Stevie is blind and deaf.

Meet Stevie Elphinstone, a special dog with a heart as big as his paws! Despite being blind and deaf, Stevie is a friendly, fearless explorer who approaches life with a wagging tail and a curious nose.

Personality and Adaptability
Stevie’s resilient spirit shines through. He is able to adapt to new surroundings, learning the layout of the house and finding his favorite spots, like his cozy dog bed and the inviting family room couch, which he has no trouble getting up and down from when he’s ready for a snooze or cuddle.

Intelligence and Training
Stevie is very smart and has learned where to sit when he gets fed, water bowl locations, and where the kitchen is. He’s also house-trained and confidently uses the dog-door to go in and out as he needs. He loves gentle daily walks, walking calmly on a short lead and following his nose around the neighborhood, with some steering as needed to avoid collisions with objects in his path, meaning that his human walker needs to pay attention to their surroundings constantly and keep their hands free for lead steering.

Social Skills
Stevie’s charming personality shows in his love of people and cuddles. He can hear a limited number of noises (such as claps) and feels vibrations in the floor when you walk – and his tail starts wagging enthusiastically when he senses you in the room. If you gently place your hand on his back or head, you’ll usually end up with a spaniel rolling over on your feet for belly rubs. He uses his unique voice to communicate when he is unsure about something and needs reassurance. Stevie thrives on human touch and is happiest when he can feel someone nearby, enjoying every pat and cuddle he receives. He’s very happy to curl up next to you, or in your lap.

Compatibility with Other Pets
Stevie has met some dogs on walks and isn’t reactive to them. He’s very friendly with humans and isn’t shy or easily startled.
Stevie was living harmoniously with two older dogs about the same size when he first came into foster care, showing that he’s not only friendly but also adaptable to different canine companions with a similar energy level. However given Stevie’s blindness and deafness he is prone to unintentionally invading the ‘personal space’ of other dogs which can trigger aggressive responses in them towards Stevie (though Stevie has never shown any aggression himself), an issue that arose with one of the other dogs in his first foster placement. Given this, Stevie might be best as an only dog or with very calm, non-aggressive (even when provoked/tested) canine companions only, to ensure his safety and comfort.

Ideal Home for Stevie
Stevie currently appears to need a home where someone is around most of the time to provide the companionship and reassurance he needs. A calm and quiet environment would help him feel secure, and a home that is easy for him to navigate would be ideal. Limiting his access to certain areas would help to prevent him from getting lost or overwhelmed. A small, secure, fenced outdoor area where he can safely explore and use the toilet would be great, and a neighbourhood with quiet streets for his daily strolls would be a plus.

Stevie’s new family should be patient and understanding of his special needs, willing to provide the reassurance and physical contact he craves. They should also be attentive to his unique ways of communicating. Having a trusted neighbor or pet sitter who will come over to look after Stevie when his humans need to go out for a few hours would be helpful to keep him calm and happy and allow for his humans to undertake some necessary errands that are not Stevie friendly.

Stevie is a wonderful companion who will bring joy and love to any home willing to accommodate his special needs.