This morning I took one of pepsi's puppies to the vets because I have my suspisions that this puppy (all white) is blind.  The vet had the same opinion as me, although she is not 100 percent sure.  I have to take it to see a specialist tomorrow.  I was worried that if it is blind, I would have to have the pup pts.  This is the sweetest, cutest most adorable pup out of all the little and I was dreading what the vet was going to say.  When I asked the vet whether or not a blind pup could have any quility of life, she said yes, it should'nt be a great problem to it as it has never known any different.  Has anyone out there any experience of having blind puppies and what it may be like to live with one.  If it does turn out to be blind then we would keep her here with us and bring her up as our baby.

So sorry to hear about this.  But I can tell you that I trained with someone who had a blind dog that was trained in obedience to competiton standard - although I don't know if she showed him.  A lot of advice was given to someone not so long ago who had a blind dog - not sure if it was on this site but I am sure someone will tell you if it was.  If not, PM me and I will try and point you in the right direction.

I would'nt be able to show this pup as you can't show white puppies of this breed any way.  He would be purely a pet and be brought up with pepsi and her dad, sam.  Obviousley she will be spayed when she is old enough.  I have tried to do a search for blind pups but I can't find any with a similar situation or perhaps I have just missed it.  There are some topics on white pups and deafness but I and the vet think her hearing is fine.  I will know more tomorrow but any advise would be most welcome.

Would this site be of help? There's quite a lot of sites on google if you type "blind dogs" as the keywords.

Sorry to hear that your pup is blind, she could have an excellent life ahead of her. We've rehomed a few blind pup's now & a few deaf ones too ( rescue shelter ) These pups are doing really well in their new homes :D
There are some groups on yahoo that are specific in either blind dogs or deaf dogs that you could join, they also have loads of tips on training ideas ( if you needed any )

You also can't show a completely blind or deaf one either.

PM I think it is wonderful that you are going to keep, rear and love this puppy - he/she will obviously be more hard work than a sighted pup, and you have my admiration. :)

Well, to be quite honest, I have a soft spot for this puppy any way.  When they all had fps, the vet and everyone else thought that she would be the first one not to make it through.  Despite all that they went through she has always been a little fighter.  She is so sweet and my son is desperate to keep her., although, if the specialist confirms that she can actually see, then to be quite honest I don't know whether to keep her or not and perhaps let her go to a vetted pet home.  It's such a hard decision as the breeder of our dog advised me to keep the pick of the litter,  if any. 

Oh crikey - I wouldn't want to be in your shoes when decision time comes around, especially with your son wanting to keep puppy as well.  It's seeing posts like these that make me happy I don't breed :) I couldn't bear the parting...... :(

Well tonight we took the puppy to see the specialist and it turns out he has never come across any thing like this before.  He did quite a number of different checks on her eyes and looked to see if she actually followed things about or not and from what he can make out, everything to do with her eyes is working correctly. He can't see anything wrong with them at all but he does agree with me and yesterdays vet that she is just not seeing things at all.  I wondered if anybody has ever come across this situation before.  I have to carry on looking after her and take her back in four weeks.  The vets have been really good and he has not charged me at all for todays consultation and will not for any follow ups that he wants to do in the future, Perhaps because this is so unusual.

Brainless i dont know about other breeds but there is nothing to say that a dalmatian without hearing cannot be shown A lot of former champions were shown with only hearing in one ear until the BAER hearing test was introduced and the lady at the hearing test centre as also said there was indeed a deaf champion although she wont say which one.  Unlike blindness the dogs can see where they are going so there is no reason for them not to.

Ive read somewhere also that deaf dogs arent to be shown, unfortunatey I cant remember where :rolleyes: but im sure it is a KC rule.

There is a Kennel Club rule saying a blind or deaf dog cannot be shown.  This of course would not apply to a unilateral, and also I don;t know how the judge would know to be honest.

Sorry but I did'nt realise this post was about showing.  I was hoping for some help. Thanks! I am actually quite worried about this little pup.

there is no need to get stroppy, threads always go slightly off topic - its called a discussion :rolleyes:

My sisters JRT is blind,and she leads a completely normal life she has even been known to catch a rabbit much to my sisters horror.I dont know a lot about the medical side but her dog is perfectly happy and healthy,and well adapted.

Thanks Wendles.  Was your sisters dog blind from birth or was it blind later in life.  I have tried a few websites to get more information but the majority are about dogs that have become blind later in life.  I'm sorry if I appear stroppy but it's just going to be such a huge decision as to what is going to be best for the puppy.  Once again sorry for being such a stroppy mare.

Not much help but i would like to say whatever decision you make it will be the right one :-)

She was born sighted but started going blind at about a year old.I think it was called retinal dystrophy that rings a bell,but i am not sure.It is harder work for you but you get used to it.Its a case of thinking ahead and not moving furniture around.She has another dog who wears a jangly thing on his collar and she follows him when off lead.The main problem she has is that does not blink and in long grass her eyes have been a bit of a mess.She is a very active dog(she is 6 now).

I have replied already, but my message didn't come up, so I am trying again.

I have a blind Jack Russell, Millie (sister of Wendles).  You should try to get a coy of 'Living with Blind Dogs' by Caroline Levin. 

Also go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/blinddogs/  There are lots of members of this group who have dogs blind since birth who can give lots of advice.

Keep your puppy, you will not regret it! 

Shirley xx

PM - can you find out where Prof. Bedford has a clinic?  He's one of the best on eyes, I understand.

Hope all goes well.

Margot