Are you considering adopting a deaf dog? One thing is certain: with a deaf dog, your usual means of communication will be turned upside down. It’s a challenge, but not an obstacle! With a bit of patience, you and your furry friend can become a well-coordinated team even without words.

“My dog doesn’t listen!” Many dog owners find themselves admitting this when their four-legged friend consistently ignores them during walks. But what if the dog can’t hear due to a defect?

Clear visual signals for the deaf dog to prevent misunderstandings

When a deaf dog becomes part of your life, a major adjustment awaits you: your voice plays absolutely no role in your shared communication. For your command to be understood, it must be visual. It’s not that easy for us humans, who are accustomed to communicating verbally.

Since you can’t “help” with your voice as you would with a hearing dog, your visual signals must be precise. This means they should be clear and easily understood. The different signals should be distinct from one another so that your dog can immediately interpret and respond to them.

If multiple commands differ only minimally, it jeopardizes your communication and can set you back in the worst case scenario. To prevent this, don’t limit yourself to traditional hand signals; communicate with your whole body. Expansive gestures broaden your options and ensure unambiguous signals.

For example, if you raise both hands above your head, your deaf dog will recognize the recall command even from a greater distance.

Don’t forget: Even praise needs a signal. Petting and treats aren’t always possible, so a clearly executed thumbs-up is a practical way to reinforce good behavior.

Capturing the attention of a deaf dog

The foundation of your successful communication is attention. Your deaf furry friend can only understand commands if they regularly look at you. Train your deaf dog to look at you frequently. Stay committed and refresh the training regularly.

Using the drag leash for outdoor safety

To adapt to each other during walks and strengthen your bond, consider using a drag leash. It has proven effective in training with healthy dogs for good reasons.

With the long leash, you give your deaf dog space without immediately relinquishing control. For successful training, it must be a long-term commitment. The drag leash is ideally introduced during the early puppy stages.

The radius of the drag leash helps your dog get used to not straying too far from you and paying more attention overall. You can also practice the crucial “regularly-looking-at-you” with it.

In cases of pronounced hunting behavior, the drag leash ensures your safety, preventing your deaf dog from suddenly running off and becoming unreachable. Vibrating collars fail at too great a distance (more on that in the following section).

Depending on the location, a dog avidly chasing and deaf to their surroundings can quickly be in danger, as they cannot perceive environmental sounds (e.g., traffic noise).

Only consider letting your deaf dog off the leash when you receive sufficient attention during walks, and the recall on the drag leash works flawlessly. Revert to using the drag leash in situations where gaining the attention of your deaf companion outdoors becomes challenging.

Only use the drag leash with a harness for safety

Safety comes first: always use a harness in combination with the drag leash. A collar is out of the question. If your furry friend suddenly takes off, it can cause a strong jolt.

If the long leash is attached to a collar, it can lead to life-threatening injuries. Also, wear gloves to protect your hands from burns.

Communication aid for deaf dogs: Collar with Vibration

Keeping a deaf dog on a leash for their entire life? A dreadful thought! There must be another way. To ensure your non-verbal communication works even at a distance, there is a tool: the vibration collar, controlled through a small remote.

An electric collar? Are alarm bells ringing for you already? Your concern is unfounded. Often, the vibration collar is promoted as a gentle corrective measure (in contrast to the prohibited shock collars).

It unfairly receives a negative connotation as a result. In essence, the vibration collar is a neutral tool that can be used in various ways.

Vibration on the collar replaces your calling

For a deaf dog, it’s simply about making them aware. Following the motto: Vibration = “Hello dog, I have an urgent matter, take a look!” Thanks to vibration, you can still capture your deaf furry friend’s attention even when visual signals no longer suffice.

The conditioning is similar to clicker training. How you specifically work with it is up to you.

You have two options:

Positively associate the vibration on the collar

Remember to gradually acclimate your dog to the collar without using the vibration function. Due to the receiver, it’s bulkier than a regular collar.

A positive association with the collar is crucial for smooth communication later on. Your dog should like the process of putting on the collar and ideally pay it no attention while wearing it.

Reward the desired response to the vibration impulse generously. Train the recall using vibration while on a drag leash outdoors. However, you’ll still need a harness for this; the long leash should never be attached to a collar.

Of course, with this tool as well, every deaf dog reacts differently. While particularly sensitive dogs may respond strongly to the impulse, others may not take notice of the vibration at all. There is no guarantee of success; experimentation is key.

Pay close attention to your deaf dog’s reactions. It’s crucial that no misunderstandings creep into the training. Your dog should not perceive the vibration as a reprimand or punishment.

When your deaf dog encounters other dogs

Social interactions are as important for your deaf dog as they are for any other canine companion. He needs to play and frolic with fellow dogs.

However, since other dogs cannot be aware of your furry friend’s handicap, you should always closely monitor their interactions. Caution is especially advised in two situations:

You don’t need to broadcast to everyone that your dog can’t hear. However, sometimes sharing this information can lead to more understanding on the other side, which can be advantageous for your encounter.

Regaining the attention of a deaf dog during play can be quite challenging at times. Practice recall with trusted dog owners if you have the opportunity. In this familiar setting, you know there won’t be conflicts.

How to Find Out If My Dog Is Deaf

Do you suspect that your furry friend can’t (or no longer can) hear? In the first step, conduct small hearing tests at home. No other dogs should be present during these tests, as your tested companion might orient themselves toward the other dog.

Also, avoid influencing factors such as vibrations on the floor or drafts caused by you during your tests.

The following methods are suitable for testing your dog’s reactions:

Repeat these small tests on several days to eliminate the influence of other factors. Ideally, your dog should be engaged and relaxed when you test their reactions.

If your dog shows no reaction in all your attempts, the likelihood that they are deaf is very high. It’s time for a visit to the veterinarian.

Audiometric Measurement in Dogs

If you suspect deafness in your dog, brainstem auditory evoked response (BAER) testing can provide certainty. It is an objective, electrodiagnostic examination performed by a veterinarian. Some practices also offer this measurement as part of a house call.

The audiometry is not painful and takes about fifteen minutes. In most cases, sedation is advisable to keep the dog lying still and prevent movement from disrupting the measurement. Audiometry can be conducted as early as the sixth week of a dog’s life.

In simplified terms, audiometry measures the electrical activity in different areas of the dog’s ear. It indicates whether a dog can hear or not. Both ears can be tested independently.

Tiny needle electrodes are inserted into the dog’s scalp for the measurement. Clicking sounds are sent into the ear using foam earplugs.

Considering a BAER test? Before the measurement, be sure to learn about the exact procedure. If twilight sedation is used, your dog must have had a longer fasting period.

Background: Sensorineural Deafness in Dogs

In many dogs, deafness is genetically determined, and they are born with this handicap. There is no cure. Medical professionals refer to this as congenital, or innate, deafness. It primarily affects puppies with predominantly white fur. In simplified terms, dogs with very light-colored fur or unique patterns, such as spotted coats, are most commonly born deaf. Various genes are responsible for this deafness.

Dogs carrying such “color genes” have an increased risk of becoming deaf in early puppyhood. Veterinarians term this condition sensorineural deafness, which is a disorder of the inner ear. The cause of this deafness is the degeneration of sensory cells, preventing the reception and transmission of sound waves. The effects of the gene defect become apparent around two months of age.

Dalmatians are often born deaf

Dalmatians are most commonly affected by congenital deafness, with the degree of pigmentation playing a crucial role. Researchers found that Dalmatians with large patches are less likely to be deaf than those with the more desired small spots.

The same applies to eye color: Dalmatians with blue eyes are more prone to sensorineural deafness than their counterparts with dark eyes.

Dalmatian breeders affiliated with the AKC (AmericanKennel Club) have responded to these findings: Only females and males with perfect hearing in both ears are allowed for breeding.

For this reason, the hearing of every Dalmatian puppy is checked through audiometric testing. Even unilateral deafness results in exclusion from breeding.

Besides Dalmatians, there are over fifty other breeds at an increased risk, including:

In breeds with the typical Merle pattern like the Australian Shepherd (Red Merle and Blue Merle), the so-called Merle gene is responsible for malformations. Breeding two dogs with the Merle coloration is prohibited in the United States.

By the way, ignoring such breeding restrictions can lead to additional defects. Eye malformations or even blindness may result.

Human-dog communication doesn’t require words

No doubt, it takes a while for us humans to learn that words mean nothing to our deaf dog. Once you’ve adjusted to your deaf dog, you’ll likely experience an “aha” moment.

Well-trained visual signals communicate precisely – without unnecessary and emotionally charged words that often hinder your intention. Body language can be a highly efficient means of communication, allowing you to learn a lot about yourself.

Owners of deaf dogs report a pronounced sensitivity in their four-legged companions. They tend to mirror the mood and tension of humans even more strongly than hearing dogs. As a deaf dog doesn’t need to filter out noises, this also enhances their concentration.

Not sure how to start training? Look for a dog training school with experience in working with deaf dogs. Competent support is always beneficial.

To end on a lighter note: Enjoy the one day a year when you have an advantage over all other dog owners. Because your New Year’s Eve is guaranteed to be relaxed, free from fireworks-induced stress for your deaf furry friend.