Deaf dogs and adopting less-adoptable dogs

Elsie was rescued by That Place Called Home and adopted by Connie Bombaci

By RONNIE CASEY | (Edited by Connie Bombaci)

PUBLISHED: September 16, 2022 at 2:34 p.m. | UPDATED: October 5, 2022.

Two weeks ago I discussed a type of special needs pet, blind dogs. Many factors may make a pet seem less adoptable, such as having a missing eye or limb. Also included in the list are those with health conditions, such as cats with FIV and heartworm-positive dogs.

Other special needs may have to do with past emotional or physical trauma. This month, to promote these special animals, Petfinder has designated the third week of September as Adopt-A-Less-Adoptable-Pet Week. In addition, Deaf Dog Awareness Week was Sept. 18-24 which spotlights another type of special need pet that also may be considered less adoptable.

We had a deaf dog. Even though we did not have her tested, it was very apparent since she never reacted to anything quieter than a mega-ton explosion. However, she barked, played, and, from all outward appearances, did not appear to realize she was deaf. She went on happily with her life. We learned that deaf dogs don’t care that they are deaf. We learned that deaf dogs are just dogs and, like people, have their own quirks and personalities. We learned that deaf dogs are just as loving and devoted as any hearing dog.

Judea loved children and often visited schools to teach children that being different makes them special…and everyone is different.

Deaf dogs really do make wonderful pets. Take it from one who knows. Anything you may have heard to the contrary is cloaked with misunderstanding and bias. The only genuine limitation is that a deaf dog should not roam freely unless there is an enclosed, secured, safe area available for them to do so. A deaf dog cannot hear danger approaching, like a car. Otherwise, a deaf dog trains as easily as a dog that hears. The only difference is that one must use non-verbal signals rather than verbal commands.

Like any training, you must first get the attention of your student. Deaf dogs will not respond to you calling their name because they simply cannot hear you calling. However, they will react to other types of stimuli. Stomping your foot on the ground causes vibrations that they can feel. Waving a flashlight, or clicking it on and off, will usually garner attention, especially when the dog responds and the reward is a tasty treat. In addition, you can use a vibrating collar, which differs substantially from shock collars. These collars only vibrate and are not distressful to the animal.

When teaching basic commands to any dog, the use of hand signals is common practice. Therefore, training a deaf dog with the use of them is perfectly natural. As always when training, after getting the animal’s attention, a command (signal) is given to the animal to accomplish a specific act, after which a reward is provided. Some people create their own set of hand signs for particular words like sit, stay, down, walk, etc., while others learn a few basic words in American Sign Language.

Whatever you choose to do, remember that the signal must remain consistent, so the animal associates the word and the action. Lastly, never strike a deaf dog with your hands. Your hands are the way you communicate with the animal and should always be positive, reassuring tools.

A common myth is that deaf dogs are more aggressive. The reason behind the myth is that if you startle a deaf dog, it will bite. Any dog, whether deaf or not, when startled, may snap or snarl out of fear. Therefore, it is important to work with the dog, so the animal is comfortable having someone come from behind and touch it. A few times a day, wake your dog by very gently touching its shoulder or back, then reward it immediately with a treat.

Soon the dog will associate waking with something good. If you do not want to startle the dog, stomp your foot or bump the bed, they are sleeping on. Chances are the vibration will awaken them. Again, always provide a reward.

Deaf dogs have a tendency to bond strongly with their guardians. In the community of those who have deaf dogs, these animals are affectionately known as Velcro dogs since they are most comfortable when they are near their person. As with hearing dogs, some may develop separation anxiety. However, the training methods to condition them to be unafraid of being alone are the same as it is for any other dog. Always remember, deaf dogs can do agility, therapy, etc., almost anything a hearing dog can do. There is nothing wrong with them. They are simply dogs that cannot hear.

If you are thinking of adding a deaf canine companion to your life, a must-read is the international award-winning book Hogan’s Hope: A Deaf Hero’s Inspirational Quest for Love and Acceptance by Connie Bombaci. Tips and methods of living with our special pups are co-authored by Bombaci and Dr. Nicholas Dodman, internationally renowned animal behaviorist at Tufts University. Hogan was the deaf dog who broke open the doors for deaf dogs by appearing on television programs including The Oprah Winfrey Show, Jack Hanna’s Animal Adventures, Dateline NBC, and Good Morning America. The Deaf Dog Education Action Fund, (http://www.deafdogs.org/), and Deaf Dogs Rock (https://deafdogsrock.com/) websites are good locations to find additional helpful information and resources. In addition, the books, “A Deaf Dog Joins the Family: Training, Education, and Communication for a Smooth Transition,” by Terrie Hayward, “Living With a Deaf Dog,” by Susan Cope Becker and “Acorn’s DEAFinitely Awesome Dictionary of Signs,” by Mary L. Motley may also prove to be quite helpful.

As author Charlotte Schwartz wrote, “For perhaps if the truth were known, we’re all a little blind, a little deaf, a little handicapped, a little lonely, a little less than perfect. And if we can learn to appreciate a dog’s full potentials, we will, together, make it in this life on earth.” I couldn’t agree more. Why not give these special pets a chance?

Hogan proved that deaf dogs can do anything!

Ronnie Casey has been volunteering with the Tehama County Animal Care Center since relocating in 2011. A retired R.N., she strives to help animals in need within Tehama county. She can be reached at rmcredbluff@gmail.com.

Hogan’s Hope always on the lookout for better work with our deaf dogs.

I have been working with deaf dogs since late 1993 when Hogan came to be a permanent member of our family. Being that he was deaf and surrounded by so many negative myths, I have always been sensitive to the claims of others, the things they believe are true, and the good ways to better live with our deaf animals. This article caught my interest and I copy it below for you to read.

I must share with you, however, that I do not agree with everything offered. For instance, Dr. Strain states, “While deaf dogs are more difficult to raise and train and can bite when startled, there are strategies for living with them.”

During my work with thousands of families worldwide, I have found more times than not that the “difficulty” was the human. Once solid communication was established, the success rate soared. All of my own deaf pups have trained easier than most of my hearing dogs which I attribute to the bond, focus, and need to watch my hands, expressions, and movements carefully. Training, except for the method of communication, is basically the same for the deaf and hearing dogs. Safety is always an important issue and we must be diligent. Desensitization to being startled is critical for hearing and deaf dogs as well as safeguarding them from running out into traffic.

I have had the honor to consult and work with Dr. Nicholas Dodman, the internationally renowned animal behaviorist at Tufts University. He was enamored with our Hogan and the fact that our special pup could understand American Sign Language. — Why reinvent the wheel? Let many folks talk with our deaf dog, making it very convenient to establish better socialization. — The KEY is communication!

Read for yourself and glean important information. Our deaf dogs deserve the best of everything, and we humans must take serious responsibility for their care.

Dog eared: LSU vet school expert helps determine if pets are deaf and what to do about it

• BY SANDRA SARR Contributing writer

• AUG 30, 2021 - 7:00 AM

Once, the moment your key turned in the lock, your dog was there to greet you. Or, if someone stepped on to the porch, your pooch barked an alarm.

Lately, however, Fido hasn't mustered from his spot whether it's a treat bag shaking or a leash coming off the hook.

The problem could be he or she can't hear.

That's what happened with Luna. Shortly after Francesca Vega and Amado Aguayo moved to Lafayette, they noticed Luna began behaving differently. She would flinch when they approached from behind to pet her. She no longer got up to greet them when they entered the house after work.

They brought Luna to George Strain, an expert in deafness in dogs and cats and a professor of veterinary physiology, pharmacology and toxicology at the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine.

Strain tests dogs to measure their nervous systems’ response to acoustic stimulation. Luna’s test results showed she was 100% deaf in both ears.

“It has made a difference to know definitively that Luna is deaf," Vega said. "Now, we can make adjustments to help her for the rest of her life.”

The 5-year-old, 100-poung Malamute-husky mix has been with the couple since she was 11 weeks old. They recalled that she was difficult to train, and now suspect she may have had some hearing problems all along.

While deaf dogs are more difficult to raise and train and can bite when startled, there are strategies for living with them.

“Deaf dogs cope well, generally," Strain said. "It’s important to protect them from cars and situations where they may be startled. Any startled dog can bite, and deaf dogs startle easily. Deaf dog owners need to minimize the risk of all dangers to their pets and to the people around them."

The couple learned modified American Sign Language, with which they trained Luna, who has proven eager to communicate in this manner. Through a trainer they learned that it was important to continue to talk to their dog.

“Deaf dogs can still read facial expressions and feel vibrations. So, even if your dog cannot hear and you use hand signals to work with them, talking to them as you normally would helps your communication,” said Ally Bertrand, owner of ZenDog in Lafayette.

Causes of deafness include genetics, infections, loud noises, aging, drugs and anesthesia, which is rare. Once a pet is diagnosed with nerve deafness, Strain said, the cause cannot be determined.

“Inheritance of deafness is obscure. Puppies of two deaf parents can have intact hearing. Deafness is not a simple recessive disorder or some other simple mechanism of inheritance. The cause is mysterious," Strain said. "I would very much like to solve the question before I retire."

Interestingly, deafness is fairly common in some breeds, according to Strain, who has tested more than 16,000 dogs, most of them litters of puppies between five and eight weeks old.

Dalmatians, Catahoulas, Boston terriers, Australian cattle dogs and Dogo Argentinos are breeds particularly at risk for deafness. About 30% of Dalmatians are deaf in one or both ears, he said.

White dogs and cats, particularly those with blue eyes, also tend toward deafness.

The Piebald gene that makes them white also causes deafness, Strain explained. Piebald makes skin and hair white and eyes appear blue by suppressing pigment cells, which are necessary in the cochlea to keep the hair cells alive. If the gene acts strongly, these pigment cells die, followed by the hair cells.

Conduction deafness results when sound reaching the inner ear is blocked by ear wax or infection. This type of deafness can usually be remedied, Strain said.

Worried about your pet's hearing? If your pet fails to wake up or respond to sound, such as a refrigerator opening, a treat bag shaking or a mail carrier stepping onto the porch, you might want to get the animal's hearing checked.

More information can be found in Strain’s 2011 book, "Deafness in Dogs and Cats," and at his website, lsu.edu/deafness/deaf.htm, which provides resources on deafness to pet owners and veterinarians.