Training a deaf and blind dog

[pipersmom]

Hello - I just adopted a 12 year old poodle who spent her entire life in a puppy mill. I have never had a dog before but I felt I needed to adopt her. She is deaf and blind and I don't even know if she can be toilet trained. If anyone has any advice I would really appreciate it.

Piper is having a tumor removed this week and all of her teeth extracted due to the neglect she has suffered. She will be coming to live with me and my husband on Saturday, February 27th, 2010. We just met her yesterday - Sunday, February 21st.

Many thanks in advance to anyone who might be able to help.

Laura
Piper's adoptive Mom

[Blinddogs.net]

Hi Laura.. and welcome to the forum!

How wonderful that you and your husband can give sweet little Piper the home & care she's deserved for so many years! If you haven't been to my website yet: http://blinddogs.net there is a tips & help page that will have some suggestions, but since Piper is deaf as well as blind I would also suggest visiting the support board here: http://handicappedpet.net/helppets/ where they have a blind/deaf topic on the board. Karen Anderson who is involved in "lethal white" Australian Shepherd rescue is very active there, and has several blind and/or blind/deaf Aussies. She will be able to give you additional advise on helping Piper.

Please let us know how everything goes... and really looking forward to hearing more about (and hopefully see pictures) of Piper once she gets home!