I’m taking coping cues from the good humour of my blind dog

first person

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There’s a saying that goes “old dogs can’t be taught new tricks.” Well, contrary to the adage, this old dog is learning new tricks from a seven-year-old, blind dog.

Poppy is my daughter’s pet. A DNA test indicates she’s primarily Great Dane. Poppy is tall, gangly, unco-ordinated and often drags her knuckles on walks. She’s a mutt and looks like she was made from spare parts, on a Friday afternoon, just before closing time. This past summer, Poppy went blind, virtually, pardon the expression, in the blink of an eye. A dog ophthalmologist confirmed it’s irreversible.

My wife and I recently cared for Poppy for a month. It was the first time we