Hi, followup. As I said, trainer slated for today.

Several here were dead on (no suprise) on ideas. He also likes the idea of
trying various hunting call devices. He borrowed a few to try. Mabel
seemed to twitch a bit at one, consistantly raising her head up and looking
about. There seemed no sense of 'direction' though as if she could tell
there was 'something' but 'not sure where from'.

The verdict isn't over on her possibly recovering 'some' hearing. She had
bad ear infections when found but they seem to have cleared. She also had
skin issues which are clearing. She's been on grain-free for a week (due to
Cash and Daisy, we buy only that). Lower range whistles seem to work to
cause the 'something but can't tell from where'. She'd sometimes flop her
ears and tuck a foot at them in a sort of cleaning action.

Trainer says, lets see if we can find a more reactive tone for her and see
if her hearing seems to improve over time. There is some slight swelling in
the ear canals still. None of us expect 'much' but there may be usable
levels left.

She's also obviously feeling *much* better as the days go by. Not puppy
levels but he advised we work with her the same as with Cash for daily
'training' (more a directed play much of the time). We used the existing
'maze' with a few swaps and he showed me several hand signals that as time
goes on, we can work towards training her. (also some maze swaps due to her
size and ability difference)

Down- hand out flat palm down with fingers splayed, moving down about 6
inches (curl to fist on up then splay out on down).
Up- reverse that and palm up.

Stay- use 'down first' then a palm with fingers splayed in vertical (almost
'in your face' motion).

Continue with current 'come here/heel/stay here next to me' of patting
thigh.

Simple stuff and work on 'down' and 'come here' for now. Add the others
later.

There is a good deaf dogs yahoogroup.... and the basic reference book
for a goodly number of years has been _Living With a Deaf Dog_ by Susan
Cope-Becker. Probably available on Amazon, definitely available from
www.dogwise.com where the stock number is DTB 552. The book has a lot
of great information about the little things around home, as well as
teaching commands.

Jo Wolf
Martinez, Georgia

On Sat, 27 Nov 2010 12:35:58 -0500, cshenk wrote:

Mabel
seemed to twitch a bit at one, consistantly raising her head up and
looking about. There seemed no sense of 'direction' though as if she
could tell there was 'something' but 'not sure where from'.

that is typical for unilateral dogs, hearing only in one ear

"sonofdog" wrote
cshenk wrote:

Mabel
seemed to twitch a bit at one, consistantly raising her head up and
looking about. There seemed no sense of 'direction' though as if she
could tell there was 'something' but 'not sure where from'.

that is typical for unilateral dogs, hearing only in one ear

Well, if so it's logical that she may have a little on one side and not the
other. The trainer tried what he had in 'noise makers' from both sides and
there didn't 'seem' to be a difference that we could tell per side even with
the one she seems to react to a bit. Then again, that doesn't mean there
isn't a difference. Neither of us are experts by any means with deaf (or
nearly so?) dogs.

"Jo Wolf" wrote

There is a good deaf dogs yahoogroup.... and the basic reference book
for a goodly number of years has been _Living With a Deaf Dog_ by Susan
Cope-Becker. Probably available on Amazon, definitely available from
www.dogwise.com where the stock number is DTB 552. The book has a lot
of great information about the little things around home, as well as
teaching commands.

Great! I'm going to try the group first. I'll hunt it up and add it to the
2 groups I am in now (Local freecycle and a local community post one).

On Tue, 30 Nov 2010 17:54:58 -0500, cshenk wrote:

"sonofdog" wrote
cshenk wrote:

Mabel
seemed to twitch a bit at one, consistantly raising her head up and
looking about. There seemed no sense of 'direction' though as if she
could tell there was 'something' but 'not sure where from'.

that is typical for unilateral dogs, hearing only in one ear

Well, if so it's logical that she may have a little on one side and not
the other. The trainer tried what he had in 'noise makers' from both
sides and there didn't 'seem' to be a difference that we could tell per
side even with the one she seems to react to a bit. Then again, that
doesn't mean there isn't a difference. Neither of us are experts by any
means with deaf (or nearly so?) dogs.

Observe ears movement when you make sound, usually it is not symmetrical
and one ear,hearing one, is moving more frequently then the other.
From my experience (I have no medical/vet background in the subject)
unilateral dogs that inherited it genetically cope with its partial
deafness much better then dogs that lost hearing in one ear. However loss
of hearing is difficult to detect early in dogs that were being well
trained at home or for dog sports, as they respond excellently to body
language/signal of the owner/handler. Partially or totally deaf dog that
changed environment/owners will face most difficulties.
--
thedalpal

On Tue, 30 Nov 2010 17:54:58 -0500, cshenk wrote:

"sonofdog" wrote
cshenk wrote:

Mabel
seemed to twitch a bit at one, consistantly raising her head up and
looking about. There seemed no sense of 'direction' though as if she
could tell there was 'something' but 'not sure where from'.

that is typical for unilateral dogs, hearing only in one ear

Well, if so it's logical that she may have a little on one side and not
the other. The trainer tried what he had in 'noise makers' from both
sides and there didn't 'seem' to be a difference that we could tell per
side even with the one she seems to react to a bit. Then again, that
doesn't mean there isn't a difference. Neither of us are experts by any
means with deaf (or nearly so?) dogs.

please read this pages

http://www.lsu.edu/deafness/deaf.htm

http://www.lsu.edu/deafness/baerexpl.htm

Baer test is not that expensive

"sonofdog" wrote
cshenk wrote:

please read this pages

http://www.lsu.edu/deafness/deaf.htm

http://www.lsu.edu/deafness/baerexpl.htm

Baer test is not that expensive

Bless you! A lot of reading to be done but I forwarded it to the trainer as
well. It will take me a bit to 'engulf' it all. I'll do my messages first
then start working on these.

"sonofdog" wrote
cshenk wrote:

please read this pages

http://www.lsu.edu/deafness/deaf.htm

http://www.lsu.edu/deafness/baerexpl.htm

Baer test is not that expensive

One site not but 2 hour drive from here!

Meantime, I found this as a link off the set you sent.

http://www.deafdogs.org/training/signs.php

We are starting really *basics* from this. It largely matches the hand
signs the trainer found but describes the teaching of them pretty well.
Digging about that site leads to vibration collars to 'get attention' (when
they cant hear you) and the details they have on what they know of on where
to get them. They link then to how to train.

Cool stuff!

We progress on 'down' in a motion almost identical to the site. I've
stopped the finger curl though to go pure ASL. The reason is Dogman (I think
it was him) was a signal no one else uses, can be a danger if they need to
control.

I don't expect us all to know ASL. I plan to get as close as I can on the
simple stuff.

For now, she's never let out off leash except in the back fenced yard
because I have no recall method. Vibration collar may be a good answer but
we still aren't forgetting a hunting call sort of noise maker her minimal
hearing can tell is there.

Want a funny? I give the 'down' to Mabel Anne and CASH lays down. She
starts to seem to lay down then pops up to investigate why he's doing it.
Dunno if it's deliberate, just a funny first day possible confusion. day 1
of ASL means nothing except funny stuff.

On Fri, 03 Dec 2010 19:57:13 -0500, cshenk wrote:

"sonofdog" wrote
cshenk wrote:

please read this pages

http://www.lsu.edu/deafness/deaf.htm

http://www.lsu.edu/deafness/baerexpl.htm

Baer test is not that expensive

One site not but 2 hour drive from here!

Meantime, I found this as a link off the set you sent.

http://www.deafdogs.org/training/signs.php

We are starting really *basics* from this. It largely matches the hand
signs the trainer found but describes the teaching of them pretty well.
Digging about that site leads to vibration collars to 'get attention'
(when they cant hear you) and the details they have on what they know of
on where to get them. They link then to how to train.

Cool stuff!

yes it is indeed

and there is some more there, for People involved/interested in Rescue

http://www.deafdogs.org/adoption/