Romysaxon

Saxon we believe was born with his problem - he has a detached retina. We first noticed it at around 17-18 weeks old and the specialist advised me that it was "long standing". He started out having about 5% sight, however now he is totally blind. Unfortunately there is no surgery to correct it, so he (and I) have learned to live with it. In saying that, he is now pretty well adjusted...sometimes he just forgets to concentrate and walks into things LOL :-) It is amazing to watch him grow as all his other senses have heightened! He is showing a lot of promise with the tracking...and it is fantastic to watch him do something that comes so naturally.

We have been chatting about all your suggestions guys at my training school, does anyone have any links, DVD's etc they could suggest for us to watch re: target training - we understand the concept, however would like to see how it works!

Thanks Jigsaw...it is great to hear that there are others out there trying to trail with vision impaired dogs!!! Go us :-) I will try what you suggested as well. I tend to have trouble with the right hand stuff (and it only seems to be in the heeling) because he just does not see.....for the left, I am ensuring I get just a half step in front of him before turning and this seems to work for us. I know Saxon also has a problem with depth of field, however we have worked on that also (sometimes he just nearly pushed me over by running into me before stopping!) Distractions are an issue for me also, I put it down to him lacking concentration...however again it is something we are working on. Good luck with your trialling career - please keep in touch and let me know how you do!

I know the difficulties you have. My own dog is blind in her right eye! We too have our CCD title and we're just about to start Novice trialling! I would firstly take a look at whether the dog truly does know heel position. If you leave him in a sit and walk a metre away and call him to heel, does he go to the correct position? Can he do the same thing if you are walking past him and call him to heel? I would suggest reinforce, reinforce and reinforce with lots of food, praise, toys that hel position, ie on your left seam, is where the good stuff happens. I have taught my girl to heel close just touching, in a slightly wrap position, her head is up and so she can just see my face (problem of having big boobs) with her good eye. I do have some trouble with left about turns but that could be my footwork! I train my dog as if she is not "vision impaired". She doesnt think she's got a problem! When I do run into a problem in general though, I think through whether it is me or her vision. I have to remember to keep my left hand in a certain position as on occasion she's jumped up while in position and she's got a poke in the eye, poor thing! I cannot get her to come in super close for a front so I've accepted more distance than I'd like, but again I'm continuously working on it.. I do have a problem with distractions as she is inclined to turn her whole head and stare rather than glance but I'm working on it and there are times I wonder whether this is more because she is a working breed (koolie) than a vision problem.

Thanks RallyValley We actually do the Rally-O as well - it is not sanctioned here in Tassie as yet, but hopefully next year! He does love it and yes it is great as you can talk to them and even scratch them behind the ears to give them some encouragement!

Thanks everyone for your speedy replies....you have definitely given me some ideas to work on. We have had to overcome some confidence issues as well, but all seems pretty good now - at one stage, I couldn't even get him away from our home!! I have actually written a letter to the TCA to see if they will give us a dispensation for the heeling (working on the fact that the regulations can be varied for "disabled people", so why not a dog) due to his impairment. Time will tell though :-) I am definitely proud of what we have achieved to date...we are also starting into our tracking this year (also with my girl Romy).

Hello I am currently obedience trialling my three year old weimaraner, Saxon, who is blind in the right eye. We have successfully titled in CCD, however now that we have stepped up into Novice, are having difficulties with the heeling. The main problem is that because he cannot see me at all out of the right eye, he severely lags in his heeling and I have difficulty with him doing about turns, right turns and the figure of eight. I have changed a few things to help him out and of course encourage him during training, but obviously in the trial ring, you are unable to use additional commands or speak to them. Does anyone have any suggestions I could try and/or know of anyone else who has trialled a dog with a vision impairment?

Hello I have a question in the Rally O. When you are undertaking the course and your dog is lunging forward, can you do an about turn to bring them back to heel without penalty?