Fond du Lac blind puppy to be trained as therapy dog

FOND DU LAC - Trotting happily across Judy Essman's kitchen floor, Rosie the golden retriever puppy seems like any other puppy from her 6-week-old litter.  

However, when Essman, owner of The Golden Choice breeding service, slipped on a pair of tinted "Dogglers," or dog goggles, over Rosie's eyes it becomes clear that the puppy is unique. 

Rosie was born blind. 

"I don't want children to be afraid of her as she gets older," Essman said, referring to Rosie's gray, glossy eyes. "You have to get them (familiarized with) the glasses really early on, so they'll be able to wear them more often for outings."

Essman said in her nearly 13 years of breeding, a large majority of dogs being utilized as therapy/service dogs, she has never had a puppy from a litter be born without sight like Rosie.

"Blindness in goldens is not a breed-specific genetic defect," she said. "So when her eyes weren't opening after two weeks, I took her to see Dr. (Marty) Greer at Vet Village in Lomira."

After Greer broke the membrane covering Rosie's eyes, they gave the puppy a few days and then came to the conclusion that Rosie was blind. 

"She said it was due to an infection that affected her eyes," Essman said. "So basically said she can probably sense light and dark but her vision is extremely limited beyond that."

While the other puppies began stumbling out of their whelping box to discover the world around them, Essman said Rosie's adventure was a little more difficult than the rest.

"At about three to four weeks old they begin walking around, playing, going outside," she said. "But Rosie would stumble into the water dish or bump her head into things. It was really hard for me at first to let her test by trial and error, but she has to learn or she will be dependent on me for the rest of her life."

Essman said it took the puppy just a short time to rely more on her other sense like hearing and smell, but some small adjustments were made in her home for Rosie.

"My husband built her a little guided ramp to go out the back door," Essman said. "All the other puppies could of course see where the exit was, but she just needed a little help getting out there."

For being down one of her five senses, Rosie remains docile and curious of the world around her.

"Rosie is very outgoing and loves people, which is an absolute 'must' in order to be a therapy dog," Essman said. "With both of Rosie's parents being therapy dogs, I saw this as a great opportunity to start another therapy dog, so she will begin classes September 6."

Jake Guell, dog trainer and owner of Tails for Life, said though Rosie's other senses will have heightened due to her lack of sight, it is expected to take her a little longer to become therapy certified.

"One of the biggest things coming out of Rosie's case is that she will bring awareness to the fact that those with disabilities are just as capable as every one else," he said. "She is definitely going to bring a lot of joy to kids, too."

Essman hopes encountering Rosie will help children with disabilities or differences understand they are born to do great things.

"I mean, you hear it all the time whether its a child putting themselves down because of their awkward height or a child who feels left behind with a learning disability," she said. "I'm hoping Rosie will help them relate on that personal level so they may work through any issues they have."

Reach Jillian Ellison at jeellison@gannett.com or 920-907-7968; on Twitter: @ellison_writes.