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Update: 7/20/07 - The Training Begins!

Wanderer and I have begun a new journey and chapter in our lives - in a variety of ways.  First of all, there's little if any information around regarding training of unsighted dogs.  The more I network with others who have adopted dogs with 'super-abilities' (I'm starting to hate that word "disability"), the more I have learned you're pretty much on your own, inventing the wheel as you go along.  So before the end of this year, another website is going up that will be dedicated to dogs that have these super-abilities (unsightedness, hearing loss, loss of a limb or more, etc.) and how their human companions overcame and succeeded with any obstacle put in their paths.  We have seeing eye dogs for humans - why can't it be the other way around?  By now, I'm pretty irritated with the general consensus I've heard ("why bother training a blind dog?") and then learning that many blind puppies are put down at birth didn't lighten my mood about this issue either!

Secondly, Wanderer and I have been working on getting around the other 'obstacles' (no pun intended).  We've moved from the Daisy harness (and his standing stone-cold still from the second it was put on until taken off) to a real harness and leash!  The next step was to move forward from the surroundings he is familiar with (the entire backyard and inside the house).  He and I can now walk out of the garage, down the block, across the street and into the park.  This might not seem like it is a 'big' event, but for someone that can not see at all, this is a HUGE step forward!  After being tested, Wanderer cannot see anything - his world is completely black in regards to vision.

If you too are struggling (or have struggled) with this aspect, putting a treat they love in front of their nose and moving it away as you say either 'Heel' or 'Come' does work wonders.  That's how I got Wanderer started, but now if he loses his confidence on the walk, I use one of three methods: 1) I talk to him consistently in strange surroundings in a light, gentle tone keeping him to my left, 2) I 'scuff' the ground with my right toe once or twice so he can 'tune into' where we are headed or 3) if there are too many sounds around to hear the scuff, I use the 'click-click' with my cheek and tongue as you would use with a horse.  I no longer have to use treats for a walk now, which was my ultimate goal.

Basic dog obedience commands have proven to be fairly easy for Wanderer to learn... the 'sit' command took three tries.  Granted, his 'sit' is an immediate almost *plop* as his butt goes down much more rapidly than dogs normally do it - but then again, he's never seen other dogs do this at all, so this is alike a 'clean slate' for him... there isn't a 'right' or 'wrong' way... because his lack of sight has not taught him one particular way to do anything.

We have had to learn new and different commands you won't find in most dog training books... 'Step up' and 'step down' was a concept which became a bit more difficult to master.  I don't believe Wanderer ever encountered steps before, but it's critical if we want to move around in the outside world.

'Step up' is fairly easy as long as you keep the leash without any slack in it.  For those that might be reading this who also have unsighted dogs, do have patience with the 'step down' command.  The process is the same, but it requires a great deal more trust in you to achieve it.  With Wanderer, I provide tension via the leash connected to his harness BEFORE I use the command... almost like a lifeline. 

Our park has 2 sets of steps (4 steps in total) in and out of the playground.  Once we walk up the steps, we have been turning around and then walking down them.  If you can, find a set of steps with wider steps that accommodate the full length of your dog on the step - it will make it easier.  And I strongly recommend the harness when trying to teach this aspect... realizing we normally use 'gentle chokes' in obedience training, the harness gives that extra measure of support to an unsighted dog that a sighted dog doesn't need.

After talking to a LOT of dog trainers, most recommended clicker training and few had actually trained unsighted dogs.  I can see the need for clicker training with sighted dogs, simply because you need to get their attention.  However, with Wanderer, I have his attention nonstop because he relies on me to keep him safe.

Another command I'm using with Wanderer is 'whoa' simply to alert him there's an obstacle in his way and/or to stop (such as at an intersection).  Again, I realize we're exploring new ground here, but I think if you use words for commands you are most comfortable with (and don't have to think about), you'll be more successful in the end.

And one more tip before I close?... Wanderer seems to be his most vulnerable when sleeping... I can touch every part of his body (and frequently do this) when he's taking a nap... If you are adopting an unsighted puppy, I think it's essential that to keep them from being 'head-shy' or 'touch-shy' you need to do that from day one.

But if you're adopting an unsighted dog from a shelter or rescue, it's likely that they've been approached (and ::sigh::, maybe attacked) during their sleep.  I've always kept open kennels around the house just by habit, but I noticed Wanderer would specifically find a spot that was as 'cave-like' as possible.... one way in and one way out with the top covered as well.  He will 'spot-touch' upwards to make sure it does indeed have a covering overhead (aren't these guys amazing???).  If you are anti-kennel (or don't want that door issue), it's easy enough to construct something that accommodates their full lay-down size when stretched out and height while standing.  Of course, you don't want it too small, but if the area is too big, it seems to lose that 'comfort-security' factor as well.

One of Wanderer's favorite spots I noticed was underneath the futon that sits fairly close to my computer desk.  And although I put a nice fluffy pillow and blankees in there, the area was still not totally secure in his perspective.  I placed a box weighted down with books on each side of his pillow (I did try an empty box first but that didn't work) and his chosen nap spot has now become his 'safety zone' for his naps during the day.  At night, he sleeps by the side of my bed.  Our bedroom set has pull-out shelves for nightstands, so this was easy to accommodate the need for a 'safety cave'.  However, if you have traditional nightstands, there are a few people who actually make furniture that encase kennels inside of them.  Once the door is removed from the kennel and its outsides are actually useable furniture, you'll find that this accommodates both your dog's needs and yours.  If you're having difficulty locating this product, email me and I'll recommend someone who does a great job at this.

Update: 7/13/07 
It's official... We've adopted Wanderer and he's rapidly become adjusted to his new home!

He's found a new best bud in BooBooDog who's taken a liking to him as well!...

He's learned to go up and down the doggie steps and after many tries with a Daisy harness and then a regular harness, we've learned it's "OK" to walk outside the house on the leash if Mom holds it taut...

He 'spots' any new location by using either my shins or calves, then does the perimeter once or twice until he memorizes what the layout is like...

And he has discovered a new thing - cookies!... Or chicken tenders from Costco's... Or just plain doggie cookies that can easily get him to do a 'sit' immediately!  This is his newest favorite place to sleep... He likes having a bit of surroundings that are more secure than just sleeping out in the open... But that's OK... He'll share with his new best bud...

She's the one he'll sleep with the most during the day, but his absolute favorite place is still in the middle of us at night...

You did notice that he did steal the blankee though? <EG>... Typical male, huh?

That's OK... He can bring a smile to even the crankiest person when he does his 'happy, happy dance' as we call it... He's probably never had vision so he's never seen other dogs and their behaviors... Which is the coolest 'cause all of his behaviors are with abandon and joy...

What a neat dog!... Once again God decided to put another little angel in our lives at a time he thought best...