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Canine Behavior Section
Training a deaf dog
Caring For a Deaf Dog
As with people, many dogs suffer some degree of hearing loss. While it takes some patience and persistence, caring and training your deaf dog is rewarding and fun. It is important to take your new dog to the veterinarian as soon as you get him/her. Ask your vet to check your dog's hearing and continue to include this request during your dog's yearly checkups.
Types of Deafness
There are two types of deafness - acquired and congenital. Congenital deafness occurs due to a defective gene that results in a malformation or nonfunctional ear. In Susan Cope Becker’s book, Living With A Deaf Dog, 64 dog breeds with reported congenital deafness are listed. Some of these breeds are more susceptible to deafness than others. Congenital
deafness in dogs is permanent.
Acquired deafness occurs for any number of reasons. Some causes of hearing loss include: Excessive amounts of wax, dirt, hair or other material plugging the ear canal; inflammation or swelling of the ear canal; infections of the middle or internal ear; a torn or ruptured ear drum; loud noise; head trauma; ear mites; certain drugs; old age.
Signs To Look For
There are a number of signs that may indicate your dog is deaf, is suffering some form of hearing loss or is experiencing ear problems that may lead to hearing loss. These include:
Inattentiveness or a change in obedience; confusion when given familiar vocal sounds; excessive barking; unresponsiveness to sounds; being difficult to wake up; head shaking; head tilts
toward the side of the affected ear; itchy and/or painful ears; change in personality; a smelly discharge from the ear.
Testing For Deafness
If you suspect that your dog may be deaf or suffering some degree of hearing loss there are some simple tests that you can do. One test involves sneaking up behind your dog and clapping
your hands or snapping your fingers and observing any reactions. Do this from a distance so your dog doesn’t detect your actions or scent or feel any vibrations. If you suspect that your dog is suffering some degree of hearing loss, have this confirmed by your veterinarian. Some causes of hearing loss are treatable. As well, there are other veterinary specialists (i.e. neurologists) who are able to confirm deafness.
One test that evaluates deafness through the use of computers is the BAER (brainstem auditory evoked response) procedure. By using electrodes placed under the skin of a
dog’s scalp and which are connected to a computer, the brainstem auditory response can be measured. There are five BAER testing sites in Canada listed in Susan Cope Becker’s book.
Keeping Your Deaf Dog Safe
There are many things that you can do to keep your deaf or hearing-impaired dog safe. Deaf dogs should be kept on a leash or in a fenced-in yard while outdoors. Children should also be
taught how to interact with, and behave around, deaf dogs.
Learning how to communicate with, and train, your dog using hand signals is important. Whether you use your own signals, standard obedience signs, American Sign Language or
a combination of these, it is important that you, and others, who communicate with your dog, are consistent with the signs you use. As well, it is a good idea to use signs that only use one hand and are easily detected by your dog from a distance.
In her book, Susan Cope Becker has included two informative chapters ("How To Communicate With Your Deaf Dog" and "Deaf Dog Traits, Training and
Safety Tips") which will help guardians of deaf dogs train, communicate with, and help keep their hearing impaired canines safe. There is also considerable information available on the Internet.
To read some more about training a deaf dog, Click Here
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