Deaf dog

[ginsparkles]

Hi, our 13YO collie has gone very deaf! She keeps getting scared when we come in a room or go to stroke her if she doesn't see us coming. I am worried to walk her off lead now as I can't recall her unless she can see me, although she will respond to a whistle.

Does anyone have any hints or tips for living with and helping a dog that's gone/going deaf ?

Sign language can be used in lieu of verbal commands - dogs often respond better to it as it's so consistent (unlike voice which varies with accent, tone, pitch and so on)

Mine isn't deaf, but we use both sign and verbal commands, and he's more consistent with the sign language. For recall, I stretch out my arms wide as that's really visible from a long way. At her age though - is she just pottering around or is she likely to get herself into situations she needs to be recalled from?

If you need to get her attention from a distance then it's the one acceptable use for a remote control vibrating (not shock) collar. On the lowest setting, you'd teach it to your dog in the same way you teach their name (buzz, treat.... Buzz, treat) so it's a really positive thing for your dog when they feel it.

It goes without saying that you shouldn't touch her until she's seen you and is expecting it - the sheer fright of having someone creep up can be enough to make a dog snap.

My elderly Springer spaniel is now deaf due to old age, we have adopted the following

1. When he is on a walk, in a place we would usually have let him off we use a very long line ( even when he could hear his nose would go down and ears turn off especially after sniffing rabbits). Sometimes we do let him off but stay very close, he is not into running now, just a gentle trot, will depend on how fast your Collie is.
2. I’ve trained him to respond to hand signals, for the basic commands and it didn’t take long ( he wasn’t blessed with a sharp intelligence) he responded easily and it was the same as voice training as a puppy, treats and repeating exercises
3. Could the deafness be hairy ears, like men, dogs sometimes seem to grow more hair in their ears as they age?

I hope you find some solutions. I wish there were hearing aids for dogs, although mine still seems to be able to ‘sense’ when I’m stacking the dishwasher and will sidle in for a crafty lick if he feels my back is turned!

Thank you both. She does tend to just potter about but we live rurally so often walks are on lanes so need to get her back if there's a car on its way. She can be reactive with other dogs so I need to be able to get her back if there are other dogs. Keeping her on the lead all the time just seems a bit mean but I somehow feel it's the safest.

I have taken to the vets to have the ears checked but they say she's just getting old, she's partially blind too although can definitely see us. It does seem to have happened quickly so I may take her for a second opinion.

When my old lurcher went deaf, I walked him on a long lead instead of letting him off. I used to make sure that he could see me before I touched him - walked into his eyeline but allowing plenty of space so it didn't make him jump or feel cornered.

We had a couple of very happy years before we had to let him go. I still miss my morning cuddles with him.