5 Myths About Deaf Dogs

If you're thinking about adding a deaf dog to the family, or you already have, you will find that there is limited information on the internet for you. A lot of it is conflicting and confusing. One site will tell you something, and another will say the complete opposite. So what is true and what is false?

Owning a deaf double merle has allowed me to meet and talk to many owners who have deaf and/or blind dogs and we often talk about some of the crazy myths we see and the even crazier things people say to us. I just wanna debunk some of those myths so you don't feel so discouraged. So here are 5 things that I hear people ask pretty frequently because they've read it somewhere and believe it must be true.

1. Deaf dogs startle easier and are more likely to bite

Any dog is capable of biting. Its ability to hear should be irrelevant. If a dog is sleeping and suddenly startled awake, it can be spooked and bite unknowingly. Respect should be used for every dog. If your dog is sleeping, let him sleep. If you must wake him, kindly and gently pet him to wake him up. Don't be rough or frightening and you'll never be in that situation. A deaf dog is not more likely to startle or bite than any other dog.

2. Deaf dogs must live life on a leash

I can't say this is a complete myth because, in reality, most people do not train their dogs' recall well enough to be off-leash. A deaf dog who doesn't have a perfect recall is more of a safety risk than a hearing dog just because they can't hear cars or other hazards that could be around them.

However, it's 100% possible to train a deaf dog to be off-leash. This goes back to teaching a "watch me" and "come" cue. If your deaf dog knows to look to you for a cue, they won't go far. We took a hiking trip this spring. Keller was off-leash for 85% of the trip. I snapped this photo of her climbing ahead and stopping to turn and check that it was okay to go on.

3. Deaf dogs are hard to train

Personally, I think deaf dogs are easier to train than hearing dogs. They can't hear distractions! You can freely work in the back yard and you won't have to worry about your dog being distracted by neighbors, sirens, kids, or anything. Also, as discussed before, your deaf dog will learn that they have to look at you for cues, so the focus on you will be amazing!

4. Deaf dogs don't bark

Sometimes I wish this were a myth, but it's not! Deaf dogs definitely bark. Deaf and mute are two totally separate things. Most of the deafies I've met are more vocal than their hearing family members.

5. Deaf dogs don't have a good quality of life

It's a sad reality that deafness is looked down upon when it comes to dogs. Deaf dogs in shelters don't stand a chance compared to their hearing counterparts. People think that they can't live normally, but it's so far from the truth. Deaf people live normal lives, and so do dogs!