One of the signs that our dogs are aging is that they become increasingly hard of hearing, if not completely deaf. In my home of four seniors, my oldest dogs, Kizzy and Bob, have lost much of their hearing. Of course, this has affected their lives and our relationship. I slowly realized they were going deaf when they wouldn’t hear me call them on our walks, and when I’d come back home from work and not see them at the door, finding them deeply asleep in their beds.
I found myself challenged to think of ways to maintain their safety, fun, and freedom without this important sense. Here are some tips on living with deaf dogs, especially senior deaf dogs, that reflect recommended practice with deaf dogs and align with our values as a Way of Life community.
#1 – Remember attitude and mindset. Feeling bad and feeling sorry for our dogs as we see them slow down and age is inevitable and human. But when our dogs sense that we feel bad, it is not necessarily positive for them. Rather, as students of the Way of Life Method, we know we must maintain our leadership and strength in these times, remembering our dog’s pride even in a frail and maturing body. We calibrate our emotions and remain upbeat for our dogs, to help them feel supported and treat them with dignity.
#2 – Develop a new language. As students of the Way of Life Method, we know that we speak to our dogs in many different ways – not just in the words that we speak, but in who we are as people, in our facial expressions, vibe, and energy, and in the decisions we make each day on their behalf. For Way of Life dog parents, not having access to verbal language is a loss, but the loss is not as great as for someone whose entire relationship is based on verbal cues. With that said, senior deaf dogs are surprisingly easy to teach hand signals, especially signals related to safety, such as wait, stay, and come.
#3 – Approach carefully. There are several safety considerations with senior and deaf dogs. Since they cannot hear us, especially when they’re deeply asleep, they can be easily startled. If we approach suddenly or reach abruptly for them, they may feel anxiety and even nip or bite. To help, make your presence known so they can sense the vibration of your approach. Touch them gently to get their attention or wake them. If you have multiple dogs, manage the space and boundaries around your old and deaf dogs.
#4 – Think about safety. When you’re out and about together, consider placing a bell on your dog so you can hear them. Many experts advise never having a deaf dog off leash, but if you are vigilant about watching your dog, keep a dragging line on your dog, and have raised your dog to check in and focus on you, your Way of Life deaf dog might be able to enjoy a level of freedom unavailable to dogs raised in more traditional ways. Using a vibration collar (not a corrective electronic collar) with proper training can remind a dog to come when called.
#5 – Enrich, engage, and have a good time. Being a senior and being deaf doesn’t mean a dog can’t have a good time. Far from it! Remember that senior dogs who don’t hear still have their senses of sight, smell, and taste and can richly enjoy life. Deaf and aging dogs can still go for walks, hikes, runs, and swims. They can partake in nose games and stimulate their strongest sense with search and tracking games. They can stay sharp with tricks and obedience exercises using hand signals. And they can continue to enjoy sensory stimulants, such as toys stuffed with treats or loud squeaker toys.
There are definitely adjustments to be made for aging dogs who are losing their hearing. However, I have found that this forces me to be more attentive to other forms of communication – such as my energy, facial expressions, and feelings – which I know my dogs read faster than they could ever hear my words. As we’ve stopped depending on words, we have gone deeper in the feelings we have for each other as the ultimate form of communication.