🤷🏻‍♀️ Can a blind dog enjoy life to the fullest?

“I was watching her with her nose in the air and just noticing how she absorbs life–and it's really just such a beautiful thing to watch… But if you're always busy and you don't pay attention, you're just going to miss it.”

When we bring a new pet into our lives, we typically have an idea of what to expect.

Besides the differences in personalities and maybe a quirk here and there, we know we have to feed them, provide physical exercise, offer mental stimulation… You know, all the things that keep them safe, happy, and loved.

But what happens when they come with a challenge you’ve never dealt with before?

That’s exactly where Holly–mom of an Insta-famous blind Husky named Dani–found herself after falling in love with the most adorable, and eye-less, puppy she had ever seen.

One of these pets was not like the others

“I wasn't looking, but are we ever really looking? And she kind of just popped up. My dog Dallas had died and so we just had little Ed… I don't know how I came across her photo–this cute little blind Husky puppy–and how do you not fall in love?”

Always having dogs and other animals around since childhood, Holly was no stranger to pet parenthood and all the responsibilities that come with it.

Between a very vocal Rottweiler, a Husky who survived cancer, her “heart dog” who lived a long happy life even with chronic illness, and finally, her little companion Ed (who is now the sweetest old man), she was up for anything her pets sent her way.

So when she came across a puppy with no eyes, she didn’t think anything of it.

After convincing her husband to “just meet her,” she decided to apply to adopt.

And out of the huge pool of applicants, it was her career in veterinary medicine and her experience with Huskies that led to her being picked.

Little did Holly know, she’d get much more than just a cute pup.

Dani wasn’t the only one who experienced challenges

“She has no idea she's different. She was born this way and so everybody wants to feel sorry for her. But as far as she knows, we're the odd ones. She has no clue.”

Blind since birth, the way Dani adapted to her lack of vision was just a part of growing up.

Luckily, she spent her formative years in a foster home, where a loving, dedicated human spent time establishing commands that would guide her and help her navigate an ever-changing world.

Dani had learned “step up,” “step down,” and names for common objects she’d encounter in her day-to-day life.

This helped the transition into Holly’s home, where she quickly found herself being more attentive and present to her new pup’s needs.

“I seriously believe we're just the stupid humans, and the dogs are the ones that are brilliant. They're always trying to teach us what they need. We have to be open to listening to them, really.”

The immediate task was to work on building trust with Dani so she knew she was safe in her new home.

With this came some new approaches to pet parenting too.

For example, the water and food dishes are never moved around and furniture always stays in the same place.

With guidance, she also learned where the stairs were so she could understand how many steps there were until she reached the end. A textured mat at the top helps her identify their exact location.

“We have a lot of stairs that go down to our backyard so that was really worrisome to begin with. In the beginning, it was one step at a time, ‘step up’ or ‘step down.’ ut now? She just flies down them. She does not have fear.”

With time, Dani created a roadmap in her mind and was able to locate anything she wanted. She’s even memorized the layout of her favorite dog sitter’s home too!

Even though she’s a confident dog who has no trouble getting around, Holly has noticed that she experiences more mental exhaustion than other dogs might.

Since her senses are heightened and her brain is always “on,” just experiencing everyday life can definitely be draining at times.

But it’s nothing that a little rest on her favorite ottoman and love from her humans can’t mend!

Creating a strong bond–no eye contact needed

“The biggest thing was working on that trust and bond with her. She’s seven now and she still continues to look for us when she's unsure. I really think that’s because of the foundation we built and this relationship that we’ve worked on so much.”

When visual cues are out of the picture, establishing strong communication is what helped Dani and her humans become so connected.

Holly helps her navigate unfamiliar settings by constantly calling out keywords for familiar objects and even a simple “bump!” when there’s an obstacle in the way.

And because Dani is so attuned to what’s going on around her, a simple command is enough to make her stop and tilt her head back, waiting for her next direction.

Besides this more active communication, Holly also advocates for her in ways she can’t do herself.

For example, there are many cases in which people see Dani in public and want to touch or pet her.

Because she can’t see and is surrounded by unfamiliar voices and smells, Dani might not be down for that kind of contact…

And any sudden moves or unexpected touch can make her feel unsafe or vulnerable.

But because Holly stops it before it happens, Dani has learned that she’s in safe hands, no matter the situation.

Dani teaches us to pause and appreciate life

When it comes to mindfulness and staying present, we could really learn a thing or two from Dani.

Every moment of her day is spent in full mindfulness, always listening for the familiar words that help guide her through life.

“When she listens to me and she looks for that cue, I'm like, ‘Wow, she really trusts me,’ and that feels really, really special. I just feel so lucky that I get to be her person.”

Especially during the fall, she sits in her favorite spot on the deck, overlooking the backyard and the woods behind the house.

Holly noticed the way she could sit there for hours, just being attuned to her surroundings and taking in every sound, scent, and sensation… And it was the perfect reminder that this was the “pause” button she had been looking for all along.

Wanting to share this moment with others, she posted this “mindfulness” video to Dani’s Instagram page, not expecting the response it would get.

Turns out, people connected with the simple reminder to stop and breathe.

From there, Dani’s Instagram following really grew.

And for the people who were pivotal in her first months of life, it’s been a great way for Holly to keep them updated with her growth over the years.

Don’t let blindness be a deal breaker

“Blind doesn’t mean difficult–just a more gentle approach. You just have to figure out how to communicate and meet them where they are.”

Bringing home a blind dog (or any with different needs, really) can be intimidating at first.

But these differences don’t have to be scary.

According to Holly, there’s a handful of things you can keep in mind so when you come across an irresistibly-cute pup who needs a home, you can feel more confident in helping them thrive.

🐾 Research the breed - knowing any breed-specific traits you may be encountering in addition to the unique needs they have will help you communicate in ways that really stick

🐾 Develop a consistent routine - work on getting the basics figured out so they know what to expect and when to expect it

🐾 Provide a safe space - give them a place to unwind and rest, or even retreat to when feeling stressed or overstimulated

🐾 Establish dialogue - Especially with a blind dog, words and sounds are everything. Help them learn words for things they’ll be encountering often and commands that will help them navigate their surroundings

🐾 Commit to building connection and trust - Show them that they can rely on you during moments of uncertainty. You’re here to guide them and help them experience the most of life!

Help them thrive, no matter what

After spending so much time with your special pet, taking care of all their quirks and unique needs will become second nature.

But if you’re not there to care for them, will they receive the support they need to thrive?

Putting a Cotl plan in place ensures your pet is taken care of, just the way they’re used to, no matter what happens to you.

Discover how the process works or book a call directly with Sean, our founder and CEO, to see what a plan could look like for you.

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