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Wonder (NKA Flynn)
Hi Daryl,
Adopting a Blind/Deaf dog was a great experience! My husband and I were treading on new territory but something just drew us to the big, white, blind, deaf, dog. We adopted him about 2 years ago and he is a wonderful addition to our family! The first 2-3 months were not easy! I would be lying if I told you everything was perfect, it was not. We knew it might not be easy when we adopted him but we were willing to take on the task no matter how difficult.
Flynn mapped out our house very quickly but was very frustrated with going to yet another new home. We picked him up in Findley, Ohio where we met his wonderful foster mom, Grace Bowles. Flynn SHRIEKED for the whole 3 hour drive home. We just kept in mind that he just left someone to whom he was very attatched, and he was probably fearful and disoriented in a new car. I took a week off to be home with Flynn to help him adjust. He had some seperation anxiety if we left the house or went in another room with the door closed and would start the barking/shreiking again. We spent a lot of time acclaimating him by going into different rooms, closing the doors, and then coming right back out so he would learn that we weren't going to leave him forever. We would provide lots of praise if he didn't bark.
All the while we were increasing the time we were gone. I also had to get him adjusted to riding in a car. This also induced the high pitched, ear splitting, bark. The week I was off we got in the car every hour, drove a short distance, got out, got back in, lots of praise and treats over and over again to make it a positive experience. After a week there was major improvement and it took probably another couple months until he was completely shriek free. Flynn is a super smart dog though and quickly learned that Car Ride=Fun. Now with touch signals he jumps right in and is ready to roll!
The other issue that arose with his frustration was the need to try to dominate. I figured that he may feel like he needed to show dominance as a protective measure as a blind and deaf dog, a survival mode maybe. Maybe he is a naturally dominate dog and was just feeling us out and trying to find his place in the pecking order. I suspect a bit of both but lean more in the way of survival mode. He went through a phase where he tried to dominate our other dog and us by jumping on us or following/herding us and nipping us. Sometimes the nipping would come out of frustration. Example, if we were busy around the house and wouldn't sit still he would get frustrated then follow us and nip us. All that hurriedness seemed to stress him out and frustrate him. (by the way, a collie nip with those front teeth hurt)! All this lasted about a month or two. We set boundries and re-directed as needed and this subsided as his comfort level in his new home increased.
With a lot of calmness, patience, and love on our part and trust of us on Flynn's part, he has left all these traits behind and has moved onto a new phase in his life where he is calm, comfortable, adjusted. He is such a smart and amazing dog! We are forever in awe of how he adjusts to his world, and his use of smell, touch, and brains to get around and manipulate his world. He is a large, fluffy, huggable, loyal, smart,funny dog. He makes us smile everyday! He gets along with all our other pets and dogs that come to visit. He loves to walk, hike, ride in the car, and has learned many subtle hand signals. People don't even realize he is deaf and blind.
The most rewarding things I can say about adopting a completely blind/deaf dog are these two things:
- Watching that dog grow and blossom into the dog he was MEANT to be when he is given the chance to feel safe and loved in a FOREVER home. (When they don't have to worry about neglect, abuse, and just everyday survival).
- The AMAZING bond you will form with a handicapped dog!
These two things alone are worth a mountain of gold that I wouldn't trade for the world.
Julie Patton
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Chauncey
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Maverick
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Stevie and Kelley
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