Need help in potty & stair training Blind/Deaf puppy

[albertacountrygirl]

I have just adopted a blind/deaf 8 week old double merle pup. She is a Border collie/Aussie cross. I pick her up this coming Sunday. I've trained a number of dogs but never had experience with training a dog with these disabilities.
Briefly, this is my setup at my house. I have 3 entrances. Front door with 2 steps leading to sidewalk. Side door with no steps. Back door leading into a fully fenced and secure yard - but - the door opens onto a patio deck with 3 stairs down into the yard. So, Lucy will need to be trained to negotiate stairs also. We also have a full set of 9 stairs leading down into our developed basement.
Can anyone help with how best to go about potty training her and teaching her the stairs? She was born outdoors and is still residing outdoors at the moment. So, she hasn't any experience with potty training. Once I have her home with me, she will be indoors with our other 2 dogs and 2 cats.
I would appreciate any help on this. Also, any other help on training would be appreciated. Thank you very much.
Patty in Alberta, Canada

[GabrielDeafBlindPupFamily]

I think you will find your answers in the sticky. I am slam jam busy the next few days so I can't write as I would prefer, but I believe both topics are covered. My deafblinds have always been potty and stair trained. And they can counT

[GabrielDeafBlindPupFamily]

The potty training is discussed in the blinddog sticky. Both your issues deal with blindness rather than deafness, because a deaf dog can easily see what is what. For stairs, see KarenG's wonderful tips list at:

http://www.blinddogs.net/blind_dog_tips.html

She discusses texturizing top and bottom (both my top step and bottom are) Sit on bottom step with pup in HARNESS (Gentle Leader CHEST harness with D ring at chest) and as you scoot up a step at a time, pup will learn to step up. You can eventually stand and with pup close tight to you with the GL harness, you navigate. Even my severely CCD spinning deafblind learned the stairs in no time flat. They count. Yes they do. Up and down you go with serious tickles at both top and bottom. If treat motivated use a treat on every other step COMING UP only. Going down, pup will lose balance, not being able to see the step. I have a fenced front yard and a fenced back yard. All your entry points should be fenced. I merely open the front door on my second floor home and whoosh, down the deafblind races.

The most amazing thing about Gabriel, and I really need to get this on video, is that he knows my bed is 3 mattrasses high, he jumps the perfect height, but that's not the amazing thing. He jumps back DOWN again, into a vast unknown, trusting exactly where the floor is and even where the door is. He avoids jumping off where the door is because it might be open and he'll crack his little noggin. My room is small and everywhere he jumps could be a potential owie. He knows where every hazard is and leaps into the air.

Your pup will dazzle you and I strongly recommend signing up for puppy skool, not just for the excellent socialization (you MUST keep these pups socialized constantly) but for the education of the OTHERS. They will be dazzled by your baby's abilities, and eyes will open wide in wonder and love for the deafblind.