Micah & Deaf Dogs

Micah

There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face.  ~Ben Williams

Salutations, dear Reader!  How are you on this summer-reprieve weekend?  Ah, 90 degrees--the guest who comes and stays too long, but whom you think of with nostalgia round about February.  All right, maybe it's just me.

Annnyyyway, I wanted to check in and post a few photos from our first week with Micah.  Having lost both our superior dalmatian and the big red poodle since June, the house has been terribly quiet and Little Poodle has been moping around all summer.  Well, we've all been moping about, really.  And let's face it, the cat is no substitute for a good dog. Sorry, Chunk.

It was then that Cousin came to the rescue and offered us Micah, her little black and white blue heeler & aussie sheperd mix.  Cute as a button, Micah has a delightful abundance of personality and a sunny disposition.  She is also stone deaf. 

We knew it would be a challenge, to be sure.  But I have to say, what could have been an obstacle Micah (and we) would have to overcome, is actually turning out to be a wonderful blessing.  Micah (also known as Jail Bird after a few minor run-ins with the law) is the most attentive, observant dog I've ever met.  She's always watching us, gauging and interpreting moods, body language, gestures and facial expressions.  She's also very careful to keep track of where we are in the house or out in the yard. 

Aunt with Little Poodle & Micah

Micah is incredibly affectionate with no personal boundaries (your lap is her lap--especially when you have the laptop), but also really willing to please.  From the moment she arrived, I got online and began doing research on how to communicate with deaf dogs.  There is a plethora of great resources out there.  The most helpful I've found so far is the Deaf Dog Education Action Fund.  Their comprehensive resources, FAQ sheet and useful tips appear excellent and well-researched.  So far, their clever advice is working brilliantly.

Tips like how to wake a deaf dog gently are proving wonderfully helpful.

I also learned why and how a dog can become deaf--if it's congenital deafness (from birth), it has to do with the pigment of the skin in the dog's inner ear.  According to the DDEAF, dogs born with non-pigmented skin deep in the inner ear are prone to atrophy and death of the auditory nerve endings located there, rendering a puppy completely deaf just a few weeks after birth.  This is called bilateral deafness. 

 I was also surprised to find out many people won't adopt a deaf dog, thinking it will become vicious in 2 or 3 years.  Really?  How many deaf dogs are getting a raw deal because people actually believe that?  Well, it was immediately clear to me just how ridiculous a notion it was.  Micah has been nothing but obedient, sweet and astonishingly good with my cantankerous cat.

Photo proof of a minor inter-species miracle.

 If you can look at a dog and not feel vicarious excitement and affection, you must be a cat.  ~Author Unknown

 We've gone for walks around the neighborhood (with poodle and without), played in the yard off-leash and have begun learning new signs in 10-minute daily training sessions that involve lots of treats, praise and patience.  I have to say, I'm loving the challenge and the relationship-building.

As soon as they arrive, I will be diving into these DDEAF's recommended resources: 

Living With A Deaf Dog By Susan Cope Becker

The Pocket Dictionary of Signing By Rod R. Butterworth 

The plan is to teach Micah a variety of signs based on accepted dog obedience signals, ASL--American Sign Language (so other deaf people can communicate with her too--how cool!), and hopefully down the road, dog agility hand signals.  She's such a busy girl and needs a job so agility might be just the thing and too much fun for both of us!

 The great pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself too.  ~Samuel Butler, Notebooks, 1912

Anyhow, thank you, dear Reader, for indulgently reading my little post about this remarkable dog.  I hope it inspires you to think a little differently about deaf dogs and what it means to share life with one.  Updates to come! 

To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring - it was peace.  ~Milan Kundera

Dog Quotes courtesy of The Quote Garden.