First, blind dogs adjust very well and do not feel sorry for themselves. As their humans, we should not feel sorry for them, but help them as needed. I taught Buddy to leash walk by leading him between Shanti and Sam. It was so cute, he would bump into Sam to the right, and Shanti to the left and this is how we "kept it between the ditches". When he roamed the yard, he would have Sam beside him to help guide. Sam became a big brother and a seeing eye dog without ever knowing.
On his first days here, Buddy would take one day to explore a room or a portion of the yard. I would see him walk slowly to avoid injury over a fraction of my yard and I guess he was learning it/getting comfortable with everything. Soon, he knew his way around the house and yard, and all the objects. Fortunately for Buddy, I am a creature of habit and move nothing in my yard or house. Furniture sits in the same spot. Same as last year. Same as next year. You know the type. So I was good for Blind Buddy.
While he could not see, he loved rides. He would stick his nose out the window and take in all the smells. He would feel his way around the inside of the truck and smell the other dogs when close. Now that he can see, when we go for rides or walks, I have to be much more careful as he can see other dogs, squirrels and deer to chase. He is tempted to jump off the golf cart or whatever is moving, excited at the new visual world.
This is Buddy riding beside me in the cart with Maisy (too old to run). The other two dogs are off to the left, running along side us riders.
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When he slowly started to regain his vision after surgery, I was touched. This was a first for me....a blind dog regaining his sight. The second day back from the vet, I saw him LOOKING around my kitchen for the first time. He was taking it all in, very slowly and deliberately, staring at the cabinets and dog bowls (or maybe my dirty floors). Before he got his sight back, I would tap the dog bowl and water bowl so he knew where they were placed. I was learning with him, to be a better dog leader. I would tap objects as I would walk by so he would know to go around them. I would kick things out of his way so he would not step on them and get frightened like sticks, pine cones, etc.
After about a week, I was working in the yard and had the wheel barrow out. Buddy came running up to me (still could not see that great), saw the wheel barrow and backed off, as if to say "WTF is THAT"? He could now see things that he liked and did not like. And he had to once again adjust to all the new things at my house (foster home). He was so cute and did so many funny things when blind. I sometimes wonder if I am going to hell for making fun of a blind dog. Nah. We laughed together.
I smile when I think of how he learned to maneuver up and down the steps. I think he had them counted. And how he would run to me when I called, and run right PAST me, so happy to be out running at all. He could hear his ball, but could not find it. He would bump into the other dogs all the time. They did not know Buddy was blind and would move all over the place. And they remained patient when he jumped out of a chair and on them, or bumped into them to get his bearings when walking.
Now that he sees close to normal, he plays more. He is more confident. And I am glad modern medicine could give him his sight back at such a young age. He is a proud, sweet dog. Same as before.
Today he runs on his own. along side his brother and sister, often leading, since he can see the way.
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