u/sokker57

Hi everyone, I ended up adopting the puppy last week. He is a happy and healthy pup (apart from his partial sight and full deafness)! The vet said he has between 50-80% vision but needs more evaluation on it.

My question is, are there any trainers (online or in person in the Chicago, Illinois area) or articles that anyone would recommend? I’d like to teach him basic commands and help with some separation anxiety. Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone, sorry in advanced for the long message.

For some background, I currently have 2 Havanese dogs (Boy, 1 and Girl, 6). There is a dog at a shelter near me that I have been interested in adopting that is 3 months old. He is blind and deaf. I don’t know his backstory but will contact the shelter to find out more information on his backstory. According to the shelter he is a cocker spaniel and he is completely white with light blue eyes based on the pictures.

One of my dogs (Girl) has some health issues (anxiety and grade 3 luxating patellas) which I knew going into adopting her. These are both manageable as we plan to get her surgeries done in the next few months and she is on anxiety medications.

I have watched a dog previously that was deaf and he knew sign language which was easy for me to learn and to tell him to sit, etc. He was a bit older (I believe 5 years old) so I am unsure what it was like for him as a puppy.

My question is, will this blind and deaf puppy have a good quality of life if I adopt him? He unfortunately is unable to be fostered or else I would’ve done that, and the shelter did not give me a reason to why he wasn’t able to be so he is stuck in the shelter until he is adopted.

If anyone has advice or recommendations, please let me know, as I am really back and forth on whether or not this would be a good decision for him, my other dogs, and myself. I just want the best for my two pups and this puppy. Thank you in advanced!

Hi, my Havis—Boy, 1, neutered and Girl, 6, spayed—and I recently moved into a home from an apartment. Before, we had potty pads for emergencies and they were pretty good about going potty outside on walks. I have one rescue (Girl) who had some troubles going on walks so she was always in diapers unfortunately in the apartment (but isn’t in diapers anymore).

After moving, they both go outside but still go potty when I’m away since they free roam in one area of the house and sometimes at night when I am sleeping (only allowed to roam in the bedroom). They also go potty in other people’s homes as well when they are being watched and both have to wear diapers there. I have bells and have tried that before but only one of my dogs uses it and doesn’t associate it with going potty but rather going outside to play.

Would crate training work and be the best option? Are there cleaners/items you recommend that would help so they stop going potty in the house? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! I’d prefer not to go to a trainer since they can be quite expensive but am open to that if that is the best way. Thank you in advance!!