Remove the plastic eyes and other pieces a dog can choke on, trigger the sound, and use that to play fetch. Training is also vitally important for blind dogs. Self-preservation helps the dogs pick up on those new commands, but the owners have to work at it too. Never use a choke chain on a blind dog the dog is going to be nervous enough. As the dog slows, feed it a treat.
Many blind dogs are afraid of stairs.
For small dogs, practice on a short flight of one or two steps, Ms. Levin said. Put them on a leash and gently lead them up the steps, giving them a treat at the top. Coax them down the steps with another treat. For large dogs that are afraid of stairs, you ll have to use the canine sense of hearing. Spread newspaper out on the living room floor, in a large open space.