Lady Belle - Adventures of a Blind Doodle - Adapting to Being Blind

[Thomas, Chari, & Lady Belle]

I know these blog posts are coming fast.  But Belle and I are trying to catch up.  Right now, her posts are about 10 days behind today.  Changes are happening so fast right now that 10 days is a big gap.  Once we’ve caught up, the posts will slow down.  For now, enjoy the ride.

In her next post, Belle will talk about her first two days in her forever home.  Blind dogs, especially those that were born with sight, go through a significant transition as they adapt.  We can help them considerably with their transition.

Based on the books I’ve read on blind dogs, it is common for newly blind dogs to go through a period of depression after losing their sight.  That period can span several months.  In Belle’s case she lost both her sight and her family within a few weeks.  So I imagine she was depressed and that depression extended into the three month period she was in her first adoption home.  Depression can manifest itself in the form of lethargy.  But it can also manifest itself in aggressive behavior. 

One of the books I’ve picked up on blind dogs says that to some dogs, losing sight feels like being attacked.  Some respond by being submissive.  Belle is not a submissive dog.  Others respond by lashing out.  I suspect Belle would have done the latter.  That could be the reason she ended up back in a shelter.

Some humans treat blind dogs by pouring on the sympathy.  They do things for a blind dog that they normally wouldn’t do for a sighted dog.  The dog responds by becoming less independent resulting in lower self-esteem.

I believe that Michelle in the 90 days she fostered Belle turned the tide on depression.  First Belle became a member of the pack that included at least four dogs and a few cats.  The other dogs taught her the ‘household ropes.’  Because she’s starting her own Mobile Vet business, Michelle just doesn’t have the time to baby anyone that doesn’t need babying.

But she did take the time to train Belle.  When we took her home, Belle knew a few commands, walked well on a leash, and was potty trained.  She’d been socialized with dogs and cats.  And she was trustworthy in the house uncrated, a status our counter-surfing pantry-opening chocolate lab Coco never achieved.  

When we stopped for the meet and greet, I spent most of my time watching Belle in action.  She had Michelle’s downstairs mapped in her mind, moving around confidently.  I got down on the floor.  Would this dog play with me?  She did.  After 15 minutes, I knew she was going home with us.  So I backed off and gave Chari a turn.  That went well too.  Michelle took her outside and showed how she exercised her in a retractable lead.  Michelle doesn’t have a fenced in yard, so the lead was the only way Belle had a chance to explore.  After gathering a few of her things we coaxed Belle into the back seat of our ‘farm truck’ and we were off.

Blind dogs make use of a variety of skills and senses in adapting to their environment.  Two are hearing and scent, the two most important senses to any dog.  Sight is third.  But I believe cognitive (mind) mapping is the most important skill for daily living.  All dogs have this skill that allows them to keep maps of frequently visited places in their minds.  But most don’t develop it beyond using it to find buried bones and such.  With a blind dog, it is how she ‘sees’ her home.   I believe a  dog’s mind maps are a rich tapestry of images, sounds, smells and textures.  Take away sight and you have a mind map that may lack some clarity but it is a crucial tool for a blind dog.  I’ll talk about all of these are discussed in the next few paragraphs.

In preparing for Belle to come to Madison, we picked up everything on the floor and decided we could get by without the coffee table in our family room.  It has sharp corners and is in the middle of the traffic pattern.  We’re taking extra care to not leave shoes in the hallway and to push in the chairs at our breakfast bar.

Another important sense is touch.  Dogs sense what is underneath them just like we do.  They know when they are walking on carpet, tile, wood, gravel, concrete, mulch, grass, crushed rock, etc.   So in creating an adaptive environment you create texture changes in danger areas.  The area rug located before the stairs going down into our garage is a good example.

Smell is a dog’s most important sense.  Blind dogs often develop their sense of smell to a higher level than sighted dogs because they depend on smell more.  The chemistry behind their sense of smell doesn’t change but their skills in using smell are enhanced.

In creating adaptive environments, obstacles can be marked with smell.  When we arrived home we had just driven 900 miles in one day.  We spent some time leading Belle around her new home and went to bed, tired.  So we didn’t mark anything with scent.  We’re somewhat limited in our ability to do that as Chari is allergic to perfume.  But we do grow herbs and most have a distinctive scent.  Fortunately Belle has excellent mapping skills and quickly mapped her new environment.  So to this point we haven’t used smell as an adaptive tool.  

It has been suggested that we introduce Belle to scent competitions.  That is a really good suggestion and is on my research list of things I want to check into.  It is an area where she would probably have a competitive advantage.  I also have a number of ideas on how to use smell in a custom agility course.  But I’ll save that discussion for a later post.

Sound is also important and the key skill and capability we’ve been working on.  She comes when called.  As soon as we arrived, we started working on the commands “step up” and “step down.”  Those commands are crucial to getting to the dog yard (3 steps down) and in getting in and out of a car.  This blog post is actually being written in her 10^th day in her forever home.  She has mastered those two commands.

When we visit the dog park, I use sound a lot.   I want her to be free to explore.  But it is crucial that she know where I am.  Yes, she has smell, but sound is a lot more directional than smell.  So I talk to her, make clicking sounds with my tongue.  I want to be in touch with her as much with sound as most dog owners are with sight.  She wanders and explores.  But she’s always within 40 feet.  She trails rather than leads.  I think she knows that there won’t be any objects that could hurt her between her and me.

Because I use the word dog a lot “god dog”, we’re working on the word “puppy” as a signal another dog is approaching.  She’s been taken by surprise a few times, and I want to reduce that occurrence.  I know some reading this don’t like dog parks.  The one nearest to our house must be 40 acres with lots of trails, some woods, but mostly natural prairie.  Dog encounters are mostly one or two at a time.  I’m going to avoid high attendance times (evenings and weekends).  Usually mid-day on a week day there won’t be more than 10-15 dogs in the entire park.  I’d hate to give it up as a resource as it is one place she can explore unleashed.  As I write this, the word “puppy” is now part of her vocabulary.  When she sees value in a new command, she works very hard to master that command.

There is also a dog park about a 25 minute drive away with access to a lagoon off Lake Mendota.  I’m thinking about taking her there to see whether she would enjoy a swim.  But I’ll try a swimming pool first.  Her first swimming pool bath is scheduled for today.

In her next post, Belle will talk about our morning “death marches.”  A more appropriate term would be “aerobic walks.”  One thing her foster Michelle wasn’t able to do is give her as much exercise as she felt she needed.  As a result, her front leg muscles were underdeveloped.  Every day for the last 10 days she’s been on a 1 ½ mile ‘death march.’  At first, she was dragging at the end.  That is no longer the case.  Eventually we want to get her out to 3 miles at least three times a week.  This week, we’re extending the long walks to two miles.  My Vet also suggested swimming as a great exercise for building muscle strength.  But I’m going to take my time on that one.  I want to make sure she is consistently responding to voice commands before I turn her lose in the water.

We’re also upgrading food quality, talking her from the Purina One she’s been eating to Orijen Adult.  This week the mix goes to 50/50.  She has turned from a picky eater into one that gobbles her food.  So far, no digestive issues.  I believe improved nutrition will pay off in how fast she builds her strength and self-confidence.

Enjoy Belle’s second post on her adventures.  That post will come up next.

[Debbie and Bentley]

I am just reading Belle's blogs from the beginning. I am so amazed at both of you. What a team you are becoming, and what a wonderful life she will now have.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I really enjoyed reading about how Belle is adapting to her environment.  Thanks for posting.

[Elizabeth, Bailey & Bruin]

Not only are you allowing us to enjoy Life with Belle. You are providing us with education of living with a blind dog.. Thank you for taking the time to do so.. Belle is one lucky pup to have you both.

[Sue and Buddy]

I am really enjoy reading about Belle. I am learning so much about living with a blind dog. I look forward to her every update and yours.

As for Belle swimming, I think you swimming with her will be the best way to introduce her to water. Or if you can have a dog companion that she trusts to go with her. And a life jacket will add a bit of buoyancy that will give her some confidence.

[Suzanne & Jack]

Bless you for being such a good caretaker for Belle.  I believe she is truly special.

[Stella]

Wonderful!

[Gail and Bailey]

Belle,  you are a lucky girl to have parents who have done so much research on how to make your life better!  

[Leslie, Yogi & Maci Bear]

Thanks Belle!

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

great update!  thanks