Living With Blind Dogs: A Resource Book and Training Guide for the Owners of Blind and Low-Vision Dogs, Second Edition [Paperback]

Caroline D. Levin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 2004

"Living with Blind Dogs", now in its second edition, is the only published resource book on this topic. It embodies helpful hints from dozens of blind-dog owners, as well as years of ophthalmic nursing, veterinary, and dog training experiences. Both the veterinary community and dog owners alike continue to praise this text, in which Levin successfully answers the common question: "What do I do now?"

Editorial Reviews

Review

...An outstanding, comprehensive work that provides the educational tools necessary to help owners and their dogs adapt quickly to vision problems with minimal stress. Levin's sections on how to train blind dogs leave no stone unturned. "Living With Blind Dogs" provides a giant ray of hope for blind-dog owners who until now have had few places to turn for assistance. -- DOGworld Magazine, September 1998

When Ruthie got sick last winter, it was terrible. I was depressed and in mourning. When I read your book, I felt like I wasn't going crazy, that other people felt the same way. I put down carpet runners like you suggest in the book, and it was great! Making her walk on the runners gave her the confidence to try and walk in public again. Ruthie is doing so much and all because of you and your wonderful book. Thank you again! -- Mollie H. with "Ruthie" --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Publisher

With a unique combination of professional experiences, Caroline Levin has created the first-ever resource book for the owners of blind and low-vision dogs. Both the veterinary community and dog-owners alike are hailing the arrival of "Living With Blind Dogs". In it, Levin successfully answers the question most commonly asked by devastated pet-lovers: "What do I do now?"

Levin came to write this book, when after a decade in human ophthalmic nursing she left that field to manage an ophthalmic veterinary clinic. Here, she was able to meld her knowledge of ophthalmology with her love of dogs, developing badly needed educational materials for clients. Levin took the opportunity to meet many blind dogs and talk with their owners.

Caroline Levin is also an award-winning dog trainer. She has an in-depth understanding of canine behavior and the methods used to successfully train dogs. She shows her dogs in obedience competitions and the new sport of musical canine freestyle. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 188 pages
• Publisher: Lantern Publications; 2 edition (February 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0967225345
• ISBN-13: 978-0967225340
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (72 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #23,453 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

85 of 85 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thank goodness for this book, July 19, 2003

By 

shaw6 (Sydney, NSW Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Living With Blind Dogs: A Resource Book and Training Guide for the Owners of Blind and Low Vision Dogs (Paperback)

When our dog Annabel went blind, we didn't know how to help her. She was severely depressed and unable to cope, bumping into things, getting disoriented, going to the toilet inside, sleeping a lot, moping, etc.

I followed the advice in this book, and within two weeks, Annabel was able to negotiate her way around the house, find her bowl and water, get up and down the stairs and go to the toilet outside.

Within two more, I was walking with her in the park, and within another month, I could take her pretty much anywhere.

I simply added some extra commands when out walking: "up" for a little step, "ready, up" for a big step; "down" for a little step down, "drop" for a big step down; "turn" with a lead tug to indicate direction. Together with commands she already knew, "stop", "cross the road" (which means trot quickly), "OK", which means go, it gave us all the tools we needed.

We'd be out in the streets, crossing busy roads, sitting in cafes, negotiating crowds and she was fine (as long as the crowds weren't too thick). We'd also take her into the country, along beaches, bush tracks, up hills etc.

People often couldn't tell that she was blind because she looked as though she was doing everything herself. Ocassionally she'd need a little reassurance, a bit of a pat, and then off she'd go again.

The key to this was making sure that she got the command *before* she was expected to do it, so that she didn't find the drop or step before I gave her the instruction. That way she learned to trust my commands, and to relax enough so that she wasn't always worried about tripping or bumping into things.

As soon as she could go on long walks again, her enjoyment of life increased, her depression lifted and life was worth living again for her.

She even got to the point where I could let her off the lead in a safe place, because she trusted me enough to keep her safe. She'd wander about, sniffing things, doing dog stuff, and I'd just watch to make sure she was OK. She loved this so much! A little taste of freedom.

It made all the difference to her final two years of life. I strongly recommend this book for anyone with a blind dog.

43 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best thing you can do for your blind dog!, April 28, 2004

By 

Lynda Beckler (Stockton, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Living With Blind Dogs: A Resource Book and Training Guide for the Owners of Blind and Low Vision Dogs (Paperback)

Your best friend has just lost his eyesight. You are devastated. Your dog is depressed and confused. Your primary care vet hands you off to an opthalmologist. The opthalmologist speaks in a strange tongue, medical-ese, and gives you treatment options you don't understand. You are worried about quality of life and may even be considering euthanasia.
Sit! Stay! Read this book.
Caroline Levin explains SARDS, cataracts, glaucoma, progressive retinal atrophy, dry eye, and many more conditions which lead to blindness or reduced vision. And she does it in plain English. You will learn new training techniques and commands which will help you and your best friend get back to the most important part of your relationship - LIVING! There's a good reason Caroline put that word in the title of her book. Blind dogs can, and DO, live happy, useful, rewarding lives!!

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Read This Book For Yourself AND Your Dog, July 27, 2000

By 

Dianne L. Dobson (Seattle, WA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Living With Blind Dogs: A Resource Book and Training Guide for the Owners of Blind and Low Vision Dogs (Paperback)

This book covers 3 main areas: medical problems that cause blindness, logical things to do that will make your environment safer for your dog, and things you can do for yourself to make the developing events go more smoothly. It covers the psychological issues that you and your dog will face including depression, anger and confusion. It suggests reasonable solutions to problems that you and your dog will face and has sensible, easy to understand instructions that employ items that you would normally have around your house.

One of the areas that I found most beneficial was the specialized training strategies and commands to prepare your blind dog for the challenge of being in an unfamiliar environment.

This is not an easy book to read if you are still dealing with the grief of your pet loosing their sight, but there are also stories of how other people have overcome the difficulties and developed an even stronger bond with their pet. It includes different games that you can play with your blind dog and has many suggestions on special things you can do to make their transition/new life easier and less confusing to them.

I highly recommend this book.