CHARDON, Ohio — Megan Wessels is a certified professional dog trainer who started Mission Ready Retrievers to train dogs for veterans.
She also teaches at Cold Nose Companions dog training facility.
Wessels' career path brings many talented canines her way -- but none quite like a 10-month old pup that's currently by her side.
"If someone wanted to do dog sports and nose work and stuff like that, he can do it all," said Wessels of Snickers, who she has been fostering for the last few months while preparing him for his forever home.
It's clear Wessels is the pro in this relationship, but Snickers is teaching the trainer a thing or two.
You should know, Snickers is blind.
Many dog owners have experienced the condition as their dogs age. It's not uncommon. But to work with a blind puppy was a new challenge for Wessels.
No one knows how Snickers became blind. Whether it was genetic at birth, or the result of trauma. He came to the shelter this way.
There is a misconception in some facilities that dogs with special needs are "unadoptable." At Ready Pet GO! we've profiled deaf dogs, who've gone on to make incredible companions that are highly skilled.
And pups with physical challenges can also lead happy and comfortable lives.
The same is true of dogs who are blind at a young age, but Snickers almost wasn't given the chance by the shelter that took him in.
"One of our awesome volunteers from One At A Time K-9 Rescue also works there and called one of the directors of the rescue and said, 'Hey we've got this puppy. He's awesome! But he's blind and they're going to put him down today. Can we help?' So they went and picked him up that day," Wessels said.
One At A Time K-9 Rescue is a 501c3 foster-based rescue. They pulled Snickers just in time, and put him in the care of volunteer Wessels.
Cold Nose Companions has plenty of experience working with deaf dogs. They also open up class space for adoptable shelter or foster-based dogs. A blind pup would be a first for Wessels. Both she and Snickers were up for every challenge.
"I got him here and I don't think he knows he's blind," Wessels said.
One of the first steps was getting Snickers comfortable with human contact, in a way that wouldn't startle him.
"I was really adamant about before I put hands on him I would say, 'touch you' and then come touch him.
Verbal commands, and "getting paid" as Wessels put it, are the basis of their work.
"So, I want to get him used to me touching his ears and his tail and his feet. But now, instead of just doing it, I'm telling him I'm coming to do it," she demonstrated.
Snickers also knows "place," which is his cue to head to his bed. To find it, Wessels put a small amount of pet-safe lavender oil on the cushion so he could seek it out with ease.
Wessels demonstrated all that Snickers has learned in just a few weeks. He is attentive on the leash and walks in the heel position, awaiting a verbal cue from Wessels. In fact, he's already earned his AKC Good Citizen and Trick Dog titles in the last few days.
Snickers loves to let loose, too, in the back yard, whether with her dogs or by himself. As he zooms around the fenced-in back yard, all his foster mom needs to do is say "careful" and Snickers understands he's getting close to a barrier.
Fostering and training Snickers has been an amazing experience, according to Wessels, and his future family will reap the rewards.
"There was no huge life change here, to bring him into the home. and he surprises me, you know. I forget, he's blind. He's going to come with a lot of training that I've been putting in with him. People pay thousands of dollars to send their dogs to board and train with a certified trainer, and he's coming with all that. It's all included in the adoption," she said.
Snickers' bed, leash, harness and coat all come along, too.
Wessels is even including a few transition sessions to help Snickers' new family learn his commands.
He's dog-friendly and wouldn't mind a canine companion. A meet-and-greet would be required before adoption. But more than anything, Snickers is in need of the right family to feed him his favorite "cheese" and be open to cuddles on the couch.
"He's a people dog," Wessels said. "He wants to be with her person. He wants to be a part of things. He wants to go with you and hang out and be a part of the family."
Snickers is in good health. He doesn't require any medication for his eye condition.
To learn more about adopting Snickers, check out his information page HERE.
Check out all adoptable dogs at One At A Time K-9 Rescue HERE.
Learn more about classes at Cold Nose Companion HERE.
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