How well people hear with the implant probably varies from person to person. For me with the Nucleus Freedom by Cochlear, I am thinking sounds are very much the same as they were when I could hear with hearing aids. It did take me a while to learn to hear again because it has been 20 years...
Where do you get those plastic nail covers for the dog? My dog's nails drive me nuts, too, and when someone is talking and the dog goes by I can't hear the person, just the nails. It'd be nice to silence them! Glad your activation went well, even if it is only 15 minutes long. Sounds like you...