The Aussie Magazine Autumn 2020

How do I know if my dog is going deaf?
As dogs age, their faculJes can start to fade and it’s not
unusual for them to experience some level of hearing loss
or to go deaf in their older years. Here are some signs to
look out for that your canine friend may be struggling to
hear properly. If your dog’s hearing is fine, it’s good to be
aware of these behaviours for the future.
If your dog has always appeared at the ra2le of a full food
bowl or barked on hearing a knock at the door and no
longer responds to these triggers, it could be a sign that he
has hearing loss. Some owners report ‘selecJve hearing’ in
their pets, but this is usually caused by a dog being
engaged in an acJvity that he deems more exciJng than
his owner.
If your dog has always greeted you when you get home
but then you start finding him asleep when you get in, it
may be because he can no longer hear your car pulling into
the driveway or your key in the lock.
Upon hearing a noise, most animals will look up or around
to find the source of the sound. You can test your dog’s
hearing yourself by quietly entering the room so that he
doesn’t noJce you and then clapping your hands from a
distance away to see if he reacts. This should be used as a
test only, as approaching a deaf dog without warning can
someJmes be startling.
Your dog may appear surprised when touched while
sleeping and can even snap out of sleep due to the shock
of being stroked.
If he’s no longer responding to being called, he may sJll be
responsive to higher-pitched sounds, so you can try a dog
whistle to see if he can sJll hear the upper range.
Ways to help a dog with hearing loss
Discovering that your dog may have such difficulJes can be
worrying, but there’s no reason why a dog with hearing
loss can’t live a full and happy life.
1. Get them vet-checked – If you’re concerned that
your dog might not be able to hear you properly,
it’s important you take him to your vet for a check
up. It could be that a temporary condiJon, like a
2. Keep them safe – The most important consideraJon
when you have a dog with hearing loss is his safety.
If he is deaf, he would be at risk of not being able to
hear dangers, such as passing cars. It might be best
to keep your dog on a lead during walks and to try
and keep them interesJng by taking different
routes so he’s sJll gehng lots of sJmulaJon.
3. Teach hand signals – This is the first thing to do as
dogs can learn hand signals very quickly. These
gestures can let him know when to sit, stay, lie
down and follow. As your dog approaches you, start
giving your chosen hand signal and then give him a
treat when he reaches you. He will soon come to
associate the hand signal with the treat and will
return to you each Jme expecJng it. There is a lot
of informaJon
4. Give noJce – You can get collars and leads that say
‘I am deaf’ on them, which is a really good way to
make other people aware that your dog can’t hear
– especially if you do decide to let him off the lead.
5. A li2le freedom – If you have an obedient dog who
has always previously come back to you when
called, there’s no reason why you can’t allow him
some off-lead Jme once he has mastered hand
signals. It’s a good idea, however, to keep to open
spaces where you can see him easily and he can see
you.
6. LocaJon services – Fihng a bell to your dog’s
collar is also a good idea so that you can locate him
easily, not just on off-lead walks but around the
home and garden too, as he can’t hear you calling.
There are a wide range of tracking devices available
and these may be useful if you do walk your dog
off-lead and they wander off.
7. Laser light. Another opJon is to use light. These can
be great to a2ract a2enJon and lead your dog back
to you. As with all laser lights you need to be
careful and they are less effecJve on a too sunny
day.
8. Good vibraJons – Your dog has to be looking at you
to be able to see your hand signals, so another
thing some owners use is a vibraJng collar, which
you can acJvate from a distance. These are not
electric shock collars. As to the benefit, there
seems to be mixed feedback on the success.
9. Try not to startle – It’s important that you approach
your dog from the front, especially when he is
resJng, as he won’t hear you coming up from
behind. If your dog is laying on the floor, he may
feel the vibraJons if you stamp your feet to
announce your arrival. You could also switch the
lights on and off a couple of Jmes on entering a
room so that he knows you’re coming.