The 5 Best Dog Harnesses For Blind Dogs
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A blind dog is a sad story, but looking at things on the positive side, canines are not dependent on sight when it comes to identifying their surroundings, so it isn’t the end of the world. With the right attention and care, a blind dog can be trained well to live his or her life as normally as a sight-seeing dog would.
Compare Best Dog Harness For Blind Dogs
Safety Bolt Snap | Safety Quality welded heavy duty stitched D ring | Safety Color coded with wording to PREVENT accidents or incidents in public | Safety Quick Release, Dual Clip | Safety Designed to safely and kindly stop a dog from pulling by providing a front control system |
Adjustments Handicapped Support | Adjustments 2-Inch side light weight release buckle | Adjustments Available in buckle and semi-choke collars, leashes, harnesses and coats in various sizes and ranges | Adjustments Handicapped Support | Adjustments Harness is adjustable and extremely comfortable with Neoprene padded shoulders for extra comfort |
Price High price range | Price High price range | Price Mid price range | Price Mid price range | Price Mid price range |
Style Polyester, Cotton | Style Made of quality super strong 2-inch nylon | Style Now with extra front D ring for no pull option. Embroidered wording and high quality materials | Style Nylon | Style Made of high quality nylon webbing |
What Causes Blindness in Dogs?
There are plenty of reasons why dogs lose their eyesight, but some of the things mentioned below are some of the primary causes:
- Birth: Some dogs are simply unlucky and born blind due to some hereditary disease.
- Cataracts: This can cause gradual vision loss as cloudiness develops in the lens of the eye. Certain dog breeds are predisposed to cataracts, and this is sometimes due to diabetes.
- Sudden Acquired Retinal Degeneration Syndrome: This is also known as SARDS, is an acute blindness disorder that may affect some unlucky canines.
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy: This is another hereditary disease that causes a gradual loss of vision. PRA causes degeneration of the retina and is neither painful nor life-threatening.
- Retinal detachment: This may be due to a rise in blood pressure or a tumor.
- Corneal ulcers: Sometimes, these injuries, if left untreated, can lead to a loss of vision and blindness that greatly affects the eye.
- Injury: A puncture of some sort or abrasion may lead to a blind eye.
- Macular degeneration: This is a degenerative condition of the macula (a part of the retina). This is prevalent in aging dogs.
Whether it is due to the causes above, signs of eye conditions may include eye redness, swelling, squinting, pawing or rubbing, with excessive tearing and/or discharge. It is important to make sure to get your dog treated or checked if you notice any of these symptoms.
Best Rated Dog Harness For Blind Dogs
For dogs that have neck problems or are of a larger size, leashes alone are never enough to do the job.
Much like any other product for dogs, we understand that choosing the best harness could be a tiring and daunting task as there are thousands of items out there.
Therefore, to help with this process, we have provided a list of suggestions for the best dog harness for blind dogs.
Muffin’s Halo
Product Info
- Safety: Bolt Snap
- Adjustments: Handicapped Support
- Price: High price range
- Style: Polyester, Cotton
- Easy to use
- Comes in many sizes
- The length of the halo on this design is adjustable
- The wire isn’t as rigid and can bend out of shape easily
DT Works Harness
Product Info
- Safety: Quality welded heavy duty stitched D ring
- Adjustments: 2-Inch side light weight release buckle
- Price: High price range
- Style: Made of quality super strong 2-inch nylon
- High adjustability
- Comes in various colors and stylish designs
- Durable and long-lasting
- Very heavy and a bit uncomfortable to carry around
Dexil BLIND DOG Non-Pull Front and Back D Ring Padded
Product Info
- Safety: Color coded with wording to PREVENT accidents or incidents in public
- Adjustments: Available in buckle and semi-choke collars, leashes, harnesses and coats in various sizes and ranges
- Price: Mid price range
- Style: Now with extra front D ring for no pull option. Embroidered wording and high quality materials
- Does not hinder daily activities
- Affordable price tag
- Comes in various sizes for the best fit
- It might not be ideal for a giant breed
PetSafe Solvit CareLift Rear-Only Lifting Harness
Product Info
- Safety: Quick Release, Dual Clip
- Adjustments: Handicapped Support
- Price: Mid price range
- Style: Nylon
- Allows a wide range of motion, especially jumping
- Does not cause any pressure on the dog’s body
- Easy-to-clean
- The rear-only harness doesn’t minimize pulling, as much as front-attaching harnesses
Halti Harness
Product Info
- Safety: Designed to safely and kindly stop a dog from pulling by providing a front control system
- Adjustments: Harness is adjustable and extremely comfortable with Neoprene padded shoulders for extra comfort
- Price: Mid price range
- Style: Made of high quality nylon webbing
- Made from quality materials
- Safe design made specifically for anti-pull harnesses
- Padded features provide extra comfort
- May not suit small dogs
Dealing With A Blind Dog
As we mentioned above, blind dogs can actually live very normal and happy lives. Like blind people, dogs learn to adapt to the environment and rely on their other senses, and considering they are heavily reliant on smell as their main sense, this does not make their lives too troublesome. Most blind dogs adjust fairly quickly to their surroundings.
- When a dog first loses vision, the signs are dramatic, and it is important to guide the dog through clapping (sound), calling its name frequently, or tapping the floor. Do this until it assimilates into the environment around you.
- Check your home and yard for hazards, removing any sharp and dangerous objects that your dog may encounter.
- Keep your dog’s water and food bowls in the same location. It’s important that your blind dog can always find water.
- Avoid moving furniture or placing new objects near walkways. If anything gets moved temporarily, make sure to put it back. Keep stairs and other dangerous areas blocked off with baby gates.
- Consider equipment to help him. Protect his face and alert him to obstacles.
- Don’t let your dog get too far ahead of you on walks. Teach loose-leash walking, and try to keep your dog by your side using sounds.
- Use food as a motivator for training your blind dog.
- Make sure to touch and play with him frequently. Making sure your presence is well known is important to making a blind dog feel loved and accompanied.
Final Thoughts
Having a blind dog can be heartbreaking, especially if it became blind over the years due to age or any other accident.
This may make the dog lose hope and not be as energetic as it used to be. However, this should not prevent you from taking it out for its favorite walks.
With the right harness, a blind dog can feel comfortable, safe, and assured on the outside. And this goes the same for his owners.
