Our 12 y/o GSD is losing her hearing. We find ourselves
falling into the trap of raising our voices to make sure we
are heard. We are concerned it will convey anger to her. Any
thoughts on healthy communication with a dog losing its hearing?

Bill

Teach her hand signals. Lots of deaf dogs do just fine using hand signals.
http://www.dfordog.com/deafdogs_signals.htm

Celeste

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"Bill Braun" wrote in message
ient...
Our 12 y/o GSD is losing her hearing. We find ourselves falling into the
trap of raising our voices to make sure we are heard. We are concerned it
will convey anger to her. Any thoughts on healthy communication with a dog
losing its hearing?

Bill

Bill Braun wrote:
Our 12 y/o GSD is losing her hearing. We find ourselves falling into the
trap of raising our voices to make sure we are heard. We are concerned
it will convey anger to her. Any thoughts on healthy communication with
a dog losing its hearing?

Bill

Hand signals. Easy peasy to teach them using
treats.

In article ,
Tara Green wrote:
Hand signals. Easy peasy to teach them using
treats.

Or even without them. I've found that with dogs that aren't
100% deaf, clapping really loudly gets their attention and
gets them to look at you so that you can use hand signals.
For dogs that are 100% deaf stomping on the floor works.
But that's for inside - I haven't figured out how to get a
deaf dog's attention outside, particularly when it's an
aging, independent lead dog who's kind of inclined to give
you the finger in the first place (not naming names ... ).
--
Melinda Shore - Software longa, hardware brevis -

Prouder than ever to be a member of the reality-based community

Melinda Shore wrote:
In article ,
Tara Green wrote:
Hand signals. Easy peasy to teach them using
treats.

Or even without them. I've found that with dogs that aren't
100% deaf, clapping really loudly gets their attention and
gets them to look at you so that you can use hand signals.
For dogs that are 100% deaf stomping on the floor works.
But that's for inside - I haven't figured out how to get a
deaf dog's attention outside, particularly when it's an
aging, independent lead dog who's kind of inclined to give
you the finger in the first place (not naming names ... ).

Vibrating collar?

(Melinda Shore) said in rec.pets.dogs.health:

For dogs that are 100% deaf stomping on the floor works.
But that's for inside

It also works in horse arenas. I once designed a "One Stomp
Gamble" agility course for a friend who was about to retire his
deaf dog.

- I haven't figured out how to get a
deaf dog's attention outside,

It's worthwhile playing with different pitches - for example,
I've seen a "deaf" dog respond to a window being tapped.

particularly when it's an
aging, independent lead dog who's kind of inclined to give
you the finger in the first place (not naming names ... ).

Heh.

--
--Matt. Rocky's a Dog.

In article ,
Tara Green wrote:
Vibrating collar?

To be honest, this is one terrific old dog who's worked hard
and is having physical problems at the end of her life, so I
let her get away with all kinds of crap (and intend to
continue doing so).
--
Melinda Shore - Software longa, hardware brevis -

Prouder than ever to be a member of the reality-based community

Melinda Shore wrote:
In article ,
Tara Green wrote:
Vibrating collar?

To be honest, this is one terrific old dog who's worked hard
and is having physical problems at the end of her life, so I
let her get away with all kinds of crap (and intend to
continue doing so).

Ah.

A massaging collar then :-)

In article ,
Tara Green wrote:
A massaging collar then :-)

There we go.

Image is a dog that likes to celebrate food by launching
into the air when she thinks some's coming, but as her
hind-end strength and coordination are deteriorating I'm
letting her do stuff like balance on me, which looks a lot
like jumping on me. I don't know how much longer she's got
and I'm very happy to put up with it for however long that
turns out to be.
--
Melinda Shore - Software longa, hardware brevis -

Prouder than ever to be a member of the reality-based community

Melinda Shore wrote:
In article ,
Tara Green wrote:
A massaging collar then :-)

There we go.

Image is a dog that likes to celebrate food by launching
into the air when she thinks some's coming, but as her
hind-end strength and coordination are deteriorating I'm
letting her do stuff like balance on me, which looks a lot
like jumping on me. I don't know how much longer she's got
and I'm very happy to put up with it for however long that
turns out to be.

Is she the one that only recently got
"retired" from the lead dog spot, or am I
(very likely) misremembering?

SOunds like the girl knows how to suck life
out of every minute. Good dog! :-)