Blind Puppy

[Blacknewfs]

We have been doing some research and are aware of their escape artist tendencies. Also, they tend to have extremely high prey drive and are generally terrible with cats, very high energy, can be rather vocal, shed worse than Newfs, and are rather stubborn! We are getting a lot of applications for them already, and the majority of the families already have experience with the breed, so that helps.

We are on the alert watching for people who want them as sled dogs primarily, rather than pets and members of the family. There are several sled dog teams up here that spend their lives tied out with little interaction with humans except for when they are being worked. Not the life we want for any of these pups. These pups will be family members first and foremost....with sledding used as exercise and recreation.

 

[Pipelineozzy]

Yep...the life of a sled dog is not ...kind. And YES, very high prey drive, even in the vet clinic setting....not just cats, small dogs too! Because the ones here tend to be rural and therefore unsocialized, i will often take them right into an empty exam room rather than having them in the waiting room and avoid having other pets in that situation. I know from shows that is NOT really "just the breed", but a lack of social skills, but they ARE much more reactive than a lot when you have a yorkie sitting on someone's lap across the room lol.

 

[NewfDad]

Some how my post didn't make it yesterday. So here it is again....

We are raising Kilrain (also blind from birth) and can help out. With blind from birth the big things are the four extra commands "careful" (when they are about to run in to things, you need to let them run in to things though to learn what the command means), "Step up" when they get to a step up, "step down" when they have to step down, and "your there" when they get to the end of the steps. There are some other things you can do with using scents to mark stair edges, furniture corners, doors, as well, there is a good book on living with blind dogs that I have at home, I will post the exact title. Other than that, treat them like they are normal, they think they are. With other sighted dogs the same age around you may want to go to crate training. Keep in mind that they don't know (or particularly care) that they are blind. Treat them like a normal dog. Take them everywhere you can, socialize them, have them meet new dogs. When we take Kilrain to the local town shopping center only about 2-3 people out of 100 figure out he is blind. One more thing, no noisy toys in the crate at night, they play just fine in pitch darkness at 3AM . More later but do feel free to contact Newmom (Sharon), or my self about this. In the end blind from birth is way easier than going blind later.

Art

p.s. The holding the head thing is typical in blind people as well as dogs, my best man has a lot of blind friends and his remark on seeing Kilrain was how similar the head motion was.

 

[KodysGrandma]

Sandra-

Others have given you lots of info about blind puppies and how to work with them. I can only tell you this story. We currently have a 9 mo old Australian Cattle dog that we are fostering (I hope). His mother belonged to a twit who was supposed to have had her spayed and didn't. Didn't feed Momma well at all. She birthed two puppies, male and female. For the longest time the woman who was looking after them thought they were blind. Eventually, maybe 12 weeks or a little more it was evident they could see, at least somewhat. Female got a good home and seems to be OK. Male turned out to be DEAF. We ended up taking him because the woman looking after him has to work at 15 hours every day, 7 days a week and it just wasn't good for him. I think there's a certain frequency that he hears something but not sure what. However, lately I have begun to wonder about his sight. It seems to be more shadow and light, rather than specific things. For instance- when there are no dogs in the yard opposite him he will stand at the fence looking intently in there are barking. At night will chase a light but not very accurately.

Hopefully this little guy will grow out of it as Putt-Putt did.

 

[Sound Bay Newfs]

Huskies are on Dogs 101 on Animal Planet now and it mentioned the eyes. It said the ice blue eye color was most common but they could also have different color eyes. No mention was made of blindness due to eye color, but it said they can have eye problems. So hopefully your little pup just might be getting a slow start and will come around in a few weeks.

 

[NewfDad]

Here is a link to the book I mentioned "Living with Blind Dogs"

http://www.petcarebooks.com/books/living_blind.htm

 

[Jeannie]

One of my customers had a blind lab. They noticed he was blind shortly after buying him as a puppy. When they contacted the breeder who told them to return him for another and they'd euthanize him. They decided to keep the Hershey. Hershey lived a long full life and just passed away at the age of 15. Even when he came here he learned to his way around easily although a bit slower than the rest. You wouldn't have known he was blind by watching him in the yard.

 

[NewfDad]

Minor brain fade on my first post. Where I said "crate training" I meant "crate feeding" This helps with the food stealing issues as the blind dog is not as able to defend their food and you don't want to get in that loop any way.

Art

 

[oldehome]

Thanks Judy. We know Sprocket will do just fine without vision. Actually, I was telling her foster mom about you and Jake and how well he does.

As you know, my Marin is also mostly blind (although her's was slow vision loss from cataracts) and I'm always so amazed by how well she gets around. Fostering a blind puppy from birth will be an entirely new experience for our rescue, so we'll be coming here for tips and advice on things we can do to help Sprocket gain as much confidence as possible.


I'd love to help if you need it. It's all about letting them be a "normal" dog, even though you want to protect them more. (although Jake is allowed full time on the bed now...woooops) Jake senses moods even if you don't say anything...their other senses become so keen. Every blind dog will be different just as every dog period, is different. Jake even senses when someone says "poor boy" (although he may get this more having no eyes at all) and becomes more cautious as if something is wrong....so, always upbeat normal tones and no 'pity' tones. NORMAL is the key word because they are normal!

Oh yes...we crated Jake at the beginning for puppy stuff and until we got to know him...housebreaking, night time, gone to town, etc. He is NEVER crated now...110% doesn't need it...stairs, everything 110% comfy and reliable!
We don't personally crate for dinner either. All 6 get fed...including the kittys...at the same time, in the same room, in the same order, in the same spots and they sit and get the ok to eat. We have fun with it and it's so cute to watch Jake politely sitting in his spot...listening...waiting for his turn! There is no chaos at all! (and yes, Ella knows her spot now and actually guarded her food at first, but is totally relaxed now) They just need to learn the routine. So consistency is another key, but isn't that true for all dogs (and cats)!
This is Jake and what we do though...Sprocket may learn differently...

They are all so darned cute...but I secretly love Sprocket the best...

 

[sarnewfie]

If Hera does not gain weight to support milk the pups are on gruel already, it may be to late in the game as far as getting her to produce enough milk. She was not cared for properly and i would not be surprised if as susan stated there was infection in utero.
I would just add some evaporated milk to the gruel for the pups so they have some milk substitute. many do not care for the milk replacer in the canned form and have our own recipee for milk replacement. You may have to suppliment them.
The canned stuff you buy from pet magazines or the vet supplies can cause eye issues.
not saying that is the problem here!I would just give hera what she can tolerate Sibes tend to be skinnier then the vet likes to begin with becouse of their activity levels and their matabolisms. Doesnt help matters when they have litters of pups though. Good for you for caring for them!

 

[ardeagold]

Ray doesn't get crated when fed either. He's fully capable of letting others know to back off his food. However when he was an "infant" we did feed him separately (and extra meals of cottage cheese, as I mention before).

 

[Blacknewfs]

Sprocket seemed to be improving and was doing great, but is now looking worse and acting strange. She's off to the vet tomorrow, her foster will be discussing the info shared here, including the interesting distemper theory. Something is not right.

Please keep Sprocket in your thoughts.

 

[Pipelineozzy]

I want to be wrong.

 

[Pipelineozzy]

Damn. What is the pup doing? If this is the same as the pup I am talking about...it began as just blind and the runt, and then progressed to neurological deficits and eventually seizures and the hardpad etc. It was like it developed encephalitis or something...and it progressed pretty much exactly like Tanya (vet) said it would, and not a damn thing we could do about it.

Prayers from here for this little dumpling.

 

[Blacknewfs]

Foster reports: Shivering a lot (despite it being warm) and acting very strange (slow responses, lack of play).

 

[Pipelineozzy]

Wonder if it's shivering or involuntary muscle contractions. That just sucks.

 

[oldehome]

Sprocket seemed to be improving and was doing great, but is now looking worse and acting strange. She's off to the vet tomorrow, her foster will be discussing the info shared here, including the interesting distemper theory. Something is not right.

Please keep Sprocket in your thoughts.

She's in the forefront of my thoughts.....please be well Sprocket....

 

[Lori]

Prayers coming for little Sprocket. Please get well.

 

[ardeagold]

Shivering...fever?

 

[pabusinesswoman]

Wow... what a progression. You guys have had a lot going on in rescue lately.

Most others have sumed up a lot about them. Personality wise.. they were more like the Chow than the Newf. They defintitely have a different demenor. The prey drive...I used to help take care of an adult male Husky.. that would kill a cat in one bite.

Thoughts and prayers out for them.