Miss-Delectable
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Inside Bay Area - Even deaf dogs still want to 'hear' their master's voice
DEAR GARY,
I have a friend who has a dog suffering with ear infections and it will undergo an operation that will result in substantial hearing loss.
Do you have any advice for my friend?
She and her dog are learning hand signals for communication.
I recall that you once mentioned that hearing impaired dogs could be comforted by placing a chin on top of the dog's head and speaking. I think the dog feels the vibrations and can tell that the human is speaking. Did I recall that correctly?
Thanks.
Erin, cyberspace
Dear Erin,
A few years ago when I was discussing another dog with hearing problems, I got two responses about using voice vibrations in the way you describe.
From Dave in cyberspace: "After my dog went deaf, he still liked to 'hear' my voice. I'd place the point of my chin on top of his head and talk. You would not believe the tail-wagging response."
From Mark Y., Dublin: "My old beagle is deaf, but when I press my cheek against his ear and loudly hum, 'Yankee Doodle,' he throws back his head and howls!"
Tell your friend that learning hand signals is an excellent idea.
Using facial expressions also helps.
There's a Web site — Deaf Dog Education Action Fund — that's run by the Deaf Dog Education Action Fund. When your friend checks it out, have her click on
Training at the top of the page. She will find a huge amount of information on how to train her dog (and herself) to deal with its deafness.
Deaf dogs are like people and tend to withdraw and keep to themselves. Using signs, hand movements, touching and facial expressions is an excellent way of compensating for their hearing loss. Lots of touching and attention is always a good thing with animals, anyway, even if they don't have any hearing problems.
They like to interact with us and we can't do that enough!
Two final thoughts:
Deaf dogs should always be kept on a leash when they go for walks.
And while we're on the subject of pet deafness, why don't you have your own pet's hearing checked the next time it sees your veterinarian?
DEAR GARY,
I have a friend who has a dog suffering with ear infections and it will undergo an operation that will result in substantial hearing loss.
Do you have any advice for my friend?
She and her dog are learning hand signals for communication.
I recall that you once mentioned that hearing impaired dogs could be comforted by placing a chin on top of the dog's head and speaking. I think the dog feels the vibrations and can tell that the human is speaking. Did I recall that correctly?
Thanks.
Erin, cyberspace
Dear Erin,
A few years ago when I was discussing another dog with hearing problems, I got two responses about using voice vibrations in the way you describe.
From Dave in cyberspace: "After my dog went deaf, he still liked to 'hear' my voice. I'd place the point of my chin on top of his head and talk. You would not believe the tail-wagging response."
From Mark Y., Dublin: "My old beagle is deaf, but when I press my cheek against his ear and loudly hum, 'Yankee Doodle,' he throws back his head and howls!"
Tell your friend that learning hand signals is an excellent idea.
Using facial expressions also helps.
There's a Web site — Deaf Dog Education Action Fund — that's run by the Deaf Dog Education Action Fund. When your friend checks it out, have her click on
Training at the top of the page. She will find a huge amount of information on how to train her dog (and herself) to deal with its deafness.
Deaf dogs are like people and tend to withdraw and keep to themselves. Using signs, hand movements, touching and facial expressions is an excellent way of compensating for their hearing loss. Lots of touching and attention is always a good thing with animals, anyway, even if they don't have any hearing problems.
They like to interact with us and we can't do that enough!
Two final thoughts:
Deaf dogs should always be kept on a leash when they go for walks.
And while we're on the subject of pet deafness, why don't you have your own pet's hearing checked the next time it sees your veterinarian?