This week we're here to share the greatness that @finnigan_and_the_poodles has to offer.
Finn is a 3-year-old poodle that is blind from PRA, a genetic disease that causes retinal degeneration. Finn and his siblings live in Maine.
We caught up with Finnigan's owner; Leah who shared all the scoop on Finn!
N-Gage: What nicknames does Finnigan go by?
Leah: Mostly Mr. Finn!
NG: What have the hardest parts of training a blind dog been?
L: Building confidence has been a challenge. As he was losing his vision he became fearful of people, so we spent lots of time building confidence and he is now comfortable meeting everyone.
NG: Do the other dogs treat him as if he were sighted?
L: Yes and no, they're more respectful of him but they still play with him.
NG: Where did the pink ears idea come from?
L: Finn spends lots of time with children teaching them about disabilities so we wanted something that would stand out and make the children remember him.
NG:What do the ski/swimming goggles help with when Finnigan is swimming?
NG: How does Finnigan do with swimming? He seems to love the water.
L: Finn has always loved to swim. The fact that he can't see has never stopped him from jumping into the water.
NG: Did you train Finnigan yourself or get professional assistance?
L: Finn was trained by me, although I had considered working with a professional when he was younger.
NG:Would you recommend adopting a special needs dog to others?
L:Yes! Especially for anyone who loves training dogs. You can learn a lot from special needs dogs.
