Things That Go Bump In The Night

Webster's Dictionary defines a myth as "a fictitious story, or unscientific account, theory or belief." Many negative warnings and stories surrounding deaf dogs have a myth-like quality. Handed down from person to person, they are dutifully recited each time the subject of the deaf dog is raised. Here are some examples:

"Deaf dogs are fearful. They'll bite you when you try to wake them up!"

"A deaf dog will get hit by a car because he can't hear it coming."

"The deaf dog will bite your toddler."

Many deaf dog horror stories are relayed by people who heard the story from someone else, and have never owned, or worked, with a deaf dog. You'll hear things like, "My friends' neighbor owned a deaf dog, and she told me that....." Or, "There was this person who owned a deaf dog and...." I've talked with knowledgeable breeders and rescue people, who are adamant that deaf dogs must be killed based on just this type of second-hand account. These well-intentioned people are completely convinced that they are right, based on second-hand stories they have heard from someone else.

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not telling you that all deaf dogs make wonderful pets. Let's face it, some dogs - hearing and deaf - just don't have the right stuff. I don't know about you, but I want a dog I can hang out with, a dog I can trust with the kids. A sweet, fun pooch who will be part of my family. Personally, I’d rather have a deaf dog with a great temperament, than a hearing dog with a border-line disposition.

So let's look at some of the myths, and misinformation, you'll hear about deaf dogs. I’ll share the myth, and then my rebuttal to it. My rebuttal information is obtained from the following sources:

my day-to-day experiences with my two deaf dogs, and with deaf "foster" dogs;

my correspondence and conversations with hundreds of deaf dog owners all over the world;

information obtained from an on-going survey on the behavior of deaf dogs.

Ready? Good, 'cause here comes Myth #1.

The "Startled-Aggressive Dog" Myth

Deprived of the ability to hear, the deaf dog spends each day jumping out of his skin, startled by everything that crosses its path. If you walk up behind a deaf dog, it startles. If you touch it when it's not looking at you, it startles. If you wake it when it's sleeping, it startles. Over time, these constantly startled dogs develop fearful and aggressive personalities. They will bite when startled, or attack for no reason.

Perhaps no other myth has caused more damage than this one. The apparent logic of this myth is what makes it so seductive. It seems to make sense, and is therefore seldom questioned. This myth assumes that "being startled" is a permanent condition, that the deaf dog is perpetually startled, and that he will always respond by becoming fearful and aggressive. But the actual experience of deaf dog owners tells a different story.

Although deaf dogs adapt to their hearing loss, yes, of course, they can still be startled. So can a hearing dog. So can you, for that matter. A deaf dog can be startled if he doesn't know you are near him, and you touch him. Or if a strong vibration wakes him from sleep. Deaf dog owners I've talked to tell me that their dogs' startle response ranges from a "YIKES!" response, where the dog may jump, to a "huh?" response, where the dog simply turns and looks.

I have had similar experiences with my own dogs. If my Pointer is sleeping next to the coffee table, and I set a drinking glass on the table, the vibration from the glass startles him awake. He lifts his head, looks around, and usually goes back to sleep. Please note, that he does not wake up and attack me because he was startled.

There are those who would have you believe that waking a deaf dog is as dangerous as entering shark infested waters. True, when a deaf dog is asleep, he is deeply sound asleep. But that doesn't mean he'll wake up looking to hurt someone. There are times when a deaf dog may be startled awake, like the incident I described above. A few deaf dog owners have told me that their dog may be momentarily disoriented when awakened. This lasts for a few seconds, and doesn't have any lasting negative effect on the dog. The vast majority of deaf dog owners I've talked to, tell me that when they wake up their dog, the dog is--are you ready---SLEEPY.

When I awaken my dogs, they simply open their eyes, look at me, and wag their tails. Most deaf dog owners report similar experiences. One Grandfather, and owner of a deaf hound named "Tracker," told me that "the only fear I have when my Grandkids wake Tracker, is that they'll drowned in slobber from being licked to death!"

Just as you can teach a dog to sit, you can easily teach a deaf dog to wake in response to a gentle touch. I've taught both my dogs to wake up when I gently place my hand on their back. Here's how I did it. I started by first placing my hand in front of the sleeping dog's nose, allowing him to smell that I am near. Some deaf dogs will wake up as soon as they smell their owners. Mine don't, but I firmly believe that somewhere back in their subconscious mind, a little flag goes up that says "Mom's near," and it prepares them to begin to wake up. Next, I lightly touch the dog on the shoulder or back. I pretend that I am trying to touch only 1 or 2 hairs with my fingertips. Then I increase the pressure of the touch by gently stroking the dog with two fingertips, then with my entire hand. Most deaf dogs will awaken during some part of this exercise. When they open their eyes and see me, I smile and maybe even give them a treat. I let them lick me if they are awake enough to want to give me a kiss. It only takes a few weeks of this procedure for the deaf dog to learn to wake up when gently touched.

Similar exercises can be used to desensitized a deaf dog to the startle effect of being touched unexpectedly. One deaf dog owner I spoke with calls this "working on sneaking up behaviors." This is done by walking up behind the dog when he isn't looking. Touch the dog, then immediately pop a treat into the dog's mouth when he turns around. The dog quickly associates good things (i.e., the treat) with being touched unexpectedly, and learns to respond happily. This exercise would not be possible if all deaf dogs responded to unexpected touch by biting their owners! Not all deaf dogs require this type of conditioning. Some are confident, out-going, and don't startle easily. But these exercises may be especially helpful for more sensitive dogs.

In addition to these exercises, deaf dog owners do take special measures to alert the deaf dog to their presence before walking up to, or unexpectedly touching him. Many will wave their hands in the air, flip a light switch on and off, lightly blow on the back of the dog, or toss a ball near the dog to attract it's attention. Or they simply wait until the dog turns toward them. The care that owners exercise in waking, or walking up behind a deaf dog, is not born from a fear of being attacked or bitten. Rather, it is an act of compassion which acknowledges the special needs of the dog.

I don't expect that my deaf dogs will never be startled, so I do my best to condition them to respond in a positive manner to unexpected events. The end result is a well-adjusted, happy dog.

The "More-Likely-To-Be-Hit-By-A-Car" Myth

A deaf dog is 'more likely' to be hit by a car, and killed, than a hearing dog. The owner of a hearing dog, upon seeing his dog wander into the path of an on-coming car, can immediately yell 'Fido, Come!' Whereupon Fido turns around and comes to his owner, and is spare the certainty of 'vehicular death.' Because a deaf dog cannot hear his owner's command, or the approaching car, he will most certainly wander into the car's path and be killed.

To believe this myth, you must first believe that the majority of dog owners allow their dogs to roam, unsupervised, without a leash. While this may be true for the dog living on a 20-acre farm, it is certainly not true for the city-dwelling/suburban dog. In fact, most cities have leash laws prohibiting such activity.

We'd also have to believe that hearing dogs are not at risk, and are seldom hit by cars. That the hearing dog has an advantage because it can hear the approaching car, and easily move out of its way. But dogs are not born knowing that the sound of an approaching car, or honking horn, is synonymous with pain and possible death. Or perhaps, hearing dogs are only hit by cars when their owners aren't close enough to issue the life-saving 'Fido, Come!' command. But, does Fido ALWAYS come when he's called?

Are all dead dogs at the roadside deaf?

Have you ever know someone who's dog was killed by a car?

To appreciate how often dogs are hit by cars, call your local veterinary clinic, and ask how often they treat dogs who have met such a fate. I've heard vets in large cities state they treat one dog a week that has been hit by a car. Are all these dogs deaf?

It's reasonable to assume that ANY dog wandering off leash, in close proximity to cars, is at risk. Even the best trained hearing dog may refuse to come if he's chasing a cat or a squirrel. It is a cardinal rule of deaf dog ownership to NEVER allow the dog to roam off leash. A small percentage of deaf dog owners who live in unpopulated areas, do allow their dogs off leash at certain times. But they are the exception. Most deaf dog owners simply never take the chance.

And this attitude isn't limited to deaf dog owners. I've spoken with many hearing dog owners who tell me that they never allow their dogs off leash. They don't want to take a chance that "something might happen," i.e., that their dog will run away or get hit by a car.

Here's something else to chew on. The last two deaf dogs that I fostered were both picked up as strays, running loose on the streets. And yes, both these dogs were totally deaf. Somehow they survived. A loose deaf dog does not always equal a DEAD deaf dog.

But what if you drop the leash on your daily walk, or your dog squeezes through an open door? Good questions. First, let's remember that not every dog will "head for the hills" the minute he is free. My deaf Boxer won't leave my side, but my deaf Pointer--well, that's another story. I've taught my dogs two important things: 1) don't bolt if the leash is dropped, and 2) wait by the door until I say you can go through it. I didn't make these exercises up. I learned them from dog training books, written by reputable trainers, for hearing dogs. Any dog will benefit from being taught these two things.

During your daily walks, you can teach your dog not to run if the leash is loose and dragging. While walking your dog, let go of everything except the handle of the leash. Let the rest of the leash go slack and drag on the ground. If the dog tries to bolt, he receives a correction when he reaches the end of the leash. Practice, practice, practice. Eventually, your dog will pay no attention if the leash goes slack and drags on the ground, and he won't bolt should you accidentally drop the leash.

A deaf dog can also be easily trained to sit and wait before being release to walk through a door. You can teach this at any threshold in you home. With you dog on it's leash beside you, walk to the door you've chosen. Stop abruptly as you reach the threshold, and sign "WAIT" to your dog. For this hand signal, I use an upright palm with my fingers spread out. Sign this in front of the dog's face. If the dog bolts, pull him back and again sign "WAIT." Repeat this as often as necessary until the dog pauses. Once the dog is waiting, sign "OK," and step through the doorway. Be sure you cross the threshold ahead of your dog. Another way to practice this is to make your dog sit, and wait to be released until AFTER you have opened a door. You can practice this when letting your dog out into the backyard.

I make my dogs sit, and wait, while I open the front door to get the mail, before going into the yard, before going out the front door for a walk, and before entering/exiting the car.

The 'Time Bomb' Myth

Even if your dog currently shows no signs of aggressive behavior, he may suddenly become aggressive when he reaches 3 years of age. The deaf dog is an accident waiting to happen.

It's unclear how this myth evolved, but evolve it did. It is ludicrous to believe that your loving family pet will suddenly become aggressive on its third birthday. A quick look at canine development also suggests that this theory is inaccurate. All dogs go through an 'adolescent period' which can start as early as 5 months (in small breeds), and last as long as 3 years (in larger breeds). Canine adolescence is marked by such behavior as refusing to perform previously learned commands, forgetting housebreaking, excessive chewing, and generally being a bit of a brat. Most dogs are through the worst of their adolescence by 2 years of age, but some dogs will remain in this phase for an additional year. A dog that is 3 years of age (and older), has generally outgrown most of the annoying habits of the adolescent, and is usually a joy to live with!

On a personal note, I can add that my deaf Boxer turned 3 years old on February 25, 1998. There hasn't been any change in her behavior since her birthday.

Next month's article will continue to discuss additional deaf dog myths.

DEAF DOG SUCCESS STORIES

Connor, The Pup From Washington

By Leslie L. Judkins

The email message jumped across my screen: "DEAF ENGLISH POINTER NEEDS A HOME." Naturally, I opened it. It seemed there was a puppy in Washington, who had been purchased as a gift for a 12 year old boy. He was to be the boy's best buddy, his hunting companion. They would spend their days trudging through the fields looking for birds. It was just so wonderful, until the boy realized that his puppy was deaf. The pretty picture faded to black.

The family figured that a deaf dog couldn’t be trained to hunt, and if he couldn't hunt why keep him? Summer had ended, and the boy was heading back to school. Mom was pregnant, and the new baby was expected any day. The decision was made: if they couldn't find a new home for the pup by the time the new baby arrived, they would take him behind the barn and shoot him.

The story grabbed me. It stuck in my mind and wouldn't let go. There I was in California, thinking about this pup in Washington, and worrying. And thinking. Mostly what I was thinking is, "How will I ever convince my husband to let me bring another dog into the house?"

I told my husband the story about the pup in Washington. I said that we could save his life, and find a good home for him. We didn't have to keep him. I told him that we were uniquely qualified to help because we already owned a deaf dog. He looked at me and said, "I wish to God you'd stay off the Internet!"

I waited a few days to allow someone else to step forward, and adopt the pup. No one did. Finally, I sent an email message saying "tell me about the Pointer." I talked with his owners, who told me that the pup’s name was Hank. He was 10 months old, loved people, and was good with other dogs.

I'd never even seen an English Pointer before, except in books, but I did my best to learn about the breed. I visited English Pointer web pages, and joined a Pointer email list (well really, there's no point in being connected to the Internet if you aren't going to use it.) I went to the library and checked out books on "How to Train Your Gun Dog," because they were the only books that talked about Pointers. Slowly, I began to learn that an English Pointer was a pretty neat dog. But how was I going to get this neat dog to California?

Well, the Deaf Dog Education Action Fund has this thing called the Travel Fund. Money in the Travel Fund is used to pay for the cost of flying deaf dogs to their new homes; so that the cost of flying your pup from Washington to California won't cause your husband to scream, "WE CAN'T AFFORD THAT!!" Well, maybe that's not exactly what it's for, but you get the idea. So, Hank the Pointer flew to California, and we met him at the airport.

When the cargo handlers brought the crate to our truck, we got our first good look at Hank. It was a cold, windy evening. Poor Hank was sitting in the back of his crate, shaking from cold and fear. He was filthy and underweight, looking more like a skeleton with hair than a dog. He had an open sore the size of a half-dollar on his front leg. He was much bigger than I expected. We put the crate in our truck, and headed for home.

We arrived at home, and I'd be lying if I said that I was looking forward to opening that crate. What if the hairy skeleton tried to rip my face off? I told my family to stand back alittle, and opened the crate door. The pup moved forward and into my open hands. The instant I touched him, I knew he was a gentle dog. I could feel his gentle, sweet nature radiate through the palms of my hands, up my arms, and into my heart. He gazed at me with his beautiful amber eyes. There was something dignified and noble about him. I looked past the dirt, and saw what this pup was capable of becoming.

I said to my husband, "The name 'Hank' doesn't fit this dog." We had already decided that we liked the name Connor, and somehow, it just seemed right. So Hank became Connor, right there in my driveway.

We went through all the normal "new dog" chaos. I gave Connor a bath, some food, and introduced him to the other dogs. He seemed intent on committing ungentlemenly acts with the Boxer, so I decided he'd be neutered sooner, rather than later. Connor started obedience school. He met the neighbors. He developed a special bond with my husband, no doubt stemming from the fact that they’re the only two guys in the house.

As fate would have it, there was this bird hunter named Mark who worked with my husband. Mark was interested in Connor. "Wait until he finishes obedience school," my husband told him, "that way he'll be trained." Time passed, and we were reaching the end of our 7 week training course. As I was cooking dinner one night, I asked my husband if Mark was still interested in Connor. I wasn’t prepared for his response.

"I talked to Mark today." my husband said, "I told him that Connor is a great dog, and we're keeping him."

And so we did.

Today, he looks nothing like that scared pup we brought home from the airport. He gained weight from a good diet, and rippling muscles from playing with our Boxer. The sore healed up, and today you can barely see the scar. He's a gorgeous dog, and people are drawn to him. They just have to touch his ears. One ear is solid brown, with a few white spots on the tip. The other is white with small brown spots. And does he ever love kids! Connor goes soft and mushy all over every time he sees a kid. He’s gentle and sweet, even with the smallest of children.

Conner & Marissa wrestling, while Kali laughs in the background.

Of course, his favorite kid is my daughter, Marissa. They play frisbee, tag, and roll in the grass. At a recent pet fair, I looked up to see Connor racing full speed across the grass. Marissa ran behind him, hanging on to his leash, and yelling "AAAAHHHH" as they tore by. Connor loves Marissa’s smelly socks, and will roll on her feet when she takes her shoes off. At night, he sleeps in her bedroom.

Connor is also a high energy goofball. He springs through the living room, looking like an antelope bouncing across the plain. He likes the softness of towels, and will rub his face back and forth across the towels hanging in the bathroom. When he gets real excited, he runs through the house yodeling a hound-like "AwOOOOO" sound. If you sit on the floor, he'll come sit in your lap.

His tail never stops wagging. I can always find Connor by looking for his tail, which sticks up like a whip antenna on a dune buggy. He spends his days playing, bouncing, cuddling, and living up to being a Pointer. He points at birds in the backyard. He points at butterflies. He points at houseflies.

But being the polite dog that he is, he never points at people. That would be rude.

Contact Leslie here:  ljudkinds@ix.netcom.com

Articles written exclusively for Critter Chat All-Animal Newsletter, Copyright Leslie L. Judkins © 1998  Please feel free to link to us.

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