even though shes blind you will probably find yourself sometimes thinking is she realy blind,
If I remember correctly, Elliot's owners sometimes get asked whether Elliot really can't see anything as he behaves so normally... Elliot isn't just blind as such, he actually has no eyes so REALLY can't see anything. LOL

Yes but they give four weeks. (Just adding this so nobody thinks there no longer is ANY free puppy insurance.)

Ummm.. curious, is this Petplan that give Breeders the 4 weeks free insurance still? As as far as I am aware the KC no longer do?

When I was keeping one of my pups for an extra 6 weeks, (due to new owners vaccation) I intended to use the KC cover and then have the new owners use the Petplan on collection. I phoned the KC to start their 6 weeks free insurance as I wanted the pup covered whilst with me and they told me that they no longer gave breeders the free insurance cover, no mention of a 4 week cover, just none?

Elliots Owner, what a lovely post, hopefully very reassuring for our OP.

Ummm.. curious, is this Petplan that give Breeders the 4 weeks free insurance still? As as far as I am aware the KC no longer do?

Don't know about the KC as I've not had a litter since Sept last year, but yes, PetPlan most definitely do 4 weeks insurance. All breeders registered with them got e-mails and letters when it changed from 6 to 4 this year.
I've used the kitten insurance since. http://www.petplan.co.uk/breeder/

Ye Petplan still give breeders 4 weeks cover for the new owners.  As far as I'm aware, the Kennels Club give their free insurance to the new owners to encourage them to pay £12 to transfer the ownership into their name.   But no company will cover a pre-existing condition.

Elliots Owner that's a lovely story.  I hope that the OP has the same outcome as you if they decide to keep the puppy.  But my experience of a number of blind dogs is not the same.

Ummm.. curious, is this Petplan that give Breeders the 4 weeks free insurance still? As as far as I am aware the KC no longer do?

The KC still do, when i got my girl from her previous owner,
the free KC insurance had'nt been used,
so i took out the free insurance when i changed her over to my name,
when you change over owners on line, you get offered it after you have done the change of ownership,
but haveing recently found out, the underwriters do actualy offer a cheaper insurance plan,
that is the excat (sp) same as the KC one, so its worth taking out the 4 weeks, then ringing up and asking about there other plans,
with the KC it was costing me over 30 quid for her, they offered me another plan that was under 30 quid,
or the emergency plan they do for 16 quid.

The KC still do, when i got my girl from her previous owner,
the free KC insurance had'nt been used,


It's not the same. Your not the breeder, they don't give it to the breeder, they will give it to anyone else.

If a puppy owner continues the insurance with the KC after the 6 weeks the breeder also gets the registeration fee for the puppy back, so not only do the KC push for their insurance but many breeders do too.

Just to say that as soon as we got Elliot our vet had to remove one of his eyes - which we paid for. As we are over 50 we contacted Saga insurance who insure our other dogs. They were happy to insure Elliot at no additional cost for his blindness.

About a month or so later Elliots other eye got Glaucoma like the first and was very painful so he had to have it removed. Saga insurance paid the bill - no questions asked.

Elliot is black and white with both eye areas being black so you don't really notice his eyes aren't there. When people see him running along they ask 'but he must be able to see something', even though they know that is illogical as his eyes are missing! Just goes to show what a happy, confident dog he is. 

You can see Elliot and read about our life with him on http://video.crownpetfoods.co.uk/jwb_2009_summer/pdf/wellbeloved-summer-09.pdf it may answer a few more questions about living with a blind dog. His article is on Page 6. Just one error - the trainer where he was born was called Alison -not his school trainer. If she would like to identify herself on this forum I will leave that to her.

I have just taken in a blind Pom pup from a breeder. She couldn't keep him but didn't want to PTS him either and of course no one would buy him so she rang me. He's a lively litte blighter and weill go to the vet on Monday to see what's causing the blindness and whether or not it's treatable. He does bumb into things but has attached himself to the biggest Lurcher I have here and follows him around. His quality of life seems to be very good and that's how I judge whether or not to PTS. Fingers x'd the vet wont find any underlying problems. I wish you the best of luck!

> I have no experience of raising puppies nor of blind puppies, but I can't see it being cruel for her to grow up in a busy hosehold with other large dogs, afterall, as she has never been able to see, her other senses will be much better than seeing dogs and she knows no different.
>
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I have been watching this thread with interest, and had not posted before now, as it's only recently I wrote about my blind dog on here

I had a Toy Poodle years ago, and he had one eye removed very young.  The vet told me that sight was not good in the other eye, and it did actually deteriorate quite fast.  By the way, I have a multi dog household.

While out with my boy on a lead, I used to always use the word careful when we came to steps, or an obstacle.  It was amazing how he would sniff and judge height when we came to a high step.

We progressed to running in fields with no lead, as I wanted to be out of the way of possible traffic.  I used to talk to him when we first started running together, but soon learned that he could hear me moving anyway.  He trusted me totally not to let him bump into anything, and there was no hesitation when we ran together.  Folk usually thought that I just had to be exaggerating, and he must have some sight, but they were wrong.

I never moved furniture, and he would race up the stairs, a quick turn to the right, and through the bedroom door, leaping on my bed.  When I bought a new bed without thinking, it was higher, and the first time he jumped, he hit the bed and fell.  Just the once, and he never fell again. 

Then, when he was almost 13 years old, I moved house.  My neighbour told me how cruel I was, to move a blind dog.  There was a huge difference in the outdoor space for him.  From a 40ft garden, to 200ft, which I thought would cause problems.  I was gobsmacked to watch him walk slowly around the perimeter, sniffing everything as he went.  I have no regrets at all for keeping a blind dog.  I admit that when I lost him, it almost destroyed me, we were so close, and that bond was wonderful.

He wasn't insured, and he certainly cost me no more than any other dog that lived to a ripe old age.  I say go for it. 

Just had to add, that he would hear cats jump into the garden, and chase them.  They always beat him to the other side, but he tried his damndest!!! 

Thank you to all the people that have posted such wonderful, positive stories about their blind dogs.  It shows so well that a blind puppy/dog can lead a normal life.  If the OP's situation ever happened to me i would have no qualms whatsoever in keeping a blind puppy.  From the posts i imagine it is very rewarding too.
Good Luck to all of you. x

Thanks to everybody who has posted, I feel more positive about her future now.
I am in contact with a newly retired relative who may be able to take her on, and who is experienced in "problem" dogs.
I will keep you all posted.

Sounds good. 

I think that the conclusion is that with an owner who has a suitable lifestyle and can commit to the extra attention that a blind dog needs, then the dog can have a good dog life.

JeanSw, that is funny, I use the word "careful" for ickle Hamish as well .

OP, I hope it works out, having a handicapped dog who leads a full life is so rewarding! Oh and btw, I've rehomed 4 blind dogs in the past 10 years and none of them "suffer" and enjoy their lives to the full, one even does mantrailing!

I think this is a wonderful outcome. Good on you OP.

Thats wonderful news. xx

I'm glad that the little mite is getting a chance! You won't regret it.

That's great news!

just got back off holiday and read this post start to finish great posting and great result.

I live with 3 dogs who have varying levels of visual impairment, all merle to merle bred pups who have gone into rescue. One border collie who is completely blind and deaf and currently does Cani-x and has a full and happy life. One border collie who is deaf and with about 30% vision, again she is happy and is able to go off lead on walks. The last is a deaf girl with about 70% vision and again she loves her tennis balls and will be starting flyball in the future. None of these dogs should have been bred (2 are puppy farm bred pups and one was going to be PTS by breeder before her original owner bought her) and I wish in the future that people did not breed merle to merle, but these dogs are alive and have a fantastic life. They do not know any different and do not 'miss' their sight or hearing. I also don't feel sorry for them, they are typical naughty and energetic collies and need just as much mental stimulation and walks as a 'normal' collie.

If things change and this pup still needs a home I know of someone who works in a rescue who has experience of both blind and deaf pups. She would be more than happy to help if needed.

I know this thread was a while ago, but though this vid would help people,
if they ever get in to this dilema again, as a lot of us know blind dogs can
live good lives, but still there are lots who are put to sleep daily,
with out being given a chance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXdxwnmg8xA&feature=player_embedded

Ive just read through this whole thread not realising it was an old post. Does anybody know what happened to the puppy in the end?