Duke's Loosing His Hearing

**dukedogsmom** · 08-20-2006, 08:20 PM

It breaks my heart. I was wondering if anyone else here had dogs that were losing their's, too. What do you do to make it easier on them? He used to hear me get up to leave a room but now he just stays asleep. Sometimes I go to pet him and it scares him and he jumps. Poor guy. I can't stand it that he's getting old.

**caseysmom** · 08-20-2006, 09:14 PM

Val, I haven't had any experience with this. I am sorry Duke is losing his hearing, it must be hard for you. The hard thing is they can't tell us what is going on with them.

**lv4dogs** · 08-21-2006, 10:05 AM

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** · 08-21-2006, 12:41 PM

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

**Jadapit** · 08-21-2006, 03:37 PM

Bless his heart Val. I'm sure it is hard seeing your baby age. Please give that boy a hug for me.

**lizbud** · 08-21-2006, 05:25 PM

Poor Duke.

I have'nt had that experience yet but wanted to say Hi
to Duke & wish him well.I was thinking maybe it's a combination of sleeping
more soundly, and also not hearing as well.Do you think he would react to
a whistle, or clicker?

**ParNone** · 08-21-2006, 07:13 PM

Hi Val,

I'm going through that with Murph now. He doesn't see or hear too well. With me and 2 Collies stomping around, he startles real easily at all the noise. If you come up behind him and touch him, he just about jumps out of his skin, so I try to come at him from the front, before touchin' or pickin' him up.

I try to treat him as normal as possible though and he's adjustin' pretty well. The Collies will go chargin' at the fence, barkin' at a skateboarder whizzin' by and Murph will be bringin' up the rear, chargin' and barkin' too. I worry a lil' about the Collies accidently runnin' him over, but since he always seems to be bringin' up the rear, it's been okay and plus I'm so happy to see that much spunk in him that the most chatising I can bring myself to do is "Okay Murph Man, you don't even know what you're barkin' at. You should know better then to follow the Chicken Littles of the pack."

All in all the Collies seem to help keep him young, so I try not to be too much of a Mother Hen and let him continue to interact with them and resist the urge to pick him up all the time. Although I do give him some outside time alone from'em, so he can wander the yard in peace, peein' on all the bushes. As long as that lil' leg is a liftin', I know alls right in the world of Murph.

Par...

**pitc9** · 08-22-2006, 08:01 AM

Hugs to you and Duke!
My parents GSD mix Toby is 12 and has started loosing her hearing we think.
If she's asleep she won't hear a car pulling in the driveway but when the coyotees start howling and yipping in the middle of the night she jumps up and barks right along with them!

We stomp out feet alot to make sure we don't scare her too much.

**Giselle** · 08-22-2006, 02:17 PM

Lucky has not started losing either hearing or sight, but when he does lose his hearing (God forbid), I plan to knock on the floor next to him so that he can feel the vibrations. BCBlondie (I think you remember her) has a deaf Aussie and she trained him very well and efficiently. You may want to PM or e-mail her since I know she still checks her e-mail. Poor Duke. It's heartbreaking to see our pups go through the aging process

**critters** · 08-21-2006, 06:07 PM

Go to http://www.handicappedpets.com/help/ and post on the hearing/vision bb; there are lots of things you can try, from no-tech to high tech, like a vibrator collar.

**dukedogsmom** · 08-24-2006, 07:34 PM

Thanks for all the thoughtful replies. I can't stomp on the floor because everywhere but the kitchen has carpet. Mom told me that she approaches him from the front and just pets his head. I do have a clicker and he can hear that so maybe I'll try that, too. I wonder about the vibrating collar. Wouldn't that scare him as much as petting him on the back? I'm just thankful he can hear me when he's close to me. I hope he doesn't go completely deaf.

**anna_66** · 08-24-2006, 09:30 PM

Val, I'm sorry to hear about this. It stinks seeing them get older. Hopefully coming face on will keep him from being so startled.

Hugs to both you and Duke.

**MajesticCollies** · 08-24-2006, 09:41 PM

Val I also don't have a lot of advice but I'm sure Duke will adjust. Dogs rely on so many of thier other senses that it may not effect him as you may think. Maybe when he is sleeping and you want to wake him up you can put a treat by his nose to get his attention in a less shocking way. Remember dogs live for the moment and not the past!! I'm sure both of you will find your way with his new disability. Hang in there Val.