I got this shot of blind Evelyn yesterday on a warm Saturday afternoon, enjoying a shady spot. In the past year Evelyn has lost most of her hearing, though she can still hear certain sounds -- like the click-click-click of the shutter. She didn't know what it was but she could hear "something" out there, which is why she had this alert, almost quizzical expression on her face.
Evelyn was our star who liked to show off for visitors with her amazing ability to play fetch. Few people could understand how a blind dog could play fetch, and Evelyn just loved showing visitors how she does it. We would throw the ball, she would listen intently to hear where it landed, then go bounding after it. Once she knew which direction the ball went, she'd switch to her nose to find it. From that point on she could almost always track it down and retrieve it for us.
Unfortunately, now that her hearing is mostly gone, she can't hear the ball anymore and thus doesn't know where to start. This makes her anxious and confused, because she knows that ball is out there somewhere! This was, quite truthfully, a sad development to witness, because she took such incredible joy in playing fetch.
But it's in the nature of these disabled animals not to let these kinds of setbacks get to them. No, life is all about living, and you pick yourself up and get going again. So now that she can't play fetch any longer, she's settled on a new routine -- tug of war. She'll find a big rubber bone or pull toy and bring it over to us, wave it around, and dare us to grab one end. We'll take hold of it, and then she'll tug and tug on that thing. A new game begins.
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Another life lesson from Man's best friend. If you can't play the game anymore, just change the game!! Oh, if I just had the wisdom they do!.
Posted by: Diane Borden | June 08, 2009 at 03:28 PM
My blind deaf guy plays fetch better than most sited able bodied dogs. You can throw his toy into a whole basket of other toys and he comes back with the one we were playing with. He is the most amazing guy.
Posted by: Lori Leduc | June 06, 2009 at 12:32 AM
Along the lines of the rolling scented ball, try a scented drag toy. We had a dachshund in the past we played hide and seek with by covering her eyes and then pulling her favorite toy around and "hiding" it. She would play that game for hours (or as long as we would keep hiding the toy).
Posted by: Christal Anderson | June 01, 2009 at 07:21 PM
The pull toys I sent to you made by my class has anise seed in them. Hopefully she can smell that to find a sock toy to play with.
Jennie
Posted by: Jenniew | June 01, 2009 at 04:53 PM
That is a great idea about the "scented ball".
Also the lower frequency sounds might be something she could still hear.
Sending love to you today beautiful girl.
Posted by: Kate | June 01, 2009 at 01:24 PM
What a wonderful story! It's fantastic how animals live in the "now" & every single human should and/or do learn life lessons from them. Live in the moment & when life puts a roadblock in the way find a way around it with joy & someone to play with. Thank you for this post, it certainly does make me "paws" & remind myself how life is to be lived.
Posted by: Colleen & Sweet Kitty Erin | June 01, 2009 at 01:02 PM
Adaptation. Evelyn has shown humans how to adapt to whatever Mother Nature throws at us. Because she has a new limitation (disability) that interfered with her regular way of enjoying life, she adapted and found a new way of playing. What a lovely girl Animals have a wonderful way of showing us humans how to live in "the now." We can learn so much from them. Thank you for your update. It is inspirational and thought provoking.
Posted by: Ev | June 01, 2009 at 12:05 PM
What a beautiful post. I'm going to forward this to a friend whose dog just went blind. It is hard to watch our animals go through this, but as you said, "But it's in the nature of these disabled animals not to let these kinds of setbacks get to them. No, life is all about living, and you pick yourself up and get going again."
Animals continue to amaze me at their adversity. We can learn so much from them. I know I have and I'm so very grateful.
~Barbara Techel
Author & proud Mom of Frankie, the Walk 'N Roll Dog
http://www.frankiethewalknrolldog.blogspot.com
Posted by: Barbara Techel | June 01, 2009 at 11:28 AM
Another idea for Evelyn. If she can hear certain sounds, perhaps put that sound in a Kong toy ( jingle bell, rattle, rocks in a can) I like Barb's idea too. Scent the ball and roll it for her to catch. :)
Posted by: Amy A | June 01, 2009 at 11:01 AM
How about a ball with a bell inside?
Posted by: bella | June 01, 2009 at 11:00 AM
Evelyn's story of her fetching skills was on another website which led me to your blog which I now read daily. So, she's pretty darn special to me. Plus, I have labs. Black ones.
Glad her weight loss was "cured" but what happened to Penny? I remember a cancerous tumor was discovered on her toe at the same time Evelyn was having her weight loss issues.
Posted by: Lynn | June 01, 2009 at 10:41 AM
Animals are so resilient and resourceful!
I'm glad sweet Evelyn has found a new game for you BOTH to enjoy!
It wouldn't be much of a game without you. ; )
Posted by: boundforglory | June 01, 2009 at 09:31 AM
Have you tried putting a stronger scent on the ball, and then rolling it?
Posted by: jude | June 01, 2009 at 09:05 AM
Evelyn has found a new way to play.Life is GOOD! Maybe us humans can learn a thing or two from this gal.
Posted by: DT | June 01, 2009 at 09:05 AM
It's heartwarming to know that you take the time to give each of the animals some individual attention - some "me" time. I know they must love it and I'm sure it's very rewarding for you, too. It's nice that the weather has turned warm so all the animals can spend time outside.
Posted by: Barb Ribinski | June 01, 2009 at 08:42 AM
Hi RDR! I love your entire ranch! Your post on Evelyn got me to thinking.. her nose still works.. why can't she 'scent' for a ball? Assuming, of course, that it is scented? A lot of tracking dogs use just their noses to find items, and follow the scent trail to it. Just some idle thoughts as I read today's blog. We have just adopted an arthritic older German Shepherd, which is due in great deal to the wonderful testimonies you offer for your great animals at the ranch. Thanks!
Posted by: Luzie Benavides | June 01, 2009 at 05:31 AM
Isn't it wonderful that Evelyn found another way to entertain herself?
I look forward to a snapshot of her playing tug-of-war.:-)
God bless her sweet soul!
Posted by: Carla Polastro-Nigro | June 01, 2009 at 05:12 AM
Watching Evelyn fetch was a great joy each time we visited Rolling Dog. I'm sorry she can't do it any more ... but glad she is adapting to something new. It's a lesson for all of us -- our abilities change, but the joy in living must remain. Bless you, Evelyn.
Posted by: Helen R | May 31, 2009 at 08:50 PM