If a dog is deaf it's not difficult to learn and adapt to using visual commands just like when they are blind it's not difficult to adapt to using only verbal commands but what do you do when your dog is both vision and hearing impaired?
The following tips are a good place to start learning to communicate with your vision and hearing impaired canine friend:
1. Place child proof gates in your home to prevent dangers such as falling down stairs, entering rooms where they could bump into things and injure themselves
2. Be careful when moving furniture around as your vision and hearing impaired dog will learn the layout and then become accustom to navigating things as to not injure themselves.
3. Create a safe haven. Put your pet's bed or crate in a quiet spot so he can feel safe and secure when company comes, or there is lots of activity that makes him nervous.
4. Make your presence known. You can avoid startling your pet by stroking or rubbing its back or shoulders when you enter a room.
5. Be careful where you touch him when he’s sleeping, avoiding the hindquarters because he might startle, thinking somebody is trying to sneak up on him.
6. When you do touch your dog when he’s sleeping, don’t apply a lot of pressure. Instead, lightly touch the tips of his hair . Repeat the light touch and he’ll wake up. Be consistent and touch your dog in the same place on his body each time you wake him and he’ll soon learn when he feels your touch that it is you.
7. Sometimes dogs can smell in their sleep. You can hold your hand under his nose to see if your scent wakes him.
8. Adjust your expectations for walks and play to accommodate your pooch’s needs and you’ll both enjoy time together
Stay tuned as we learn to develope a communication method with the dog we rescued from a kill shelter that suffers from vision and hearing impairment.
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