Internette
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He does look like an angel sleeping. God Bless your baby, he is adorable.
The name's "Healey"
- Thread starter lowlife
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Calliesmom
Moderator
Thanks all. He just melts me. Seeing that face, and those slightly crossed eyes (appearing to be) looking right at me. 
Right now he's struggling a little with the notion of "neither". Neither #1 nor #2, and neither the paper nor the bedding -- outside! No hurry tho. And I haven't raised my hand to a critter in 43 years. I think it's paramount with a blind pup. Touch imo should only be reassuring.
He has a 4' square, by 22" high, wood lounge (secure) space but, that's pretty much the only obvious concession to his being born blind. It goes where ever I'm spending time. He's/I'm always close at hand. If not at hand; likely napping cheek to cheek.
The yard's spotless. Good thing. He runs like every other Sheltie pup.
All electrical cords are coated with "RAP LAST" (horse) wrap spray/anti-chew. Healey licked up the "Bitter Apple" as I was applying it to the wood edges of his lounge. Think I've read, somewhere along the way, that infants don't have developed taste buds. I'm vigilant but, I think the blind pups might be more prone to chewing, and I'm pretty much counting on -- he will climb/jump/escape his lounge someday. I will most likely be there but...
Mostly it's a just a case of not cutting any corners.
I thought he might be a little more inclined to being vocal. Not so far, and I love listening to a Sheltie tellin' stories anyways. Especially with a ball in their mouth. I'm sure he wishes I had a ball sometimes. I talk to him quite a bit. Doing a lot of verbal skills training too. 'Careful, step, come, stay, lay & take a seat' are on the short list for now. Oh! Step just means there's a drop. I don't think I will ever try to teach him stairs. From what I've read it's beyond their skill set, and an unreasonable expectation. He's lite.
His 20 year old sister ("Quiver" lmk right away she wasn't pulling mothering duties -- Retired!) is coming around. Got a real cold shoulder, in response to the new pack member. I know if I'd ignored Her, she would've dropped the routine but, I chose the 5-day-suck-up method. I'm forgiven. Think I'm to understand it's probationary tho.
's all good, David
PS: And a very special, "Thanks Dear"
, to my indulgent Wife, "Cathy". I couldn't have Healey & Quiver without her support. She's kinda cool -- for a cat person.
Right now he's struggling a little with the notion of "neither". Neither #1 nor #2, and neither the paper nor the bedding -- outside! No hurry tho. And I haven't raised my hand to a critter in 43 years. I think it's paramount with a blind pup. Touch imo should only be reassuring.
He has a 4' square, by 22" high, wood lounge (secure) space but, that's pretty much the only obvious concession to his being born blind. It goes where ever I'm spending time. He's/I'm always close at hand. If not at hand; likely napping cheek to cheek.
The yard's spotless. Good thing. He runs like every other Sheltie pup.
All electrical cords are coated with "RAP LAST" (horse) wrap spray/anti-chew. Healey licked up the "Bitter Apple" as I was applying it to the wood edges of his lounge. Think I've read, somewhere along the way, that infants don't have developed taste buds. I'm vigilant but, I think the blind pups might be more prone to chewing, and I'm pretty much counting on -- he will climb/jump/escape his lounge someday. I will most likely be there but...
Mostly it's a just a case of not cutting any corners.
I thought he might be a little more inclined to being vocal. Not so far, and I love listening to a Sheltie tellin' stories anyways. Especially with a ball in their mouth. I'm sure he wishes I had a ball sometimes. I talk to him quite a bit. Doing a lot of verbal skills training too. 'Careful, step, come, stay, lay & take a seat' are on the short list for now. Oh! Step just means there's a drop. I don't think I will ever try to teach him stairs. From what I've read it's beyond their skill set, and an unreasonable expectation. He's lite.
His 20 year old sister ("Quiver" lmk right away she wasn't pulling mothering duties -- Retired!) is coming around. Got a real cold shoulder, in response to the new pack member. I know if I'd ignored Her, she would've dropped the routine but, I chose the 5-day-suck-up method. I'm forgiven. Think I'm to understand it's probationary tho.
's all good, David
PS: And a very special, "Thanks Dear"
, to my indulgent Wife, "Cathy". I couldn't have Healey & Quiver without her support. She's kinda cool -- for a cat person.Update on things that go bump in the light
Just an update on Healey. He's pretty much a regular Sheltie pup. Not much for 'fetching' but, he can wrestle teddy bears with the best of them. Not really noticing much of a difference between sighted/non-sighted pups. He is the first dog, I've ever had, who is not keen on car rides. He shakes even tho Cathy drives, and I hold him. Hopefully he'll get more comfortable.
One thing that did surprise me; he is very picky about what speakers I listen to. Not so much the genre, or volume -- the actual model/brand is paramount. For two weeks I tried to get him to chill, and listen to some tunage. No chance. Even Norah J., or some quiet jazz, freaked him out. His initial introduction was entirely uneventful. Subsequent attempts to listen to music went very badly. My main speakers are a vintage pair of SB-E100's, with horns for mid's & highs. I got a chance to buy a set of Paradigm 9SE MKII's and I was kinda scolding myself because, I couldn't listen to tunes anyways. Much to my surprise, Healey has no problem with the more conventional (but bassier) new speakers. He now has no issues with adult/mature listening levels, and usually takes the opportunity to bag some belly-up Z's. No hardship restricting myself to the new speakers. Like my tunes -- love my dog.
I can listen to tunes until the wee hours, and Healey makes sure I'm up in time for 'live' F1 qualifying & races. And we're on Pacific time.
Guy's gotta go, when a guy's gotta go...
When he's not on the couch, he still spends most of his time in his 'lounge' (4'x4'x23"). He's happy to come out of it, and happy to return to it. He's generally a very happy pup.
's all good.
Just an update on Healey. He's pretty much a regular Sheltie pup. Not much for 'fetching' but, he can wrestle teddy bears with the best of them. Not really noticing much of a difference between sighted/non-sighted pups. He is the first dog, I've ever had, who is not keen on car rides. He shakes even tho Cathy drives, and I hold him. Hopefully he'll get more comfortable.
One thing that did surprise me; he is very picky about what speakers I listen to. Not so much the genre, or volume -- the actual model/brand is paramount. For two weeks I tried to get him to chill, and listen to some tunage. No chance. Even Norah J., or some quiet jazz, freaked him out. His initial introduction was entirely uneventful. Subsequent attempts to listen to music went very badly. My main speakers are a vintage pair of SB-E100's, with horns for mid's & highs. I got a chance to buy a set of Paradigm 9SE MKII's and I was kinda scolding myself because, I couldn't listen to tunes anyways. Much to my surprise, Healey has no problem with the more conventional (but bassier) new speakers. He now has no issues with adult/mature listening levels, and usually takes the opportunity to bag some belly-up Z's. No hardship restricting myself to the new speakers. Like my tunes -- love my dog.
I can listen to tunes until the wee hours, and Healey makes sure I'm up in time for 'live' F1 qualifying & races. And we're on Pacific time.
Guy's gotta go, when a guy's gotta go...When he's not on the couch, he still spends most of his time in his 'lounge' (4'x4'x23"). He's happy to come out of it, and happy to return to it. He's generally a very happy pup.
's all good.
Emmasmom
Forums Sage
Welcome - he's adorable. Michele French is a good one to bounce of for ways to handle the sight. Her Mia is blind and deaf, and they have done wonders with them.
This is a recent picture of my three:
Emma is the sable at three, Liam is the middle, also three, and Natalie is almost two (in May). Just love my gang.
This is a recent picture of my three:
Emma is the sable at three, Liam is the middle, also three, and Natalie is almost two (in May). Just love my gang.
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I don't know how you get 3 of them to sit so still, and so distinguished. I'm just getting sleep, and blur shots. You have a great looking posse!
Out of the blue -- Healey is becoming quite the accomplished 'ball dog'. Play to his strengths (slit tennis ball, add kibble, skipping toss), and nobody watching
would guess, 'He's blind.' Because their ears track the ball, it looks like they're watching it go by, and then just doing what pups do. 
Thanks for the nod to Ms. French. I'll read her posts. I'm keeping Healey out of direct sunlight but, wondering if there's more I should be doing. Special supplies, I should have in-hand, to catch things earliest. I've got homework.
I don't know how you get 3 of them to sit so still, and so distinguished. I'm just getting sleep, and blur shots. You have a great looking posse!
Out of the blue -- Healey is becoming quite the accomplished 'ball dog'. Play to his strengths (slit tennis ball, add kibble, skipping toss), and nobody watching
would guess, 'He's blind.' Because their ears track the ball, it looks like they're watching it go by, and then just doing what pups do. Thanks for the nod to Ms. French. I'll read her posts. I'm keeping Healey out of direct sunlight but, wondering if there's more I should be doing. Special supplies, I should have in-hand, to catch things earliest. I've got homework.