His whole body smiles. You can see it in his posture, in his face, even in his eyes, despite the fact that he is blind.
When you spend time with him, take him for a walk, pet him and talk to him, he becomes the proudest dog in the world. He stands tall, full of dignity, looking incredibly pleased with himself.
He is a favourite among so many of us, because he is unique, and not because he is blind. His blindness simply adds another layer to what makes him so special.
With the right guidance, he can become the perfect companion. He has so much trust in people that he would follow them to the ends of the earth. So what if he can't see? He trusts you, because you can.
He is an incredibly affectionate dog. When you pet him, he smiles, stands tall and proud, and looks almost like an angel. If you asked a child to draw an angel in the form of a dog, they would draw Barney.
He can even navigate the city without any problems, despite being blind. When he enters a new space, he maps it out on his own, walking back and forth for quite some time, and within a day, he knows his way around.
He can live with another dog, although he will need some guidance in the beginning. His canine companion should also be respectful of other dogs' boundaries. Because Barney cannot see and has no way of anticipating another dog's sudden approach, he may growl if another dog bumps into him unexpectedly. His growl is simply a form of communication that most dogs understand. What he is essentially saying is, "Careful, please keep a little distance."
Barney once spent a month in a foster home. By the second day, he had already found his way to the garden, where he would always go to the toilet, and he quickly learned every corner of the house.
The most important thing for someone adopting a blind dog is to provide proper guidance outdoors, especially around stairs, changes in ground level and obstacles he cannot see. Barney has already learned the word "careful" from us, and he can easily learn other commands, such as "right" and "left".
Another thing to be mindful of is moving furniture around the house or leaving objects on the floor. A cardboard box, for example, that you temporarily leave somewhere because you don't know where else to put it, could become an obstacle for Barney. Once he has memorised the layout of his home, he will naturally move around expecting everything to be where it was, without realising something new is in his way.
Hearing his handler's voice helps him enormously, especially when he is outdoors or somewhere unfamiliar.
At the shelter, we always let him spend time outside with puppies. He is remarkably tolerant of them, which is quite unusual for an adult dog, and he knows how to put them in their place when necessary. One evening, when he hadn't realised we were watching, we found him fast asleep with one of the puppies curled up right on top of him.
At home, although he loves affection, he is also quite independent. He is perfectly happy relaxing on his own, and when you come home from work, he might get up to greet you before heading straight back to his favourite spot for another nap.
He truly is a wonderful soul. You will fall in love with his smile, you will adore his pure heart, and you will share a peaceful, beautiful life together.
