One of the myths about blind or deaf dogs is that they are more likely to snap if startled, and thus might not be a good fit for children. This, like the typical myth, is simply not true. By that definition, a blind and deaf dog would be twice as likely to be snappy, but we have never seen such behavior here. If a dog is snappish, or not good with children, it’s because of his or her personality, not because of a disability.
If anything, from what we’ve seen disabled animals are unusually easy-going and able to "go with the flow" … I think because they’ve already learned how to adapt to the world around them without having vision or hearing or, in some cases, both.
So I was delighted to get these photos in an email last week from Wendy M., who adopted blind-and-deaf Baron and blind Stoney a few months ago. Wendy wrote,
"Here are some picture taken yesterday of my two nieces (3 & 5 yrs) Logann and Sydney. If anyone needs proof disabled dogs do well with kids, show them these! Sydney rolled all over Stoney, sat on her, reclined on her and gave her big hugs, all while Stoney patiently chewed on her bone. Wow! Baron was picked up, carried around, squished and squeezed and loved every minute of it. He would race all around the yard until he found one of the girls and would beg to be picked up again! I think both dogs are going to be a little sad when the girls go back to Washington."
The photo at the top is Baron getting squished by Sydney. Here she is making over blind Stoney:
And here is a very happy child with a very content dog:



Leave a reply to Shirley * James * Portland, OR Cancel reply