Golden Retrievers are among the most reliable dog breeds out there. Because of their gentle demeanor and dependability, they have always been used as therapy and guide dogs. But what will you do when a pup of therapy dog caliber becomes blind?
Tao, an eleven-year-old Golden Retriever, lost his eyesight to glaucoma in 2019. Because of this, his owner served as his human guide.
But things have made an exciting turn when Tao has bounced back with a little help from his very own puppy guide named Oko.
Tao looking on life’s brighter side
The senior Golden Retriever lost his sight last year due to glaucoma, which necessitated surgery to remove both his eyes. Despite losing his sense of sight, the dog has impressed everyone by showing how quickly he has adjusted to being a blind dog.
In just a matter of days, the blind dog has already learned to navigate the house. However, his owner has noticed that Tao is not as energetic and playful as before.
To deal with this dilemma, Melanie Jackson, Tao’s owner, decides to get a puppy friend for him. She hopes that the tiny pup will help the old dog to have more fun and feel much better.
Tao and Oko’s bond
Tao and Oko, who is also a Golden Retriever, have quickly formed a strong bond. Just two months after their first meeting, the two are already inseparable. Other than being a playmate, the 16-week-old new dog also aids Tao in getting around; in a way, he serves as Tao’s guide dog.
Melanie says that Tao follows Oko around the field, and the two sleep with each other. She also explains that they are in the process of training Tao to stick with Oko, so the senior dog will not get in danger.
Melanie documents their cute adventures through photos and videos. She maintains an Instagram page where the duo has more than 30,000 followers as of this writing.
Image Source: Caters Clips via YouTube
