Dogs can be born deaf or lose their hearing over time. Because dogs rely so much on their other senses, hearing loss can be easy to miss at first. The good news is that deaf dogs can live full, happy lives. With a few changes and some deaf dog training, they can learn just as well as hearing dogs.
Some dogs are born deaf. Congenital deafness is often linked to genes for white or merle coat colors and blue eyes. Breeds more often affected include:
Puppies may be deaf in one ear (unilateral) or both ears (bilateral).
Hearing loss can develop later in life from:
Our article on dog ear infection signs explains how to spot ear problems early.
Signs of hearing loss can include:
With puppies, you may notice one puppy in a litter doesn’t react to sounds the way the others do.
When your dog isn’t looking, make a sound, such as clapping, rattling keys or squeaking a toy. Stay out of sight and avoid making vibrations or air movement. Watch whether your dog turns their head or ears. This isn’t a perfect test, but it can help you decide whether to see your vet.
Your vet will check your dog’s ears for infections or blockages. To confirm deafness, a specialist may use a BAER test (brainstem auditory evoked response). This painless test measures how the brain responds to sound and can check each ear separately.
It depends on the cause. Hearing loss from ear infections or wax buildup may improve with treatment. Congenital and age-related deafness usually can’t be reversed, but dogs adapt well.
Many dogs learn hand signals quickly. Choose clear, simple signals for:
Use the same signals every time, and make sure everyone in your home uses them too.
Reward your dog with treats and praise every time they look at you. This builds a strong habit of checking in. Our article on what actually works for dog training covers positive reinforcement.
Some do, because they can’t hear how loud they are.
Yes. Many senior dogs learn new signals easily with treats and patience.
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