Deaf/Blind Dog Tips

Blind Dogs:

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• Let your dog map out one or two rooms at a time rather than introducing them to the whole house at once. 

• Many blind dogs are quick to relearn a layout if you move furniture, but you may consider leaving things in place at first while they adjust to being in your house. If you do move something, just make sure to show them. 

• If you want to encourage them to map out an area, scattering their kibble across the floor is a great way to encourage them to learn the layout while they sniff out the food. 

• Blind-proof your house by making sure there are no sharp objects at the dog's eye level. If you have stairs, block them off so they don't fall down the stairs while learning the layout. 

• Textures can be a great way to remind a blind dog where they are. For example, you can use a rug by the door or a mat near the water bowl. You can also use different textures in the backyard, such as sections of dirt, grass, gravel, paving stones, etc., to indicate when your blind dog is approaching different obstacles. This can help them feel more comfortable running and playing safely.

• Some blind dogs feel more comfortable if you use verbal cues to let them know what is about to happen. For example, you can say “up” before you pick them up so they don't get startled.

• Navigational cues can help your dog feel more confident exploring new places. You can teach them words like "step up," "step down," or "careful." If your dog is deaf and blind, you can teach them corresponding touch cues instead.

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Deaf Dogs:

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• Reinforce automatic checkins. Since your deaf (or deafblind) dog needs to see (or feel) you for communication, you want them to learn to look at or return to you frequently without prompting. (Note: Even though you want them to check in often, you still want to encourage their independence.)

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DeafBlind Dogs:

 

• Create positive associations with gentle handling and petting. Since you will communicate with your deafblind dog through touch, you want them to be comfortable being touched on various parts of their body.

• Introduce your deafblind dog to various textures and smells as part of your socialization and enrichment.

• Pay attention to how your dog reacts to different things. For example, if your dog gets startled or overstimulated when touched on a certain part of their body, you should try to avoid creating cues there.

• Observe your environment. Deafblind dogs can get overstimulated by things we don't typically pay much attention to. For example, if they have some light perception they might react to bright or flickering lights. Maybe they feel vibrations from the lawn mower across the street. Perhaps they can smell something like the gas from your water heater or hear a high frequency.

• Refer to the separate tips for Blind Dogs and Deaf Dogs above.

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All Dogs:

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• Allow your dog to be independent and try new things. Deaf and/or blind dogs are very capable and as smart as any hearing/sighted dog.

• Prevent boredom by incorporating enrichment into your dog's daily life. Mealtime is a great opportunity to let your dog use their nose and get mental stimulation. Snuffle mats, dog puzzles, frozen Kongs or Toppls, and other enrichment products can be awesome, but there are also many enrichment options that are cheap or even free, such as scatter feeds and snuffle boxes.

• Encourage behaviors you like using positive reinforcement.