Adopt Me! 
Squint

Squints Perfect Home:

 - Has other pets if they can tolerate some accidental bumping, no other pets is fine too, Squint could be an "only child" and still be happy. 

- Likes where their furniture is and doesn’t move it very often - haha! 

- Understands that her brain works a little differently than most dogs and she needs some additional help to settle down. This is something we’re working on heavily, but medicine is a very big catalyst for this. When she is out and about in the home, I recommend giving 50-100 mg of trazodone to help her learn when it’s time to play and when it’s time to settle. 

- Can be patient and show her how to get around the home/on the bed/outside for the first week or so. 

- Can lift her weight of 30 pounds (she’s smaller than she looks!)

 

Squints Routine Here:

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Sleeping: 

- Sleeps in the bed at foster home but slept overnight in her kennel at her original home. Could be fine both ways

 

Feeding:

- 1 cup of Simply Nourish Chicken food in the AM and PM, purchased from PetSmart: https://shorturl.at/ZGaW2

- No food allergies that we know of

- Loves yogurt, pumpkin, and apples. 

 

Pottying:

- Needs to go outside quickly after waking up or coming out of kennel, I usually take her collar and help her get outside. She will usually pee. If you wait long enough she will poop. But most of the time we come inside for about 5-10 minutes, then go outside again and she will poop. As of right now she does not really let you know if she has to go to the bathroom. If you pay attention to her butt, it will protrude a little bit when she has to poop. If the poop is not picked up, she could be known to turn around and try to eat it. Pick it up quickly and this won’t happen! I recommend adding canned crushed pineapple to her food to help with this. 

 

Playtime: 

- She loves to play tug the most! Put a toy in front of her face and she will get it and start pulling! Be careful of when she readjusts her grip, she doesn’t know where the toy ends and your hand starts!

- “Puppet-type” toys could be good for you/her. https://a.co/d/00EuUNPv

- I recommend keeping a toy on or near your person at all times to be able to quickly hand it to her if she is feeling mouthy or playful! 

 

Spinning: 

- She does spin. As of right now we are trying to determine the best course of action for this. It’s unlikely to go away, but it seems like it’s not harmful for her. Many other blind dog owners report spinning and say it reduces as the dog gets more comfortable in the home. Fun fact: Squint only spins to the right!

 

Treats/ Chews/ Enrichment:

- She gets bored of the same treat quickly! Switch it up for her and keep training sessions short! 

- She likes himilayan chews and pig ears

 

Training: 

- Index finger one tap on head: Yes! 

- Show her treat, then move it above her head: Sit

- Show her treat while sitting and slowly move it down towards the ground: Lay Down

 

Crate:

- I always give her a treat no matter how small for going in the crate. The longer lasting the better - frozen Kongs with pumpkin, yogurt, apples, chicken, etc. have been my go to. She might bark in the crate for a few minutes after she finishes her snack. But there have been several times where she didn’t bark at all in the crate! 

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Helping Her Settle: 

- The trazodone helps immensely. Her brain has a hard time shutting down and letting her lay still or rest. Anytime she DOES lay down or sit still, I give her a treat. This is to help her learn that resting is good and will lead to something yummy, so she should try doing it more often! During times when she is very riled up and not interested in play, it is ok to either put her in the crate for a few minutes to help her settle, or tether her to a heavy chair or table out of leash range with a bed close by. When tethered, I usually wait out the frustration barking and then give treats for quiet/laying down. 

- The longer she has been here, the easier it has been for her to lay down and be quiet with no trazodone!