National Deaf Dog Awareness Week

Deaf Dog Awareness Week starts September 24^th this year. We talked about blind dogs last month, and now we’re putting deaf ones in the spotlight. Fido can lose his hearing at any stage of his life, though senior dogs are at higher risk of hearing impairments. Our canine friends are very resilient, and can bounce back very quickly from even major trauma. However, many dogs with hearing impairments have a very hard time getting adopted. A local Coral Springs, FL vet offers some insight onto deaf dogs and their care below.

Training

Fido needs to know basic obedience commands, just like any other pooch. You can teach your canine pal to obey hand signals or other visual cues, such as a waving flashlight or a laser pointer.

Safety

You’ll need to be extra careful not to let Fido off leash when walking him, as he won’t hear cars, voices, or other dogs barking. Keep your pup to the outside, and don’t let him get ahead of you when crossing driveways or parking lot entrances. If you have a yard, make sure your fencing is secure.

Raising Awareness

Whenever you have guests, let them know in advance that your canine buddy can’t hear. Be clear about any house rules, such as avoiding startling your pooch. You can also get a little vest for your cute pup.

Piano Tones

Sometimes deaf dogs can still pick up notes on a very high or low register. If you have a piano, experiment with using lower notes, and see if Fido reacts. You can also try dog whistles.

Bells

Another thing that may come in handy is putting a bell on Fido’s collar. That way, you’ll be able to monitor his whereabouts, even when he isn’t in your line of sight.

Pet Peeves

One thing that many deaf dogs absolutely hate is being startled from behind. If your furry pal is sleeping, stomp your foot before approaching him to wake him up. You can also wake him up by waving a yummy treat under his nose. Breakfast in doggy bed!

Adoption

Deaf dogs often have a very difficult time getting adopted, as people just assume they’ll need a lot of extra care. However, that isn’t necessarily the case. Many of these sweet pooches just need slightly different care. You may also find that the dogs no one else wanted make the best pets. Our canine pals tend to be very grateful to their saviors.

Do you have questions about caring for a deaf dog? Contact us, your local Coral Springs, FL animal clinic, today.