For many dog owners, the idea of having a pet with hearing Impairment can seem incredibly daunting at first. How will training work? Will they be harder to keep safe? Do dogs with hearing impairments make poor companions? The truth is, dogs can make just as delightful family members as their hearing counterparts with a few small adjustments and a good understanding of their unique needs.
What Causes Hearing Impairment in Dogs?
There are two primary causes of this in dogs – congenital deafness present from birth, and acquired/late deafness that develops over time. Congenital deafness is often an inherited condition seen in certain breeds like Dalmatians, English Setters, Australian Cattle Dogs and others with a higher incidence of deafness genes.
Acquired/late deafness can result from a variety of factors including severe ear infections, trauma, certain medications that are damaging to the auditory nerve, tumors, and simply old age.
Regardless of cause, once the hearing loss occurs, it is generally permanent in dogs. However, with some simple training methods, your little one can learn to rely on other senses and hand signals for communication.
Signs of Deafness in Dogs
It’s not always immediately obvious if a dog has lost some or all of their hearing ability. Suspected hearing impairment may be confirmed through the Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response Test which measures brainwave activity in response to sounds.
More often, owners pick up on clues and behavioral changes like:
- Not responding to commands, name being called, loud sounds
- Frequent startling when approached without seeing first
- Increased barking due to inability to self-monitor volume
- Disruptions to sleep cycle since they can no longer hear as well
Training a Hearing Impaired Dog
Training a dog with hearing impairment requires an adjusted approach, but can be just as effective as training a hearing dog when utilizing clear visual commands and rewards. The key is taking advantage of their heightened senses of sight and smell to communicate. Positive reinforcement with ample treat rewards is crucial, as you cannot rely on vocal praise. Start by establishing an attention-getting cue like stomping on the floor or using hand signals. Teach hand signals for basic obedience commands like sit, stay, come by showing the motion, rewarding, and repeating. Visual aids like wearing a bright vest can help your dog spot you easily across distances. You can even use laser pointers or flashlights to point out where you need the dog to go from afar. With patience and consistency, dogs with hearing impairment quickly learn that following your visual cues results in plentiful treats and praise through affection. Their other sharp senses make them highly responsive students. By creatively adapting training to rely more on sight and touch, they can excel just as well as their hearing counterparts when an attentive owner puts in the effort.
Caring for a Hearing Impaired Dog
While dogs with hearing impairment can be trained to respond brilliantly to visual commands within the home, their inability to hear creates some unique safety considerations that owners must account for. First and foremost, dogs with hearing impairment should never be allowed off-leash unless in a securely fenced area. Without being able to hear you call them, even the most well-trained dog can easily become separated from their owner and lost or injured.
Around the home, install comprehensive visual alert systems to notify your dog of potential hazards they cannot hear. Smoke alarms with bright strobe lights, as well as sensors that flash for the doorbell/knock can help prevent surprises. Utilizing a dog camera system while away can also allow you to check on your dog periodically.
Providing your doggo with updated Identity tags and consider also having them microchipped and registered as special needs. If they ever did become separated, this alerts others to approach with care and not make loud noises.
Finally, exercise additional supervision around potential hazards like vehicles or construction sites that a dog would have no auditory warning about. With their lack of hearing, dogs must rely solely on their sight to avoid dangers in their path.
With some simple adaptations to their environment and safety protocols, they can live extraordinarily fulfilling lives in the right hands. Owners just need to remember to account for their dog’s lack of hearing sense.
Overall, dogs make loyal, loving companions when their special needs are understood and accommodated appropriately. With the proper precautions and some creativity in communication, their challenges can be easily overcome so they can live full, enriched lives as beloved family members.
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