deaf dog

[west ham fan]

Hi , my 10 year old female Boxer is losing her hearing quite badnow. I am teaching her had singnals is there any thing else I can do to help her and me. any sugestions

[ganesh]

My last dog lost her hearing and it was quite sad really especially when I made her jump when she hadn't seen me coming. There was also one time when she walked on ahead of me and I couldn't stop her coz she couldnt hear me calling her back,and she could have got run over if shed gone into the road not hearing cars or anything.
They do communicate with body language though so just try and be more obvious with that. Theres not much you can do really,she's just getting old.

[west ham fan]

Thanks for your story, it is so sad to see her standing starring into no mans lands, my old cat is going blind which is difficult she bumps into the dog and the old man is going senile (well not really) forgetfull, mind so am I

[ganesh]

Yeah it is sad,dogs get all our old age problems just the same-apparantly they can get Alzheimers,I think my dog had that as well.She also had a dodgy heart and in the end could hardly walk. I let her go on too long really ,but I suppose we all do that-it's hard to let go.

[west ham fan]

I don't want to think that far ahead, I done that befor with my other Boxer and after her I said no more dogs never again, but, 11years later here I am, we never learn, but life with out a dog is no life.

[ganesh]

Yeah,make the most of her,I agree.I'm sure she's got a few more years in her yet. I didn't mean to be negative,I just got remembering my lovely golden retriever. I went a few years after my last dog without one,but you're right,I'm glad I have another now.

[Meg]

My 14 year old border collie (and here sister who died last year) has been deaf for a couple of years. I don't really find it a problem. I don't let her off the lead anywhere near a road. Fortunately her eye sight is still good. Don't worrry about it, tis all part of the ageing process, comes to us all! Good luck with her.

[thugulike]

I had a young rescued Neapolitan Mastiff bitch who was profoundly deaf. I taught her hand signals and even now, long after she has passed away, I give hand signals to my hearing Mastiff. Strangely he is more likely to obey a hand signal than the spoken word. Encourage your boxer to look at you and make sure you use clear facial expressions to show how you are feeling. A smile will go a long way to reassure her. If you let her off the lead you could try a remote controlled collar. This will emit a puff of lemon scented air. They are quite expensive but very effective for deaf dogs.

[west ham fan]

Thanks all for your replies, she is only ever of the lead when in a field we travel by car to our walks such as Dunstable Downs and the Ouse Valley river walks, thanks again. WHF