Story and photos by Nancy Gallimore
The greetings of hundreds of hopeful dogs created a deafening din as we made our way through rows of identical concrete-block dog runs. In the middle of the large kennel, we found the object of our mission, curled up on a cot in a deep slumber, oblivious to everything but his own dreams.
In that moment, my partner, Jim Thomason, and I exchanged a knowing glance with raised eyebrows. Our suspicions about the beautiful young Australian cattle dog mix were about to be confirmed. The Tulsa Animal Services (TAS) volunteer assisting us opened the gate to leash the dog, appropriately dubbed Cowboy. And still, his nap continued undisturbed.
It wasn’t until the volunteer gave Cowboy a gentle pat that the dog’s eyes popped open, his face immediately brightening in delight toward his visitor instead of being startled. Good sign number one.
We led the unfazed dog through the aisles, flanked on either side by bouncing, barking dogs of all shapes and sizes. Once outside in a spacious fenced yard, Cowboy, now allowed a little freedom to explore, immediately relieved himself. Another good sign.
Jim and I started to do some simple tests to confirm what we already suspected of our merle-coated friend. We called. We whistled. We clapped our hands sharply behind his head when he was distracted. And we met with no response.
The only way we could grab Cowboy’s attention was by stepping into the field of vision of his sparkling eyes, a distinctive mix of blue and brown. That’s when our suspicions were confirmed; our handsome new friend appeared to be completely deaf.
Although the TAS volunteer was a bit surprised by our discovery, Jim and I were not. Certain breeds have a genetic predisposition to deafness. Dogs with white coats and the merle or piebald gene experience a higher incidence of congenital deafness. So when we first saw images of this predominantly white cattle dog mix with freckled tricolored markings, we immediately had hearing issues on our radar.
Learn To Communicate with Deaf Dogs
As Dalmatian fanciers and rescuers, we are well versed in deafness in dogs. Dalmatians have the highest incidence of congenital deafness of any breed of dog, with approximately 10 percent totally deaf and 20 percent unilaterally deaf in one ear. Other breeds that top the list include Australian shepherds, bull terriers, English setters, and yes, Australian cattle dogs, to name a few.
With a canine family that already includes four deaf dogs and experience with several deaf foster dogs in the past, this revelation did not deter us from rescuing Cowboy. In fact, it was a bit of an incentive.
In the right home, with the right training, a deaf dog can be a wonderful companion. And although many people react with pity when they hear that a dog is deaf, I’m quick to point out that the dog has no idea he’s supposed to hear. The dog’s world feels perfectly normal. He has all the instincts and ability to learn. It’s our job to establish communication in a meaningful, positive manner.
Our first and constant job is keeping him safe. A securely fenced yard for exercise and leashing outside that yard are essential. Then we work to teach the dog hand signals instead of verbal cues. That might be oversimplifying things, but really, it’s not hard. Dogs are very visual beings. They have an inherent language that is based on subtle body postures, movements, and cues. It’s how dogs naturally “talk” among themselves.
Teaching a deaf dog isn’t very different from teaching a hearing dog. I start out in a quiet room — in this case, without visual “noise”— and a handful of tasty treats. First goal: Establish communication.
In our world of deaf-dog training, a thumbs-up gesture means “Good dog” and is always followed by a treat or something the dog finds pleasant. In the learning phase, delicious treats are a fast track to attention and learning. Without going into too much detail, let me assure you that with the right methods, a deaf dog is just as capable of learning as his hearing counterparts.
Now don’t be misled — it’s not always easy. It’s not something everyone should or would want to undertake. Ownership of a deaf dog is a serious responsibility, and Cowboy, with his genetic roots, did give us a good-natured run for our money at first. When you have his attention, he’s incredibly willing and quick to learn. But there is nothing more ineffective than reflexively yelling, “Cowboy, COME!” as a gray-and-white bullet streaks off to herd a group of unsuspecting Dalmatians. Our habitual verbal command quite literally falls on deaf ears.
But now, several months into our relationship, we’ve established a comfortable routine. Cowboy has learned to happily respond to several hand signals. The sign for “Stop” comes to mind. He sees that one quite a bit. But he also sees thumbs-up even more often, and that is always met with a wagging stump of a tail.
Make Responsible Decisions in Adopting
And although we are enjoying growing success with our handsome, clever boy, I have to wonder what might have happened if we had not decided to bring him into our rescue fold. What if someone else had fallen for his good looks and friendly demeanor without realizing he was deaf? It’s easy to explain away inattention in the unavoidable chaos of a busy city shelter.
There is a strong likelihood that Cowboy would have been returned if adopted by someone unaware of or unable to deal with his deafness. And then what? The list of what-ifs is long and concerning.
Perhaps Cowboy’s tale is one of cautionary advice. Yes, adopting a dog from a shelter is a wonderful way to save a life and gain an amazing companion. But at the same time, please go into that process with eyes and ears wide open. Spend time with your prospective new best friend. See how he reacts in different situations. If you can identify a breed type, look up the characteristics of that specific breed to be sure it will be a good fit for your family for the lifetime of the dog. Snap decisions lead to nothing but heartbreak for families and dogs who might have to be returned to an unavoidably uncertain fate at the shelter.
Fortunately, Cowboy’s is a tale guaranteed to have a happily-ever-after ending. Our clever, funny boy will either be responsibly placed in a new home that can continue to meet his specific needs or he will remain with us as one of our sanctuary dogs, free to play in our yard, snooze on our couches, and enjoy life as any dog should — deeply loved.
If he could, I think he’d be giving a big thumbs-up right now.
