Hi Everyone! Guess who is going to take her first walk today? It’s our Emma. She is gearing up for her first walk being blind. We would have gone sooner, but our weather has not permitted us. There was too much snow and ice for a blind girl to navigate. We will practice steps and curbs as well. I know that Chaps will be a huge help. She will be able to smell her way home after Chaps marks the entire route.

I will take a few pictures and post them later. Wish us luck on our maiden voyage!

More from Emma later…Slurp

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Howllo fellow hound and blog lovers: I must say thank you. Over the past several weeks our readers have increased. Today we had 1,073 readers! Emma thinks it is because of her! If it is, I am thrilled. Emma wants to help all blind basset hounds. 3922

I am here to do that for her!

Last night she crawled into our bed (which is on the floor) and made her way right up to my pillow between Chaps and I. I am so proud of her. Keep reading. We have so much to share! This is really exciting! Our girl is finding her way!

More Later…Cat, Chaps and Emma

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Emma pawing in with her grandma!

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Sometimes it is hard to wake up.

We have noticed that Emma sleeps a lot more than she did prior to going blind. We are a good gauge at this because I work out of my home and live with my Mom. So, our suggestion is to get your hound up and start moving more. This is important. We know most people have to leave the home to work so this is even more important.

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Make time after you get home and get the family fed to get your blind hound engaged. What I did was to take some of her pull toys and move them in front of her. Try to get your hound to play and be excited as they grab hold. Remember to tell small kids not to be really loud. Teach your kids to start a new game with your blind hound. Maybe everyone can sit in a circle and softly call the hound. Your other hounds will love this as well. Your hound has a new life and it will be fun to start new games.

Depression can set in for canines as well as humans. Don’t let anyone tell you different.

Engage, Excite, Live! We can all learn from our blind family member!

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More seeing with your heart and nose later……..for now Emma is playing!

Cat, Chaps and Emma

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Hi everyone:

I am reporting on our Emma. She went totally blind, one month ago today, 3-9-08. Emma is healing from her eye removal fantastically. I have to pat myself on the back for that one. My Mom and I watched her like a hawk. Emma’s navigation progress is amazing. She is really finding her way around our home with little to no problems. From everything I have read this is really fast progress. Do not feel bad if your blind hound is still stumbling in this area at one month. All hounds are different and have different time lines, just like people. This brings me to Emma’s mental state. This is where she is struggling the most. I can tell she is depressed and confused. Every morning when she wakes up and looks in my direction I can tell she hopes her blindness is a bad dream. It just makes me want to cry. Believe me, it is OK to cry. If Emma could cry I know she would. I know Chaps would as well. He is desperate to play with her and she is frightened of him when he gets in his rowdy boy play mood. The homeostasis of our pack is out of whack and none of us like it.

I am here to report how we are doing and these are the truthful facts. I hope that this helps others. This is going to be a long process and we are dedicated to helping Emma through it.

Remember, if you ask for people’s opinions or advise your are going to get it. Some of it may help, and some of it may hurt. Pick and choose what helps and forget the negative comments.

I am sure every month will get better. Emma will acclimate to her new life. Chaps will learn how to play on her terms, and me? I will probably learn the most, from our Emma. She is turning into a great teacher. Her class room (her blog) has endless seats. Pull up a chair and join her life lessons.

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Emma going down the back steps all by herself, one week after going totally blind! Click the pic for a bit more information.

More Later, from seeing with your heart and nose…Emma, Chaps and Cat

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Emma Rudert pawing in! Guess what? I received a precious package today! What a great way to make a girl feel better!

I love my new get well stuffed bunny toy and treats! Chaps got a bunny toy also! Lucky boy!

What’s a better way to heal than with get well bunnies and treats?

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The package arrived from our bestest friend Audra! As you can see I had to have both bunnies to start off with and Chaps let me! This is rare and quite amazing. My Great Uncle usually get first dibs, on everything!

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It wasn’t long before the big guy wanted them both! That’s OK, I was ready for one of Audra’s special peanut butter treats!

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Yummy!

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All of this excitement is wearing me out! I need a nap. Audra, I smell your kisses on my white bunny nose! That was even better than the peanut butter treat! Slurp, Love Emma Wanda Rudert

P.S. Bunnies make blizzards much better! Can someone grab my blankee? Thanks

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Hi friends! Emma repawting in! Look how lucky I am! Chaps and I are a bonded pair and he seems to love his role as my guide. Here is what he does. He takes his rather large tail and wraps it around me like an arm. He flicks it several times on my side to warn me of my direction. I was just getting ready to bump into this chair when he showed me the way, (look how I am in mid step). Whew, that was close! Emma Rudert
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Chaps is such a good boy and the wonderment of his skills are just awe inspiring. He also showed Emma to the window today for their barking routine. The Maltese who lives across the street is not allowed to linger after he goes potty. He must retreat to his home or else he hears the wrath of the Mayor and his side kick! Slurp!

More seeing with your heart and nose later…..Emma Rudert

P.S. I hope my neighbor is reading this…Mark?

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Emma Rudert pawing in! I had to go potty during the night and Mommy has been getting up with me. However, this morning at 4:00am I did it all by myself! I went from the living room, down the hall and out the doggie door, (Mommy was listening)! Clank, Clank the doggie door sounded as I went out. 5 minutes later, Clank, Clank the doggie sounded as I came back in. I got a huge drink of water and crawled back in bed with Mommy and Chaps. I had water all over my face from my drink and so did Mommy from those salty things!

I really want to make Mommy proud! I think I did it! Slurp..Emma

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Seeing with my heart and my nose!

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Howllo Fellow Hound and Emma lovers: Today is March 1st and it came in like a lamb in basset hound town. I took the gate off the porch so Chaps could go down to the patio since all of the ice had melted off of the steps. Down he went. He smelled around for awhile and decided that he was not missing too much and came back in and crawled back in bed for his morning nap. I was just getting ready to put the gate back up and out walks our Emma. She looked so sweet smelling the air and feeling the sun on her back. I told her I would help her down the steps.

I turned my back to put the gate away and when I turned around she was going down the first step. There are 4 steps then a landing. Then another 4 steps and then the bottom. You have to turn a corner and then there are 4 more steps. Well folks she did the entire thing on her own. She got down to the bottom and went potty. She walked the perimeter and back up she came. Right down the hall and into bed with Chaps she went.

Mommy is so proud!

More seeing with your heart and nose later….Emma Rudert

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Howllo Fellow Hound and Cone Haters! My sister had a party tonight at my home for Emma so her son Julian, could crush her cone. We had a blast. Man O Man I needed this. It was so much fun. We had some great wine and Indian food which is my total weakness. Emma went crazy! She was so excited to see them. She let out howls that I had never heard before. Thank God for family. I don’t think Emma’s spirits could have been lifted any higher!

Here is Julian crushing her e-collar! In this picture you can see Emma’s prosthetic eye. My Mom swears she can see through it! Emma is super hound doggie!

We are making the most of it! Slurp!

More Later…Cat, Chap and Emma

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Howllo Fellow Hound and Cone hating lovers: Well, we got good news that Emma could have her stitches out. Chaps is the happiest hound around and ran up to her and kissed her all over.

Here is the first picture I took of her after they were removed.

I was worried about her scratching the socket site so my vet told me I could put socks on the paws on the left side.
That was easy! LOL!

This ordeal has been incrediably painful on all of us. It was nice to lay down and take a mini nap.

After the hounds fell asleep I covered up Emma and I think she slept for the first time with comfort in over 10 days.

I smell you Mommy!

I would like to say thank you to all of Emma’s fans who have sent well wishes, flowers, cards, and precious words of encouragement. Like I said, this has been an incredibly painful experience that I wish none of you have to go through. Emma is only 3 years old. This disease began it’s attack on Emma at the young age of 2.

I smell a mission!

More Later…Cat, Chaps and Emma

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