My new puppy is deaf (pics)
 

Actually, this is puppy #2. I got a beagle puppy back in February and had no intentions on getting another. Then a girl I know who is in charge of the local shelter called one night and begged me to take an Australian Sheperd puppy who was very sick and was going to be put down unless someone would agree to sign responsibility for the vet bills.

They took 4 A.S puppies from a bunch of assholes who were running a puppy mill and selling them at flea markets. Two were so sick that they had to be put down that night. One boy and one girl were also sick, but the vet thought they could be treated and be okay. The girl I know found a man to take them, but before he got there to pick them up, they discovered the male was deaf and might be blind in one eye, so he didn't want him.

So she calls me at 9:15 at night and tells me if I don't come by 10:00 and take responsibility for him, when the other vet gets there he'll be put to sleep. I said no way, at first. Then she took a picture of him and sent it to me on my cell. And of course it worked, so at 9:45 I drove over like a maniac and agreed to pay this vet, who was a total and complete asshole, a shitload of money.

He stayed at his clinic for 5 days, I paid the ransom, and now I have a new puppy who is deaf as a damn doornail and maybe half blind, all from bad breeding. I'm not sure about his vision but he seems to do okay in that department. He's so sweet, but I have no idea how I'm gonna deal with him, lol. For now, I stomp on the floor or wave stuff around wildly when I want his attention. I suppose we'll figure it out. The beagle basically does whatever the hell she wants anyway, so I guess he'll be no different.

Anybody ever had a deaf dog? Any and all suggestions are welcomed. :helpme

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/m...pics/blue1.jpg
http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/m...pics/blue2.jpg
http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/m...pics/blue3.jpg
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Hearing is not so important for dogs. Dogs actually experience the World with their senses opposite than we do.

Humans experience the world first with their ears, then with their eyes and lastly with their nonses.

Dogs, on the other hand, experience the World first with their nose, then with their eyes and lastly with their ears.

:)

Thats some good Karma for you +10 :-)

Very cool of you Holly. Cute little guy there!
Hopefully he will learn from your other dog & with time you will figure it out.
I'm sure there is plenty of info online to help you too ofcourse.

You know how dogs are though, if you call one, the others will come running too.

Keep us posted on your progress!

Believe it or not, you can teach him sign language. Just make it up as you go, and keep it simple.

Awww so cute!

My pooch is pretty old and his hearing is going. From how he acts it is not really a bother to him. Heck, sometimes when the GF is around I wish I was deaf.

That is very kind of you.
Here is an article I found that might be of some help.
http://www.pets.ca/articles/article-...sychology.html

It seems to have some good info about deaf dogs and how to help them and work with them.

You're shitting me...

I work as a volunteer at the local shelter. An aussie shep. came in today who is deaf. She's 4 months old and is almost an albino. She's got the pink skin around the eyes like yours does. I'll get a pic of her tomorrow and post it. Freaky coincidence.

And consistent.

Hand signals are often used in training dogs that have hearing - and I'm sure it'd be easy to do using hand signals exclusively... the only problem I can think of would be developing a sure-fire way to get the dog's attention without sound.

You're not in the Southeast, are you? :1orglaugh They took some more besides my guy's siblings.

The vet told me it's got something to do with the amount of white. They're called merle and when they're not bred right it causes deafness and blindness. Mine has a bob tail and he also said something about that causing spinal problems if two bob tails are bred incorrectly. He thought my dog's spine should be okay. I really didn't like him so I'll be interested to hear what my vet has to say.

That's what I'm hoping. The asshole vet said he'd adjust fine but he doesn't see my regular vet for another month, so I'm sure he'll have some info for me, too. I'm also not sure how well he sees.

It's just strange to not be able to call him. I yell his name a 1000 times a day, even thought I know he can't hear it. I'm sure my neighbors though I was having seizures when I first brought him home because I would stand in the yard and jump up and down, wave and flap my arms around and throw anything nearby. It's definitely me, not him. :Oh crap

I guess I'll have to make an effort to train the other dog, now. She's clueless and does whatever she likes.

Ironically enough, I'm licensed as a speech and hearing therapist and have about 5 years of sign language training, so I guess that shouldn't be so hard for me. But it probably will, lol.

It's taken me forever to make these last 3 posts because I've had to get up and chase him around waving my arms trying to get his attention about various things. :1orglaugh