Pet Tip of the Week Topic: The Special Needs Dog
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Don’t Rule Out the Special Needs Dog
Awhile ago I wrote about special needs dogs. It’s an important topic so I’m going to address it one more time.
There are many websites that offer ‘special’ dogs and many shelters advertise them, as well. ‘Special’ can mean any number of characteristics—blind, deaf, loss of a leg or two, or an older dog. These dogs often have a reduced adoption fee to encourage their placement in appropriate homes.
PHOTO: SKIPPY
My husband and I adopted a little Maltese 12 years ago. Skippy’s handicap is that he has no hips and his back legs are little more than stumps. It’s as if Mother Nature created a beautiful little dog and forgot what she was doing, half-way through. But our Skippy has hopped around like a bunny his entire life and probably thinks all other dogs walk funny. He is the alpha of the household and no other dog has ever crossed him!
At the risk of giving human characteristics to an animal, I must say that special-needs dogs seem grateful to have a warm, loving home to call their own. I have done a great deal of work with blind and deaf dogs. Blind dogs are easily trained with sound; deaf dogs are easily trained with hand signals. Dogs that suffer both blindness and deafness are a challenge but the right trainer can work miracles using sensory stimuli. And any other special circumstances can be overcome with love and patience.
If you’d like to contact me privately please call 856-349-2508. There is never a fee for phone or email consultations. You can also email me at [email protected] or simply reply to this post. I will be happy to listen.
Next week’s topic will be entitled: Teaching Your Dog Tricks. As always, Cleary’s notebook encourages dialogue so your comments are welcome!
Wado, udohiyu, (thank you very much, in the Cherokee language)
Dawn Watson
Brother of the Wolf, LLC
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