“don’t feel sorry for my deaf dogs because their lives are great and they have no idea they are deaf”.

Deaf Dog Awareness Week is the last full week of every September. This year is between September 20 through September 26, 2015. This week was created to bring awareness to owning a deaf dog.  Did you know deaf dogs make great pets, and some people will argue, listen more than their dog that is not deaf?  Watch the story of Joe’s Dog Pack it is certainly inspiring!

{HOW DOES A DOG BECOME DEAF}

Dogs can become deaf through  injury, old age or genetic defects, but also dogs can  be diagnosed with temporary, partial or bilateral deafness; and can experience temporary hearing loss from wax build-up in their ear canals.

{HOW TO FIND OUT IF YOUR DOG IS DEAF}

• Older dogs that are losing their hearing may not greet you at the door  as usual, if they are sleeping and you walk close to them, they may wont wake up right away.
• Puppies may seem to learn slowly, or not recognize their names at all and neither  respond to verbal commands.
• To find out if your dog is deaf, you may try out the following:  make sounds when your dog  can’t see you, like rattling keys,  clap your hands, squeak a toy, or ring a bell.

{THE MEANING OF LIVING WITH A DEAF DOG}

One of our doggy clients recently started to use a collar that reads “I am Deaf” – I had my suspicious that something was happening  because she wouldn’t listen to us coming into her home  and she wouldn’t respond anymore too her name.  It is crucial to remember that when a dog is deaf, there are many adjustments to do to the normal routine. For example:

• Do not let him/her off leash near traffic as he can’t hear cars coming
• Don’t sneak up as this may cause anxiety.  If the dog can’t feel the floor vibrate when you come near, try flicking the lights
• If you need to wake him/her up try stamping your foot near the dog
• Teach these same things to children and anybody that will have contact with your dog, including the dog walker.

Roxy has lost her hearing as she got older. She is now enjoying walks where she is allowed to sniff and explore the world through her nose.

{TRAINING A DEAF DOG}

Despite what we may think, turns out that training a deaf dog isn’t much more difficult than training a dog who can hear. The trick is to catch the dog’s attention in different ways.

• Reward desired behaviours with treats, toys, and affection
• Re-direct unwanted behaviours to something fun your dog enjoys. No need to scream at the dog or use force.
• Combine verbal commands with hand signals. There are not set “hand signals’ so you can use what it suits you.
• Remember to be consistent and to explain friends, family and anybody that will be caring for your dog what the signals mean.
• Be patient

{DEAF PET AWARENESS INFOGRAPHIC}

Trupanion put together a very useful info graphic  to share information about deaf pets with family and friends.  Read the full version HERE

As you can see life with a deaf dog can be very rewarding. Adoption of deaf dogs unfortunately, due to the lack of knowledge,  may take longer time than a dog that can hear. That is why Deaf Dogs Awareness Week  is so important. We hope you can help us spread the word by sharing this post with your friends on Facebook or any social media or communication channel you prefer.

Comment below or join the conversation on Facebook or Twitter! We would love to hear your stories and thought #Woof

http://trupanion.com/canada/deaf-pets/training-tips