Should I adopt a blind and deaf collie puppy?

Question

My friends dog just had puppies and one is blind and deaf. It is a double merle and it is only four weeks old. I will get it when it is 10 weeks old. I already have four dogs and they are taken care of just as good as family members. However if i get the puppy I will be living in an apartment with my boyfriend and my other dogs will be living with my mother. If anyone has raised a blind of deaf dog please give me some opinons. Otherwise this woman is going to kill the puppy. =(

Answer 1

You should go meet Bumper....
http://www.gentlegiantsrescue.com/blind_dogs.htm
This video bring tears to my eyes. Taking care of a blind/deaf dog is no small feat, but the ability of a dog to compensate in a loving environment with people who have taken time to prepare for it will amaze you. If you fire off an email to Gentle Giants and tell them this dogs story, they seem like the kind of nice folks that might help you get in touch with Bumpers family. I'm sure they could give you the info you need. Good luck to you, mom and the pup!

Answer 2

A lot of great answers here. My Schnauzer lived to be 16 and the last two years of her life she was stone deaf and so blind she could only see bright lights. She was a happy content dog, took her for walks and you would never know she was blind. She knew the way around the house and never bumped into anything.

My only concern is you will probably not always be living in the same place if your are just starting out. If you move it will be hard for your dog to adjust. This could be a 15 year commitment you will be making.

Good luck and I hope it all works out for you and your new puppy.

Answer 3

Do you have any experience with this breed? Have you ever trained a blind or deaf dog before? Do you have the time to commit to training this dog? How many other health issues does this dog have?

While you intentions may be noble, you need to honestly answer the above questions. Yes, it's sad that this dog may need to be put down, however, it may be the best option.

Should you really be getting another dog if you're living in an apartment and your other dogs are at your mother's house? Collies are very hyper dogs and apartments are not the best housing situations for them.

Contact local breed clubs and rescue organizations and seek their advice. They may have a foster home that is more capable of handling this dog.

Answer 4

Hi I think you're doing a wonderful thing taking in this poor puppy. Have you read the book Amazing Grace? It's about a deaf Great Dane, and how her human father raised her. Otherwise here are some sites on taking care of blind and/or deaf puppies:
http://www.blinddogs.com/puppy.htm
http://www.takingthelead.co.uk/2/Health/Blind%20puppies.htm
http://www.critterchat.net/deafpuppies1.htm (at the bottom of the page are some other links)
Make sure you talk to your vet too about the special care your puppy will need. Good Luck!!!!

Answer 5

Well there is no need to kill the puppy i don't have any experiences with a deaf dog but i have with a blind dog and there is a lot of responsabilities there is a chance it could die early and if your other dogs are mean then then the puppy might run into the other dogs and then they might get into a fight and i think you no who would win !! WELL I HOPE I WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A HELP GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 6

Blind dogs do well, as they have good smelling scents.
I am not to sure about deaf dogs. Play it by ear and see how it health is at 10 weeks. You don't want a dog with a list of problems that cost more money in vet fees.
I think it would have to live indoors or seperate from other dogs as it most likely be the runt. Or soon be down the bottem of the picking order.

Answer 7

Lucky for the dog, dogs sense of smell can keep them in good stead (at least they'll be able to find food).

But you really need to think, is it worse for this dog to live its whole life in that condition? Does it have any other problems? I know this will sound cruel to a lot of people, but perhaps it is kinder to let it go (take it to a vet to have it done though).

Remember a dogs sense of hearing is very good. I'm not sure how happy it would be not being able to hear. Sorry to be the negative one, but I like dogs too much to keep one alive that is just going to have a poor life.

Dogs seem pretty capable if they have their sense of hearing and smell (ie blind dogs somehow get around...dogs can't see that well anyway).

Answer 8

First of all, this woman should have her Sire and Dam fixed before they have any other puppies with problems.

Find out from your vet how expensive it can be to have a dog in that condition, sit down and write all the pros and cons. Can you afford the medical bills and do you have the time for this puppy?

It certainly isn't fair that she would want to kill this puppy. I am speech less and don't know what else to say. This is so sad.

Answer 9

If she's going to kill the puppy, then take the dog and bring it to a shelter. I wouldn't suggest keeping the dog yourself though unless you don't have a job and can stay home all day, giving 100% of your attention to the dog. Puppies can be hard to train even if they're not disabled. Can you imagine trying to housebreak a dog that can't see or hear you?

That dog needs special attention and special training. Take the dog from the woman and contact rescue groups or no kill shelters.

Answer 10

I would get the puppy looked at to see if it can have a good quality of life. If it is already blind and deaf there could be other problems too. Its very nice of you to want to help out his poor little puppy.
You could name it Helen. Sorry, but as I read your question I couldn't help but think of Helen Keller.