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Taking a blind dog away for a trip?

3 replies

Pondz · 09/08/2022 13:58

Hi everyone! My dog is 11, she is still quite active and very playful and still loves her walks. She is completely blind in one eye and has about 15% vision in her other. She manages very well to the point where I forget she has bad eyesight. She plays with her toys, she knows where all of the kerbs are outside etc but this may just be because she has memorised them? On a few occasions she will walk into something or I'll throw her toy for her and she can't find it even though it's right there. If it starts too get dark she finds it more difficult so we just make sure to take her out when it's bright and keep things familiar for her and she does really well!

Would it be cruel to take her for a weekend away? My dad owns a caravan at a site a few hours away and we would drive down there, spend the weekend walking around exploring, going on nice walks. Possibly the beach if dogs are allowed on. I keep thinking would she be confused and not enjoy herself? On one hand I don't want her to miss out on things and the thought of her never coming away with us again makes me so sad, but then again I would do whatever is best for her so if this would not be a good idea, I will leave it. She is still so full of life and I'd love to see her running around a beach again having fun (on lead of course) as she isn't completely blind, but may find it difficult to navigate unfamiliar places?

Does anyone have experience of this? Does anyone have a blind dog and do you take them away or is too stressful for them?

Thank you!

OP posts:
Spanielsarepainless · 09/08/2022 15:47

My Labrador lost his sight entirely by 6, died at nearly 16. We took him away loads of times. He loved the beach, was off his lead playing in the sea, as he always had. He remembered the layout of a holiday cottage from the year before, plus my parents ' house, godparents' house, cousin's house, and another cottage we booked a few times. They have excellent mind maps.

There is no way I would have left him while we went on holiday. It would have been far too stressful. I have very precious memories of my darling boy lying in the surf, blind eyes glowing with delight.

SarahSissions · 09/08/2022 16:02

How does she cope generally in new environments? If you were to take he on a new walk close to home or to a pub for dinner or pop her to a friends house would she still be relaxed and pottering about or would she get anxious?

her reaction to new situations is your best indicator

ClearestBlue · 09/08/2022 16:57

I take my blind dog away with us and he’s fine after an hour or two of mapping out the place. We just try not to move anything.

I’m convinced he knows when he’s on holiday too. An extra spring in his step 😀

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