and try to help you out!
Theo is soooo lucky to have you!! You cannot find people like you who are eager to love and work with a dog like Theo nowdays. I wish you the best! I have a big smile right now for what you did for him!
Well as far as I can tell not having slippery floors is one of the things you need to do so he can walk around more calm. Another thing is "play" with different surfaces for different places and ofcourse smells will be one of your best tools to work. What I mean is that you can have different carpets for different rooms or even in the same room so he can feel the difference in his paws and learn where to walk. You can buy aromatic canddles with different smells and put them in rooms or places like near his bed so he can figure out where things like bed or bowls are from smells. That's all I can tell now...I'll make a search on it and write back.
for the water issue maybe you can keep the bowl in one place so he knows where the bowl is and keep the food dish right next to the bowl so it can associate smell of food with being next to h2o. make sure you place dishes where he can't bump into things when getting to it. and maybe find something that makes a vibration to put near everything you want to emphasize to Theo as well as/or a smell that you can put near the things you want him to know about, so he can investigate on his own to figure out where things are.
he looks cute and i'm glad you formed a bond with him welcome to dog forum!
Is the food dish right beside the water dish? I would try that-because if he gets to his food he can get to the water.
Also maybe try flavoring the water to give it an aroma-try adding apple juice or milk (provided he tolerates dairy) so that he can smell his way to the bowl.
I'd say-give up on furniture rearranging-you want to keep things the same so he can find his way around.
I think my main things I would love for him to be able to do are sit and come. So I'm just wondering if anyone has some tips on that?
A vibrating collar is a good idea-so you can have some 'hey' or 'come' or whatever command
Maybe leash signals would work too...so you have the dog on the leash, then pull up (gently not a correction or leash jerk of course) and that means sit. So to teach that-pull up gently, put the dog in a sit and treat.
And come could be cued to the collar vibrate.
You could probably teach shake a paw by touching the paw as the cue.
I know big time training is out, but I'm sure you could teach some tricks-and tbh I think that would be really benefiical for the dog to learn. Tricks give them some control over their environment (like-I do this, I get this) and in his case that may be really good for his self confidence
My parent's dog is deaf and my bunny is blind and deaf-so I don't grab them out of the blue (the dog-can see of course but if she's looking away I don't touch)-I stomp on the floor and then touch. They've both adjusted and when I stomp (or you can blow your breath on him) they know I'm there and it's not a shock when I touch
Thanks for all the great tips and information so far!
Many people seem to be suggesting that I place Theodore's food by his water, however I have a 70lb Rottweiler/Basset Mix as well. If there is food out...it's gone. So I have been crating Theo at meal time and I put his water bowl next to the food then . If he were fed free choice he'd do a lot better but he is a very selective/slow eater so I cannot leave it out or my other dog will surely eat it.
I don't ever move the big water dish I have for the both of them but I supposed I could try to put it so it's closer to where he usually hangs out and maybe that'd help him.
I never just pick him up either I will usually tap or lightly touch his back before picking him up or even just petting him so he knows I am there.
The video of the dog doing all those tricks is amazing, very cool. I know a few dog trainers and will be talking to them on Friday to see if any of them have tips as well. I would love to teach him all kinds of tricks but realistically I think Theo may only pick up on the mere basics. The main reasons I want to train him is just so he doesn't need to be so scared when he can't find me. If I put him on the ground and don't touch him or move for awhile he begins to kind of groan then eventually just barks until I touch him again.
I am going to start sifting through all the links you guys suggested thank you so much!
I don't ever move the big water dish I have for the both of them but I supposed I could try to put it so it's closer to where he usually hangs out and maybe that'd help him.
How is the little dog getting on with your rottie? If they could buddy up that could do well for the little guy. I'm thinking something like scented collar on the rottie so the little guy can find him easier-though they smell so well he might not need that.
What does the rottie think of him? Has he picked up that something isn't quite right? It would be wonderful if he could mother the little one a bit.
We had a blind (not deaf) horse at our shelter so we put a bell on her buddy so she could always find her. But bells won't work-so maybe something scented? They make doggie cologne...
Hmmm I'm still thinking on this And kudo's and wonderful job to you
My other dog at first was very afraid of him which was hilarious to watch a 70lb beast hide from a 10lb rickety old man =). He has now gotten used to him being aroundhe finally started sleeping on the bed again (he wouldn't when Theo was up there). But I just started putting Theodore in his crate at night so that he can have even more time with his food/water.
I never thought of the scent thing for my other dog. I was hoping he would just kind of realize Theodore needed his help and would step in and be his guide. But he's still trying to understand I think, I've only had Theo a week. He realizes something is different but I don't think he completely gets it because he still isn't that careful around him.
But all is going well so far between the two I am hoping that as time goes on my other dog will learn to help him.
Yes hopefully when the big scary rottie gets over his fear of the little senior lol
I brought home a bunny hoping he would bond quickly with my blind deaf bunny and they hit it off in seconds (which is the exception-they often takes weeks or months of fighting to get along)-he's been a god send-really a seeing eye bunny for my bunny. Big comfort through this illness my little guy is going through right now.
My fingers are crossed your rottie realizes soon and wants to help I'm sure he'll come around. VERY cute that he was scared of him
My vet knows a pro dog-trainer who is dealing only with deaf/blind dogs or deaf and blind dogs...he is actually a vet and has his own clinic to help dogs like Theo.
I don't personally know him but my vet says he is doing a great job. He lives in Perth, UK though so if you want I can ask his e-mail or something or give him yours if you are interesting.
I'll make a little search about him cause I said I don't know him and I'll write you back some more info.
**How can I delete my post???
I had a call from the vet who did his research about it and told me that this guy is a kinda of a psycho-medium for dogs....and so he is not a real vet or something and his clinic is an old house....lol!!
Alfi-I can delete the posts if you want-but I like them, but it's up to you!
I looked into a pet medium ONCE-I heard really good things from a shelter who uses on in California. THere is a network that they register with and are supposed to all be good. And who am I to judge right? Some people just have a wonderful connection with animals and maybe theycould help. So this women is in Calgary about three hours away and I emailed her (My rabbit has a broken leg that healed at a 180 and cannot be fixed-I wanted to know if he was in pain) and said that though I wasnt' in Calgary I go there regularly and would she see my rabbit for a consult if we came, and how much did she charge, did she guarantee etc.
Sooo she tells me to send her a photo via email. Apparently she can connect with my rabbit via photo online.
*cough* quack! *cough* LOL So yeah, I told her not interested... :rofl:
LOL...! If you think it's funny then don't deleted! Hahaha!!
I was really excited about this guy vet-trainer-medium etc...lol...but he has a clinic in an old house?!? ... that sounds to me like a destroyed junkyard with a crazy guy in making experiments with dogs...! LOL!!
In fact I thought that my vet knew him in person...but he just have heard of a vet-trainer who was dealling only with deaf and blind dogs and owned a clinic...and he was also excited when he told me about him. Then I learned the truth...when my vet asked for his phone number (he already had his e-mail) the guy said "give me yours and I will contact you to come and take the dog"...well that was very weird! He made a research then and call me to tell me the "news"!
Anyway I am really sorry if I gave you fake hopes!!
looked into a pet medium ONCE-I heard really good things from a shelter who uses on in California. THere is a network that they register with and are supposed to all be good. And who am I to judge right? Some people just have a wonderful connection with animals and maybe theycould help. So this women is in Calgary about three hours away and I emailed her (My rabbit has a broken leg that healed at a 180 and cannot be fixed-I wanted to know if he was in pain) and said that though I wasnt' in Calgary I go there regularly and would she see my rabbit for a consult if we came, and how much did she charge, did she guarantee etc.
Sooo she tells me to send her a photo via email. Apparently she can connect with my rabbit via photo online.
*cough* quack! *cough* LOL So yeah, I told her not interested... :rofl:
ACTUALLY... I've googled this before. According to them they communicate using a form of telepathy. You don't have to be in the same room at all for telepathy to work (assuming it's all real). The only thing you need is to know who you are talking to (via name, image, description or what not) in order to.... telepath??? I'm not sure what word I'm looking for there.
Anyways, so if you believe that it works, then yes, all she'd need is a photo. Some of these people (again only assuming it's real) find it hard to only work with a photo or description and need something a bit more vivid and lively (like meeting in person). Others just meet in person so they can charge more.
Q: What is Animal Communication? A: Animal Communication is the ability we all have to make a connection with an animal telepathically. The way in which we communicate is transmitted mainly through images, feelings, thoughts and physical sensations.
This site: Paws to Adopt
Proved to be the most helpful. I love it and check it over and over even though it doesn't change haha. They have a lot of great suggestions.
Theo himself has been having some constipation issues lately but I think I may have gotten that all figured out today.
I'm looking into surgery to have his eyes removed for him sometime in the near future. I touched on his condition before but basically he has dry eye. His old owners left it untreated with resulted in a lot of scarring and an eye infection. The untreated dry eye is what made him become blind. He gets medication 3 times a day to treat the infection and to lube his eyes up for him and he is still constantly rubbing them on the ground because I'm sure they itch and hurt. Basically my thoughts are the eyes are completely useless to him and they are obviously irritating him so I am looking into the surgery for him.
He is coming out of his shell more and more everyday it's great to see and it makes me very proud of him. He has been mapping out my room and I have scented the house so he can figure out which rooms he is in. He located the leftover knot of my big dogs bone today (he is 70+lbs) Theodore decided he was going to chew on that bone like he meant business. Missing teeth and all he still was determined to get that bone despite the knot of it being bigger that his head =) He's a great little fellow!
I've attached a picture of him working on the bone and also one of his teeth before his dental and after. Just because I know some people will see his little white teeth in the bone picture and wonder why I said his teeth were bad before. Also, I think his before and after picture is a GREAT example of how a dental can help a dog =)
Thanks for your interest in how we're doing! You guys have all been such a great help so far I appreciate it a lot.
I'm willing to believe someone could spend some time with my animal and possibly connect and make some suggestions-I'm totally not willing to believe they can telepath from a photo :lolsign:
Thanks for the update-my blind bunny Chuck had one eye removed and they left the other-I think he can see some light with that eye but I almost wish they'd taken both since he doesn't blink and gets lots of boogers-I don't mind getting them out and doing daily eye-care...but that's not good for our bond-he hates me bugging him
WOW those dental pictures!! Incredible!! Thanks so much for the update
Sorry to hear Theo's situation... Hugs for him and for you too.. But I am happy that you have such a great heart to fulfill Theo's needs...What you did is just great!!! and Theo is so wonderful...
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