Yes! With the proper guidance and lots of love and praise, blind dogs can be just as happy and functional as sighted dogs. When Cori went blind, I thought that was going to be the end. Sure, she did fine with one blind eye, but two? I was expecting the worst, and preparing myself for what I thought was the inevitable result of blindness - euthanasia.

I couldn't have been more wrong. I am not saying it was a piece of cake. But when a family member gets ill, you take care of him or her. And that's what happened. I used my love in a productive way, to help her readjust. You can too!

• Speak in a reassuring, positive voice
• Teach your dog verbal commands like 'easy' and 'step up' and 'step down' - these commands will be indispensable to keep your dog safe
• Stay positive
• Use any little thing your dog is not afraid to do as leverage for the next challenge. Example: Your dog is still willing to play with a toy. Encourage him or her to play with the toy, and use this experience as a positive reinforcement that your dog can still do normal things--things s/he enjoys. One of Cori's 'breakthroughs' was riding in the car. She was still willing to ride in the car, so I used this experience to prove to her that she could still do things she used to do. Find your dog's niche and use it to further his or her confidence in the world and the ability to thrive in it.