The amazing video above shows a blind English Springer Spaniel pup named Kellar playing fetch with his human mom. Kellar may not be able to use his eyes to track the ball, but he’s found his own way to play.
The pup looks up as if he can see the ball coming, but then he uses his other senses to find his toy once it lands. He listens to the bounce, then follows his mama’s game of Hot & Cold along with his super sniffer to track it down.
Kellar’s human explains that the pup learned to play ball with his “hot” and “cold” commands, but they later added phrases like “warmer,” “passed it,” “left,” and “right.” It only took about a week for this blind doggo to learn the basic commands!
Kellar shows that blind dogs can learn, play, and be happy just like any other dogs. If your dog is losing their vision, there are plenty of ways you can help them adjust and keep up with training. Here are a few tips!
What To Do If You Think Your Dog Is Going Blind
(Picture Credit: Chris Ilston/Getty Images)If you suspect your dog is losing their vision, the first thing you should remember is not to panic. Dogs can live full, healthy lives without their sight.
Here are a few things you can do to help your blind dog:
- Go to the vet. Your vet can run tests and find out if there’s a medical issue that they can treat. They can also give you more advice for keeping your dog safe and comfortable.
- Start relying on verbal commands. If your dog has learned commands with hand signals or visual cues, you may need to switch things up to use their other senses.
- Keep your home clean and organized. Toys, backpacks, or other items lying around can trip up your dog when they can’t see.
- Keep your dog’s environment consistent. Avoid moving furniture if possible. Keep their bed, bowl, and other items in the same place each day.
- Block off dangerous areas. Put up baby gates or fences around stairs and outdoor areas where dogs could fall or get hurt. This includes pools, ponds, work spaces, and other hazardous places.
- Get toys that appeal to other senses. Try toys with squeakers or interesting scents.
- Approach and wake your dog slowly and gently. Make soft noises so they can sense you coming.
Do you love watching Kellar play fetch as much as we do? Do you have a blind dog at home who finds ways to play without their vision? Let us know in the comments below!
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