Please contact info@blinddogrescue.com for more information about this pet.
Ubu's Information:
Ubu is a beautiful dark grey Lhasa Apso/Poodle mix with white paws. He was a stray in Washington, DC in the summer of 2011. After he was found and placed in the DC shelter, he did not want to eat, drink, or even raise his head when someone called to him. He moved to a temporary foster home in July and then came to his BDRA foster home in Virginia in early August 2011. Now he likes nothing more than to eat, drink, and come to us when we call his name! He loves to get his head rubbed, to sit in a lap, and to sleep at our feet.
Ubu is an older dog who likely had a very difficult life prior to July and so has some minor health issues. He has a heart murmur but the vet is currently not concerned. He has arthritis developing in his hips but it is mild at this time. We are giving him a grain-free diet along with some vitamins, fish oil and homeopathic remedies and have seen improvement. Ubu doesn’t run, and this could be because of his blindness or the arthritis or both. He does walk all over our yard, though, and seems to enjoy the exercise. He is excited when he knows it is time to go outside.
Our vet said Ubu has progressive retinal atrophy along with bilateral cataracts and feels he cannot see at all. We think he can see just a tiny bit, like maybe the floodlights at night. He moves carefully so gets around without bumping into things too often. He can go up and down the deck steps to our yard and has figured out the way back to the deck from different places in the yard by rubbing against the bushes, feeling for the stepping stones and listening for the sounds of the other dogs coming from the house. He hears well and responds to his name. He barks when we arrive home from work and the first thing in the morning when he hears us coming downstairs, and sometimes he’ll bark when the other dogs bark when it’s dinnertime but, otherwise, he is a quiet guy.
He had a much-needed dental but is reluctant to let anyone near his mouth for tooth brushing so we use dental treats, a water additive, and a taste of dog toothpaste each night to help keep his breath fresh.
He walks on a leash, sometimes going the way we want him to go and other times choosing his own direction! He is housebroken and crate trained. He sleeps quietly through the night.
Ubu’s hair can grow quite long, as you can see in one of his pictures, but we are keeping it shorter as it is easier to maintain.
Ubu gets along very well with people, including strangers. While still sometimes initially fearful when approached and so may flatten himself to the floor (even when we call his name and let him know we are picking him up), he craves attention and follows us around the house, wanting to be with us as much as possible. And he has not once growled at us.
He also gets along very well with our five other dogs (all about his size) and got along well with a large dog in his temporary foster home in D.C. Initially, when Ubu first meets a dog, he may briefly growl but this is not an attempt to establish dominance, as he is not a dominant dog, but most likely because of some fear/anxiety - most likely because he is blind. Ubu has been with us for almost 6 months and really likes the other dogs in our home. When the dogs are walking around, they can bump into him and he may bump into them and he’s fine. He is also fine if a dog comes over to his food bowl. And he likes to follow the other dogs when they are walking around outside.
Ubu is looking for a home where he will get a lot of attention and love. He is a terrific little dog who has won our hearts and now he is just waiting to win yours.
Sex: Male
Breed: Poodle mix
Age: 9-12yrs
Level of blindness: Completely Blind.
Cause of eye issues: progressive retinal atrophy and cataracts
Health issues: none besides blindness
Weight: 10.5 pounds
Good with dogs: YES
Good with cats: YES
Good with kids: Unknown at the moment.
Currently being fostered in: Virginia, but BDRA will arrange transport to an approved adopter.
To view more pictures and videos of Ubu, please visit: Ubu's Page
If you would like to adopt Ubu, please fill out our adoption application.
If you would like to donate to Ubu's care, please send to:
BDRA
PO Box 63401
Philadelphia PA 19114
www.BlindDogRescue.org
