Duke's Loosing His Hearing

[lv4dogs]

Nanook has been loosing his hearing for a few years now, as well as his eyesight. Luckily when he was younger I trained with both vocal commands & hand signals.
When his hearing was first starting to go he would get scared more easily when I would pet him or the like. I think now he's adjusted to it a little more. I do stay consistant with what I do which I think helps. For example, if I pet him when he isn't looking, sleeping or I can NOT get his attention any other way, I gently tap him on the same spot in his behind with just one or two of my fingers. I then wait for his eyes to open, then I make sure he see's me. (consistancy helps immensely with any training, especially so when you are dealing with any type of disability).
Obviously he is not allowed outside off a leash and/ or unsupervised.

I am sorry I am a little strapped for time this morning, I'm trying to squeeze in as much PT as I can before I run out of time. lol If there is anything else you need to know, want to talk about, etc, please by all means let me know, reply here or PM or email me.

[Logan]

Valerie, our Murphy (RB) was completely deaf when I met her. We still found ourselves clapping our hands and calling to her. But she did fine. She knew the door to outside and she knew where the water and food bowls were, but what I found was that she would bark, very, very loudly, when she needed me for something.

It is just a part of their aging process, I guess, but Murphy's deafness was caused, in part, to the horrible ear infections she had all of her life and the tumors in her ears.

He will adjust. I promise. But you will find yourself calling to him and it doesn't mean a thing to him. Try to teach him some hand signals, if possible, right away. It will make things a lot easier for him and for you.

Good luck and give sweet Duke a hug from me, please.

Logan