Senior Dog Comfort & Care

If your dog is going blind or already visually impaired, you can do a few things training-wise to help them acclimate and get around more easily.

A big issue for blind dogs is that they can be easily startled since they can’t see a hand moving down to touch them or may not realize they are about to walk into an obstacle like a chair or wall. Talk to your dog before you touch them out of nowhere, or gently tap your feet on the floor to wake them up before petting. Condition them to anticipate good things when touched. Touch their shoulder and then follow immediately with a yummy treat. This helps their brain cope with a potentially startling moment (and this gentle touch can also be a substitute for a marker word!)

When you call them, maintain a sound for them to follow, such as snapping your fingers or softly whistling. Focus on teaching your dog to stop and wait on verbal cue so you can prevent them from running into things. You can even teach them directional cues so you can verbally tell them which way to turn and walk.