How to Train a Blind Dog

Video Transcript

"When you're working with a blind dog, it's very much the same as working with a seeing dog because you can still use your voice to give a command. You can mark the behaviors, you can see the behaviors that your dog is doing, and reward at the proper time. Again, a reward is something that your dog finds motivating to do that behavior. Most dogs find treats rewarding. Lady here will work for anything, so a regular dry treat will work for her. But your dog might be more motivated by something that is soft and palatable like chicken, pieces of chicken. Just remember to choose something that is safe for them to eat in fairly large quantities and make your pieces very small. So when your blind dog does the behavior you want, like down, your dog lies down, and when that behavior happens, then you would mark the behavior. A good way to do that is with a clicker. You would click for that behavior and you would give the treat, so it's not a whole lot different. It's pretty easy to do. The only thing you might have to do is get your dogs attention, which we have to do with seeing dogs as well. So usually just calling your dogs name, reminding them what it is they're working for and then rewarding the proper behavior."