Rach... Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 My pomeranian has been going progressively blind over the past 1/2 years.. But what is worse is his barking has gotten ridiculous! he barks at anything and everything and he also sits there most of the day just growling.. he will go on for hours and nothing will get him to shut up.. we tried wetting him, bursting balloons, just shouting at him, newspaper to the bum everything.. nothing gets him to stop, he growls when he hears Maizy's collar jingle even if she is on the other side of the yard. i dont want to but a bark collar on him for fear that maizy will chew it... Any advice on other things we can try? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nekhbet Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 dear god woman - this dog is already stressed and confused by not being able to see and you're throwing water on it and smacking it!? Put on a blindfold and you wander round the backyard for a while then have someone smack you when you call for help. take him to the vet and get his hearing checked as well as a good all over check - he could be going deaf and not realise he's making so much noise as well. He could also be in pain and hence feeling more vulnerable. Failing that start keeping him inside and give him a routine. He needs familiarity, he needs routine and most of all he needs to feel safe. The poor bugger is obviously NOT confident in the yard anymore and hence is reacting since he cannot see to defend himself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roguedog Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 well said Nekhbet! beat me to it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbi Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 My mother had a little terrier who went blind in his old age and became a bit of a barker however we never punished him for his barking We kept his envoironment very calm and peaceful,never moved furniture around and put him in his crate when there were visitors, he was a happy little dog and gave our family years of joy it is the least we could do to give him a good quality of life in his old age and help with the problems associated with ageing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rach... Posted April 27, 2009 Author Share Posted April 27, 2009 he still runs around the backyard fine and plays with our other dog... but when he is not playing or sleeping he is barking... he sleeps inside but my parents wont let me have the dogs inside during the day. if i had it my way both or atleast just Buddy (the pomeranian) would be inside all the time. Buddy has always been a barker, we stopped it when he was younger but it has flared up again now (he is 7 turning 8 in november) When i get some money I will hopefully be able to get him a check-up. But my parents are very anti taking dog to the vet unless something is really wrong. to stop him barking we just did what we used to do, when he was younger just saying his name would make him stop. Would seperating him from the other dog for most of the day help?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corvus Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 Aww, poor dear. Penny is going through this at the moment, but perhaps the fact that she is simultaneously going deaf is a blessing in disguise. She can't hear anything odd to bark at. She does get very touchy these days, though. She doesn't like lots of movement close to her. I am careful to make sure she has her own space as much as possible and she gets pretty spoilt. If she gets upset about something I usually bring her to sit by me or next to me on the couch. Sounds wrong, but it seems to work and she doesn't get upset much. She gets the run of the house most days and can sleep wherever she wants. She spends the vast majority of her time sleeping on our dirty laundry. It seems to be both comfortable and comforting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rach... Posted April 27, 2009 Author Share Posted April 27, 2009 In the next year or so I may be moving out of home if I do i will most definately be taking Buddy and he will become a completely inside dog... Depends on what I study when I finish school at the end of this year. We are almost 100% sure he is not deaf because he still hears everything and responds to commands.. He had a check up of his weight recently because i was worried but besides his eyes the lady said he was in perfect health Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 we tried wetting him, bursting balloons, just shouting at him, newspaper to the bum everything.. nothing gets him to stop, ermmmm.. NO, it won't stop him Poor little dog. You may want to HELP(not punish) him by letting him sniff and feel and listen to stuff like collars with bells on. His vision may be very poor- he may be seeing shadows etc... take him around the yard on leash- with treats.. let him sniff his way round.. and feel where things are. Lay 'trails' for him, with tiny drops of vanilla or drops of meat juice let him have that to follow safe paths. provide him with some nice chewy things. KEEP everything the same as much as possible. Don't suddenly shift furniture or outdoor stuff without letting him do a walk around and feel/sniff where things have moved to. if you separate the dogs.. then what does he have top occupy his brain ? he would be in a dark, quiet and empty place. take him for lots of walks... and fill up his time as best you can.Losing sight is a shock, and stressful... but they can and do adapt. We have had several oldies lose their sight Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rach... Posted April 27, 2009 Author Share Posted April 27, 2009 he is a fine and happy dog in the backyard, but very unconfident on walks. He goes for a half hour walk everyday and clings to my side. After his walk he is pooped and has to be carried and put into his bed. He still does bog laps around the backyard and we havent moved anything in the backyard since he was diagnosed with cataracts. So putting a bell on the other dogs collar would be a good idea?? Some weekends he comes to my dads house with me and he is a completely inside dog and just goes out site to toilet and eat. he is always perfectly behaved then not a sound from him, unless my stepmums dog pesters him. I just wish my mum would let me have him inside but i cant... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nekhbet Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 Some weekends he comes to my dads house with me and he is a completely inside dog and just goes out site to toilet and eat.he is always perfectly behaved then not a sound from him, unless my stepmums dog pesters him. I just wish my mum would let me have him inside but i cant... sounds like your mum needs to rethink the management of the dog. Obviously he's not happy outside and not coping so he needs to be inside in order to have a better quality of life. Would you consider sending him to your dads? I dont feel right that he's being punished so severely when all he needs to be is inside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rach... Posted April 27, 2009 Author Share Posted April 27, 2009 (edited) I dont think I could send him to my dads. I am there probably once a month for two days and he wouldnt get walks or as much attention there. I cant live without Buddy for that amount of time. He sleeps in my bed every night and is inside sometimes when i am doing homework. he is allowed in my room only, but he wont stay in there by himself. He is locked in there when we have people over ETA if i was to try and get a crate, would crating him inside during the day be better?? and being able to play with the other dog for an hour or two in the morning and walks after school?? Edited April 27, 2009 by Rach... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jigsaw Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 The blindness is a visual separation from you and your family and the other dogs. He's quite probably barking from anxiety and separation. He may have shadows in his vision and is unsure what is happening around him. As mentioned putting a bell on the other dog will help him follow and identify the other dogs. You could also put one in your own pocket so the dog can find you, you can announce yourself to the dog by greeting it, clicking your tongue or stamping your feet - but introduce these gently so you don't scare him - lots of love and praise and even food treats. "Blind dogs bark more when they are frustrated, insecure or need your assistance. Some dogs sit, give a single bark, pause for a few seconds, and repeat. This may indicate that the dog needs you to help him get reoriented, open a door or otherwise assist him." from Living with Blind Dogs by Caroline D Levin If your dog needs to reorient lead him to a familiar spot - the backdoor, his bed, the water bowl. Scent trails are good for the dog learning safe areas and obstructions. Oil based scents last longer. You can teach your dog to go forward when you're walking him - use a spoon with peanut butter or something nice and sticky on it and walk forward slowly and allowing the dog to nibble and lick the spoon telling him "Forward" as he moves. Slowly increase the number of steps forward before rewarding him. A wide collar will help guide your dog when walking or a stiff harness like a guide dogs or a stick leash so you can help guide the dog in the direction. A check chain will not give directional cues to your dog. You need to teach your dog directional cues such as "move over", "this way" and "that way" or right and left - guidance for steps such as "up" or "down". Watch out for irregular surface when walking the dog, trip hazards, grates in the ground. Give your dog some assistance to let him know you're there when you're walking him - like wearing a bell, whistling, singing, talking, squeaky shoes, playing a radio! This will help build up confidence. Take him on the same route every time so he builds a memory map of your area. Living with Blind Dogs is a great reference book for tips on living with a dog that is going blind, born blind or low vision. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rach... Posted April 27, 2009 Author Share Posted April 27, 2009 (edited) i will have a look on ebay or something for that book and maybe see if i can get it!! I always say his name and click when i first greet him, if someone he doesnt know comes over he will bark and bark until introduced and able to sniff them If he seems confused I always pick him up and put him on his bed.. When walking him I usually take him to the same place everytime and he follows the path Edited April 27, 2009 by Rach... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wazzat Xolo Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 Rach Please take the dog to the vet , this is a priority to rule out any conditions that may cause barking. Dogs are predominantly scent orientated, not just sight. Also there is a group at yahoo http://groups.yahoo.com/group/blind-deaf-dogs This site is helpful as well blinddogs.net Please get the Vet check done as a priority, blind dogs cope well, its the humans that struggle!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trisven13 Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 But my parents are very anti taking dog to the vet unless something is really wrong. But there is something really wrong - he can't see. :rolleyes: My dog is 10 years old and he has corneal dystrophy. He has had this whole life and it means he can only see shadows. He spends 99% of his life inside on a comfy lounge but if for some bizarre reason he can't do that he is in his crate. At only 7 or 8 he is not an old dog by any stretch of the imagination and I would imagine could still have at least that much of his life left to live - you need to talk to your mum about a better way of managing the poor little guy because its not like he is ancient and likely to pass away soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rach... Posted April 27, 2009 Author Share Posted April 27, 2009 he went to the vet when he started going blind and they diagnosed him with cataracts.. he has been going blind for 2 years or so.. it took me 6 years to convince them to get him desexed.... Mum does not want him inside because then the other dog is left out and maizy is much too crazy to have inside unless you are sleeping Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wazzat Xolo Posted April 27, 2009 Share Posted April 27, 2009 he went to the vet when he started going blind and they diagnosed him with cataracts.. he has been going blind for 2 years or so.. it took me 6 years to convince them to get him desexed.... Mum does not want him inside because then the other dog is left out and maizy is much too crazy to have inside unless you are sleeping Dogs need to go to the vet when any behavioural change is noted , this is too rule out any medical problem, At his annual check up he should be looked at, is that coming up soon? I realise you are only a young adult, but please try to convince your parents that maybe the vet should have a look at him, or at least consult the Blind Dog Yahoo chat group I sent you in the last post. J Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4Kelpies Posted April 29, 2009 Share Posted April 29, 2009 Here's a link to another website with lots of information and tips on how to make life easier for a dog who can't see. http://www.blinddogs.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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