Eyesight Question

[les_garten]

Hello,
   I have a just turned 5 month old Male named Danny.  Very sweet puppy, learns quick, a little stubborn.

He was out in the yard today, I knew he was around the side of the house and I went out the front door to get the mail out of the mailbox.

So I very quietly walked around to the side of the house from the front of the house, the street area.  I was looking through the fence on the side of the house watching him.  I was about 50 feet away, 15m or so for the metric folks.  When he noticed me, I just stood still and looked at him.  He made a low woof, then another one, and then ran away into the back yard area.   

It was obvious he didn't recognize me.  I've also noticed he is a little scared at night and will sometimes balk to go outside if he is not on a leash. Then when outside he will just stare at areas and freeze like he's scared.  At first I thought he could see things I couldn't at night and he was just watching things.

Now after not recognizing me today, I'm wondering if he is going to have eyesight problems.

Anybody heard of this in a 5 month old?

[elaine.e]

My first thought when I read this was that you probably frightened poor Danny when you stood still and looked at him from 50 feet away . Poor little chap probably wouldn't recognise you from that distance if you weren't moving or acting/talking like you would normally. You would just be a shape and as you were stationary you probably looked threatening to him.

I'm trying to remember what my 2 were like outside at night at 5 months old and I think they sometimes stopped and stared if there was a rustle of leaves or the gate creaked, trying to identify what the noise was and where it came from, so I wouldn't worry too much. Danny's still a baby and it might just be that he's less confident than some other puppies. I don't mean really nervous, but perhaps not the bravest

If you're really concerned get your vet to check his eyes.

[les_garten]

My first thought when I read this was that you probably frightened poor Danny when you stood still and looked at him from 50 feet away . Poor little chap probably wouldn't recognise you from that distance if you weren't moving or acting/talking like you would normally. You would just be a shape and as you were stationary you probably looked threatening to him.

I'm trying to remember what my 2 were like outside at night at 5 months old and I think they sometimes stopped and stared if there was a rustle of leaves or the gate creaked, trying to identify what the noise was and where it came from, so I wouldn't worry too much. Danny's still a baby and it might just be that he's less confident than some other puppies. I don't mean really nervous, but perhaps not the bravest

If you're really concerned get your vet to check his eyes.

Hi, Fifty feet is pretty close.  I have poor eyesight and recognized him, so just seemed strange to me.

[elaine.e]

My first thought when I read this was that you probably frightened poor Danny when you stood still and looked at him from 50 feet away . Poor little chap probably wouldn't recognise you from that distance if you weren't moving or acting/talking like you would normally. You would just be a shape and as you were stationary you probably looked threatening to him.

I'm trying to remember what my 2 were like outside at night at 5 months old and I think they sometimes stopped and stared if there was a rustle of leaves or the gate creaked, trying to identify what the noise was and where it came from, so I wouldn't worry too much. Danny's still a baby and it might just be that he's less confident than some other puppies. I don't mean really nervous, but perhaps not the bravest

If you're really concerned get your vet to check his eyes.

Hi, Fifty feet is pretty close.  I have poor eyesight and recognized him, so just seemed strange to me.

I hope you don't think I was being impolite! Dogs see things differently to us and one of the things that helps them to recognise something is seeing movement http://www.pet365.co.uk/blog/how-do-dogs-see/. I walk my dogs in the New Forest National Park and the things that cause them to stop, stare and bark most often are biggish pieces of dead wood in open areas (they don't notice them in woodland) or a pony or cow that's laying down and is still instead of grazing or walking about.

[lindseyp]

Are there other occasions/incidences that are adding to this impression les_garten?

You know your puppy best & if it were me & I was having serious concerns I would get it checked out by an ophthalmologist/eye specialist just for peace of mind that there wasn't anything going on that shouldn't be.

Do you have the little chap insured? ...if so, this can be covered, depending on policy etc

(Am I right in thinking you are in the US?  )

[MaggieR]

Have to say I find the same as Elaine - things that are stationary are far more likely to make Maggie bark than something moving - and that includes me    But as Lindsey says - if you're worried get it checked, just for your own peace of mind. 

[les_garten]

I hope you don't think I was being impolite!

No, not at all.  Just wasn't sure if you realized how close 50 feet is.  It's like 3 car lengths for my Station wagon.   I expected him to run towards me, not get scared and run away.  I work from home, so he has spent every minute of every day with me.  He sleeps in the bedroom, so he knows what I look like.

[les_garten]

Are there other occasions/incidences that are adding to this impression les_garten?

You know your puppy best & if it were me & I was having serious concerns I would get it checked out by an ophthalmologist/eye specialist just for peace of mind that there wasn't anything going on that shouldn't be.

Do you have the little chap insured? ...if so, this can be covered, depending on policy etc

(Am I right in thinking you are in the US?  )

Just the events  I mentioned above.  He's spooked at night and stares at shadows.  That didn't really mean much to me till today.  These dogs locate birds by scent first and then by sight.  They should have good sharp sight.

In the US, that is correct.  These are rare doggies here   

I'm probably being overly sensitive, but he's young and I'm watching him closely obviously.

Was mainly interested in if anyone was aware of Cockers having problems this young?

[bluegirl]

At 5 mths there are lots of things that can still frighten and startle a young dog, especially when they think they are alone.

Try testing him when you take him out (take him with someone else present), have them hold him and you walk off for a distance of say more than the 50 feet. It can be in a straight line you don't have to hide from him. One of you watch him to see if he can stay focussed on you as you move away, then you shout and have other person release him to run to you and see again if its straight to you or he shoots off in any direction. If he comes straight to you its probably immaturity that made him look like he has sight issues.

Cockers do tend to do everything with there nose rather than follow through with their eyes unlike other dogs. I've been out walking with cockers and collie dogs and cockers and sight dog crosses over the years and the only dogs I can guarantee will wonder which way I've gone if I attempt to walk off is cockers and they just seem to look up think "oh no she's gone" and just run in any direction, where as other dogs seem to go "lets take a minute here and think about this logically", look up, sniff and locate me.

[Black Beauty & Silverfox]

Yours puppies eyes, as with his physical size are still developing at five months. Their vision is much different to humans and is very sensitive to motion and light.
My pup is seven months and I've noticed with her that she's able to follow a ball thrown at speed but could almost walk over it when stationary, I just put it down to how dogs see things.

Their vision should develope up to fourteen months, but if you have any doubt at all, ask your vet to check him over.


Mel.

[les_garten]

Yours puppies eyes, as with his physical size are still developing at five months. Their vision is much different to humans and is very sensitive to motion and light.
My pup is seven months and I've noticed with her that she's able to follow a ball thrown at speed but could almost walk over it when stationary, I just put it down to how dogs see things.

Their vision should develope up to fourteen months, but if you have any doubt at all, ask your vet to check him over.


Mel.

I'm sure he's fine.  Just being overly protective and overly protective I'm sure!

This health thread is a heart breaker.  There are some really sad stories to read here.