Anytime you see a change in a dog's normal behavior or temperment, it's time for a vet check. Particularly at her age, there are lots of treatable issues that could be causing her behavior.

There are all kinds of things you can do for a blind dog to keep them safe and happy. My Preacher has been completely blind for three years and had minimal sight before that. Dogs rarely go suddenly, completely blind. They loose their sight very gradually and adapt so well that their owners rarely notice until their sight is almost gone. Preacher has Progressive Retinal Atrophy--the blood vessels supplying his eyes slowly died causing him to loose his vision. I only noticed something was wrong with Preacher's sight when I was holding a fish over his head and he couldn't find it, until I touched his nose with it. Unless I told you Preacher was blind, you'd never guess by watching him. He's pushing 13 now.

The biggest thing for a blind dog is consistency--no moving the furniture, no rearranging your yard, no holes/toys/boxes/shoes/ect in his way. He will develop a mind map and be able to navigate without problems. If you change anything, he has to start all over and is in danger of hurting himself.

Teach him directional commands--whatever word you choose to use. Teach him on a leash first. Say the command word and move him that way. Preacher was fortunate in that he was a sled dog. He knew gee, haw, whoa, over ect. Now I use them to guide him if he's in an unfamiliar area instead of guiding a team down the trail. As much as possible, he stays in familiar areas.

Make noise when you approach him. Never ever sneak up on a blind dog. You will get bit! Every time I get within a few feet of Preacher, I start talking to him, telling him "it's just me buddy, it's ok." Don't step over him, go around him. Make sure he always knows you're coming. If a stranger is around, make sure the dogs knows you are there too. If there's too much excitement or activity around our house, I just give Preacher a chewie and put him in my bedroom--where he's safe and relaxed. He will and has bitten when he's startled or stressed.

Blindness is not the end of the world for a dog. It will be harder for you to adjust than for your dog. Preacher never missed a stride, never whined, never complained. He just learned new ways to do what he wanted and needed to do.

He is the same dog he always was--noisy, bossy with the young dogs, lazy, occasionally goofy, smart. He still plays(not often cuz he's old), he still loves his moose bones, still chases his tail, still likes to roll around in the dirt, still hates being brushed.....He's still Preacher.