Petting a deaf dog
Monday, October 19th, 2009I could have never believed that deaf dogs could be as graceful as their normal counterparts had I not visited my friend’s place. The bond between my friend and his buddy left me absolutely speechless. Words simply can’t describe the beauty of their relationship which has evolved over the years.
In spite of his pet being deaf my friend has taken very bit of care to ensure that he doesn’t feel lonely or left out. During the course of our conversation he discussed with me several important details that I would like to share with my readers.
Deafness can actually stem from several factors like trauma, accident, exposure to loud noise and old age. Some dogs turn deaf after adoption while some people deliberately adopt a deaf pet just for the love of it. My friend told me that deaf dogs are quite adjustable and they are in fact more sensitive to the changes around them than their normal counterparts.
What are the things you should keep in mind if you have a deaf pet or if you’re contemplating adoption?
1. Protect him from aggressive animals and other dangers. Always keep your dog on leash when you take him out for a stroll.
2. You can train him just the way you train a normal dog except for voice commands. With them you have to use hand signals as frequently as possible. However, your signals should be consistent or else it may confuse him.
3. A deaf dog might get frightened at the slightest drop of a hat. You can actually divert his attention by caressing and patting him on the back. In case he’s woken up from a deep slumber put him to rest again by running your fingers through his fur. Do these exercises from time to time throughout his life. He’ll gradually learn that unknown things are nothing to get frightened about.
4. As he can’t hear he’ll not be aware of your sudden disappearance. So, if you have to leave the area let him know by patting his back. Or if you’re outside wave your hand vigorously in his direction so that he understands you’re leaving the place.
5. Put a tag around his collar stating that he’s deaf along with all the contact details.
Happy petting!