Muffin’s Halo for Blind Dogs
Several months ago, a couple consulted me about their blind dog. This case involved a younger dog that was slowly losing her eyesight, and she was bumping into furniture and walls inside her home. She had injured her muzzle several times running into a wall, and became terrified to move forward. Her pet owners felt completely helpless and wanted to improve her quality of life.
The pet owners and I agreed that moving furniture against walls would certainly help, but then I remembered something I saw a long time ago. Muffin’s Halo. They took my advice and ordered a halo for blind dogs. Soon after, their young dog regained her confidence and started happily running outdoors again.
If your dog is visually impaired, I’d certainly recommend giving this blind dog harness a try! Dogs acclimate to wearing the harness quickly and, with a bit of confidence-building games, your dog will regain her freedom again.
About Muffin’s Halo
Muffin’s Halo was created by a pet owner looking for a solution for her visually impaired dog. Muffin, the namesake for this wonderful tool, regained her confidence and was able to move through life free from stress and injury due to her new halo.
This halo for blind dogs has a lightweight ring that sits just above your dog’s head. It protrudes past your dog’s muzzle, protecting her face from bumping into walls or furniture. Not only will this ring prevent your dog from getting hurt, but it also slowly becomes a cue to navigate around an object.
Now, the ring attaches to a plush high collar that resembles angel or butterfly wings. The high collar and halo are attached to a comfortable harness that easily attaches to your dog. The harness doesn’t restrict your dog’s movement. Plus, it’s machine washable.
It’s important to securely fence off stairs and pools as a precaution. Also, move furniture against walls or provide a clutter-free walking path for your dog though each room. For the most part, small and medium dogs need at least a 3-foot wide clearance to walk through and turn around if needed. Larger dogs may need 4-5 feet, depending on their size.
Teaching Your Dog to Wear Muffin’s Halo
- Feed your dog treats while placing the blind dog harness onto your dog.
- Keep rewarding your dog while she’s wearing the harness.
- Reward her for every step she takes while wearing the harness.
- Now, take it off and give her a break.
Continue to practice several times a day until she’s completely comfortable wearing Muffin’s Halo. Most dogs do amazingly well wearing a halo for blind dogs immediately, but it’s important to take a few extra steps to ensure she feels comfortable wearing it.
Confidence Building Game for Blind Dogs
Tap into your blind dog’s inner canine abilities—her nose! Dogs have an amazing sense of smell. They can detect cancer and low blood sugar using their noses. Once your dog is comfortable wearing her Muffin’s Halo, it’s time to teach her to walk while wearing it.
Play these games several times a day in the beginning. Going forward, these games are very useful in new environments, such as your backyard, a new home or hotel room.
To play this dog game, you’ll need several stinky treats cut into pea-sized bites and your dog with the blind dog halo on. I recommend bits of blue cheese, salmon treats or chopped hot dogs.
Step One: Follow the Treat
- Hold 1 treat right next to your dog’s nose and give it to her.
- Next, hold the treat about an inch from her nose, so she’s forced to take a step forward. As she walks forward, pop the treat in her mouth. Practice this a few times.
- Now, hold a treat about 2 inches from her nose. Pop the treat in her mouth as she walks forward.
- Continue playing this game until she quickly moves forward for a treat.
Step Two: Follow the Food Trail
- In front of your dog, sprinkle treats 1-2 feet apart along a clear path.
- Your dog may quickly walk along and gobble up the treats, which is fantastic! If she’s hesitant, verbally encourage her as she walks toward the sprinkled treats. The halo may touch the ground as your dog eats treats, but she’s learning that halo-bumping is harmless and rewarding.
- If your dog’s halo bumps into furniture or walls, reward her as she’s stepping away from the object.
Keep practicing!!!
Learn More About Muffin’s Halo
Check out this video created by the inventor of Muffin’s Halo and her sweet Muffin! This product is made in the USA and available worldwide.
Do you have questions? I can answer them here!