How to Care For a Deaf Dog

There’s nothing we all want more than to make sure that our canine companions have the best possible life – in fact, we probably put more time and effort into taking care of them than we do for ourselves!

Caring for a new puppy with hearing problems or an older dog gone deaf definitely has its challenges. Our ‘How to Care for a Deaf Dog’ page is here to help with tips, suggestions and product ideas designed to make life easier for you and your canine friend. (And just so you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click through any of the links to Amazon.)

 

Straight to the dog house

This one is all about making your deaf dog feel more secure at night so they can get some good quality sleeps. Having a small, enclosed environment – like a crate or indoor dog house – may make them feel safer and more relaxed. And filling it full of blankets or toys that have your scent over them will also help them to feel calmer and more confident that you’re close by.

See the light

If you’re an ‘up in the middle of the night’ person, having a nightlight (or three) around the house can prevent your dog from getting freaked out by shadows if you accidentally startle them awake. Don’t forget that although your dog might not be able to hear you walking around, they can certainly still feel the vibration of you moving throughout the house, especially if you have wooden floors. So some simple nightlights can help them to clearly see that it’s you moving about and nothing to worry about.

Double up

All dogs love walkies, but when your dog can’t hear you calling them it adds an extra degree of concern about what might happen if your dog slips their leash while you’re out. Doubling up with a collar and harness can help to prevent accidents from happening. It’s also worth looking at getting some special walkies gear, like a deaf dog leash, that lets people know your dog can’t hear them so that they can approach your pup with more care should they happen to get off the leash. (You can find some great deaf dog products like leashes on our Deaf Dog Accessories page)

Baby them

When you can’t holler at your dog to get them to stop and come to heel, having them escape the house can be extra scary. That’s when some good, old fashioned baby gates can be your (second) best friend. Easy for adults to negotiate past, baby gates are fast and easy to set up in almost any doorway and can prevent your dog from running off, especially if they tend to bolt as soon as the door opens.

Belt up

But what about when you’re out and about? A car harness that clips onto your car seat belts is a cheap and easy solution that will keep your dog safe and sound during the trip, and will also stop them from dashing out of the car without so much as a ‘Bye Mom!’ when you get to the park. Because the park is exciting, right? Who wants to wait around getting their leash on when there’s SO many good smells to sniff at?

Make bathtime a breeze

Whatever absolute genius came up with the idea for these little gems deserves a medal! Not just for deaf dogs, but definitely worth investing in are bathtime lick pads like these. Distract your dog with some delicious but hard to lick off treat like peanut butter and you can bathe them to your heart’s content without them getting distressed.

 

 

Got a suggestion?

We LOVE to hear about new ideas and products that will help to make caring for a deaf dog easier! Drop us a line to let us know if you’ve got any suggestions for great products or tips you’d like to share 🙂