deaf puppy...

[PickledOnions]

ok my YM has just got a new puppy she is a norfolk terrier X boarder terrier and we are starting to think she is deaf although she jumps when one of the other dogs bark but if we call her she runs in the opposite direction or just sits there... we hope she isn't deaf as we want to get her well trained etc. any opionion techniques we could use to find out if she is deaf..
thankies x

 

[virtual]

You can do some tests yourself, eg standing behind and clapping or banging something like saucepans together (not on the ground, as that will cause vibrations). But the best thing to do is to find your nearest place that do hearing tests (your vet should know). This involves putting electrodes on the pup's head and seeing readings from them etc.

My family have bred dalmations, which are very prone to deafness and all are tested at several weeks old (like hip scoring in some breeds), and sometimes they can be deaf in one ear, and occasionally totally deaf. I'm afraid we have any deaf ones PTS, it's terribly sad but it's so hard for a deaf dog to lead a normal life.

 

[PickledOnions]

thanks

do you think she might be deaf or just ignoring us? as she can here the other dogs or thinks like that?

 

[Emsibuddy]

lol my aunties dogs 'deaf', bless him, he walks past you and you shout his name and e just carries on walking. Its so funny, I know it sounds cruel but...it just makes everyone laugh.
Poor thing, he does get some stick!

poor thing.

We don't actually know if he IS deaf though!

 

[virtual]

[ QUOTE ]
thanks

do you think she might be deaf or just ignoring us? as she can here the other dogs or thinks like that?

[/ QUOTE ]

TBH it could be either. But often they can sense vibrations very well, and it looks like they're responding to the sound. If you can sit the pup down in someones arms facing a wall, and someone else make a noise behind you might get a better picture, he might be lazy, but in a "normal puppy" at least the ears would move in response to the sound.

 

[GinaB]

If the pup does turn out to be deaf, you might want to consider getting someone in who has trained deaf dogs as they will be of great help to you or if your YM cannot cope with having a deaf dog to get her rehomed with someone who has experience of deaf dogs.

You have to teach them all hand commands, although our lab is taught hand commands as she works as a gundog and out on the field the hand commands are used instead of voice commands.

 

[PickledOnions]

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[ QUOTE ]
thanks

do you think she might be deaf or just ignoring us? as she can here the other dogs or thinks like that?

[/ QUOTE ]

TBH it could be either. But often they can sense vibrations very well, and it looks like they're responding to the sound. If you can sit the pup down in someones arms facing a wall, and someone else make a noise behind you might get a better picture, he might be lazy, but in a "normal puppy" at least the ears would move in response to the sound.

[/ QUOTE ]
here ears do move all the time as if shes listening so i think shes just ignoring us..

thankies

 

[PickledOnions]

[ QUOTE ]
If the pup does turn out to be deaf, you might want to consider getting someone in who has trained deaf dogs as they will be of great help to you or if your YM cannot cope with having a deaf dog to get her rehomed with someone who has experience of deaf dogs.

You have to teach them all hand commands, although our lab is taught hand commands as she works as a gundog and out on the field the hand commands are used instead of voice commands.

[/ QUOTE ]
ooh thanks thats good news

 

[prose]

You can get a BAER hearing test done by the vet (specialists only) to find out if your dog has bilateral/unilateral deafness, or if he's just trying it on.

Letting the breeder know is crucial as deafness is a genetic trait, and they'll want to know about it.

 

[PickledOnions]

yep if she was deaf we would tell the breeder

 

[vizzielover]

Hi, if your pup does turn out to be deaf you could try ringing Sheila Dawson of the White Boxer Rescue Centre. If you need it, PM me and I will gladly give you the number. She has had vast experience of training deaf dogs and could give you invaluable advice. Being deaf is not the end of the earth, you might just have to work a bit harder with your training. My daughters GSP was deaf, through old age, and we used a flashlight to get his attention and call him back. To tell him he was going for a walk she did little walking movements with her fingers - he always got the message, bless him!

 

[Skhosu]

we thought this about both ours, but as they managed to hear when they wanted to, we decided on not!

 

[xtiffx]

If you contact the British Dalmatian club they will tell you where the next BAER testing session is as they have them up and down the country to test litters and adults. Any breed can go and its about £25.00 its the only way to know for sure.

 

[AmyMay]

The terrier on my yard will only come if you speak to her in a very high pitched voice.

Has anyone tried that with yours?

 

[Hexx]

I fostered a deaf puppy (JRT) for about 6 weeks, and taught him sign language - he was a little star! Plus learning sign language for dogs was very absorbing - even the hearing ones responded to the hand signals!

I don't agree that deaf dogs don't have a normal life - it just means there has to be a degree of adaptation.

Working with rescue dogs, we find a lot of deaf dogs just dumped but there are homes out there that will adopt them and give them a good life.

 

[PickledOnions]

Amymay - no we havent but i will when i see her again and thankies everyone for your help

is a real help for us