Caring for a deaf dog

Does anyone have any experience/tips/advice on how to care for one?

As long as the meet and greet goes well, we are trying to adopt a 13 yr old lab that I found on petfinder.com, that was recently given up, after living her entire life with a family , due to financial hardship. I can't imagine this dog having to live her final years without a family. She is deaf, I am assuming from old age.

On a side note - Murray is usually not scared of submissive dogs, so I am hoping the meet and greet goes well. Usually he is afraid of dogs that come right up to him in a dominant way.

Wish us luck!

Re: Caring for a deaf dog

I hope the meet & greet goes well!! Totally admire what you are doing


One of my dogs was deaf (from birth) and basically she got to know some hand signals and you could get her attention with a loud clap or stomp on the floor. All in all, she was easy but she was also a 28lb terrier mix living in an apt most of her life (so walked on a leash, was never really off leash until I moved in with DH and had a fenced yard - I was VERY nervous for a while too ).

But I would think at 13 yrs old, she may be adjusted to some level of hearing loss and in her unfortunate situation, she just needs lots & lots of loving!!

Re: Caring for a deaf dog

I think that's pretty great what you're doing.

I'm happy to say that our Lab is very receptive to hand signals, even more so than verbal. I've read that they actually learn faster that way too. The key is consistency and repetition. They are never too old to learn!

I believe there are vibrating collars out there also - not shock collars, but vibrating. You could train her to search you out when the collar vibrates by giving her treats whenever she does.

Brinkley does better with hand signals that have motion. For instance, when I want him to lay down, I put my hand palm down and then flip my fingers towards the floor. For "leave it", I make an L with my left hand (this is good so he doesn't take my hand off when I give him treats or toys). When he's waiting to eat, I swing my hand to the bowl and point to tell him it's ok to start. Stuff like that.

Good luck with the adoption!

Re: Caring for a deaf dog

I did a google search to make sure I didn't remember wrong about the vibrating collars and look what I found:

DeafDogs.com

HTH!

Re: Caring for a deaf dog

Posted by greenfreak

I think that's pretty great what you're doing.

I'm happy to say that our Lab is very receptive to hand signals, even more so than verbal. I've read that they actually learn faster that way too. The key is consistency and repetition. They are never too old to learn!

I believe there are vibrating collars out there also - not shock collars, but vibrating. You could train her to search you out when the collar vibrates by giving her treats whenever she does.

Brinkley does better with hand signals that have motion. For instance, when I want him to lay down, I put my hand palm down and then flip my fingers towards the floor. For "leave it", I make an L with my left hand (this is good so he doesn't take my hand off when I give him treats or toys). When he's waiting to eat, I swing my hand to the bowl and point to tell him it's ok to start. Stuff like that.

Good luck with the adoption!

Re: Caring for a deaf dog

Brinkley isn't deaf, but we taught him hand signals as an "extra" training step. We like to keep his mind occupied with training, puzzle toys and challenges.

I think any vibration is good. With Brinkley, he's a bit skittish so if he did have hearing loss, I would probably get a vibrating collar with a remote.

Re: Caring for a deaf dog

no advice really but i think its very admirable and good luck!!

Re: Caring for a deaf dog

I think what you are doing it so awesome. I wish I could help but, we already have 3. It breaks my heart to hear how families have to give up their furbabies due to financial issues. Good Luck and please keep us posted.