DEAF DOGS AND Separation anxiety
Yes Deaf Dogs can suffer from Separation anxiety. Feeling sorry for a dog does him no favors. you can give affection to reward calm and balanced behavior, but not because you are feeling sympathetic that the dog can’t hear. He doesn’t know the difference. Being consistent with this approach is how to maintain a balanced state of mind, and calm submission, regardless of any physical disability.



Dogs need leadership before love. Remember, exercise, discipline then affection. Sometimes dogs may feel that they are in charge of the pack. When you leave, they cannot control their pack and it is as if one of theirs is lost. This may cause separation anxiety symptoms. 





Linda Trader "I've also noticed that dogs born deaf are different from old dogs who lose their hearing. It's hard to believe that HoHo is deaf, he comes when called and listens better than the hearing dogs. He's very attuned to me, and I don't always know how he does it. To this day, many who know him don't believe he's completely deaf despite two baer tests showing he is.
I grew up with a deaf dalmatian. The first thing we learned from him was to forget about his being deaf. In the beginning we tried to use hand signals and felt foolish for talking to him the same way we did the other dogs. All that did was make our body language artifical and hard for him to read. Once we stopped thinking about it and treated him like all the others, he figured things out and did fine. I've had a deaf dog most of my life, but always in addition to hearing dogs so they've got other dogs to cue from."



Mr HoHo Pants

For many dogs, even the slightest change in daily routines can be upsetting. In response, poor George may start acting disruptive or destructive, especially when left home alone. He may resort to urinating and defecating indoors, howling, chewing, pacing or trying to escape from the house or yard. When these issues are accompanied by signs of panic, distress or depression, they may indicate your Boston  suffers from separation anxiety.
When treating a dog with separation anxiety, the goal is to resolve the underlying issue by teaching him to enjoy—or at least tolerate—being left alone. ¹

As always the first step in working with behavior issues is to rule out  any  underlying medical problems that might be causing your pet’s behavior. For example, if your pet is urinating in the house, he might be suffering from a urinary tract infection, bladder stones, diabetes or kidney disease—all of which can cause urinary incontinence in dogs.  So Make sure you have discuses this with your veterinarian.

 Shana Porcellino  Shared her experience with us. "Actually my hearing dog suffers from separation anxiety, not the deaf one, but I think what helps is something that would help the deaf dog. I find that keeping them all on a regular schedule of walks & feeding and routine is very important & the best place to start. if you have done all that and he or she is still exhibiting signs then you might have to do some extra training. It also depends on how your dog is demonstrating the anxiety. Are they doing or eating things they shouldn't? Are they barking, whining trying to get out?"



If your Boston suffers mild separation anxiety, counter conditioning—or helping your dog associate being alone with something good, like a tasty treat—might reduce or resolve the problem. To develop this kind of association, offer your dog a food-dispensing toy  every time you leave the house.¹

Other ideas include PRACTICE SHORT DEPARTURES.  This is good advice for new dogs also.

On your dog’s first day in your home:  Start to leave the house for very short times. It’s very important to pay no attention to your dog when you do the departures. First just go in and out the door. If your dog doesn’t panic, take the trash outside or pick up your mail. Then, leave the house for 5-minute intervals. Then try 10 minutes. If you take your car to work, make sure you drive your car away. Over the first two days, try to progress up to 30 minutes. Make sure you allow your dog to relax between departures. If your dog panics SLOW DOWN! Wait a couple of hours before doing another departure and make it short. The goal is to have your dog relax when left alone. If you are patient and don’t go faster than your dog can tolerate both of you will be happier.  Have you ever tried this method?

 Jean Vallee "I can say that method really does work! I had a foster who nipped whenever I picked up my purse and headed for the door. So I picked up the purse, waited 10 sec, then put it down. Longer and longer intervals eventually led to success. I knew he was over it when I got ready to leave and he was napping on the couch. He opened his eyes, raised his head, then turned over and went back to napping."

Many dogs know when you’re about to leave the house and will get anxious or prevent your departure altogether. One way to tackle “pre-departure anxiety” is to teach your dog that when you pick up your keys or put on your coat, it doesn’t always mean you’re leaving. For example, put on your boots and coat, and then just sit down and watch TV instead of leaving.  Okay so some family members may look at you kinda funny...²

 

"Bocephus is deaf and blind in one eye. We trained him with hand signals and lights."  Courtney Bryson


Providing lots of physical and mental stimulation is a vital part of treating many behavior problems, especially those involving anxiety. Exercise can enrich your dog’s life, decrease stress and provide appropriate outlets for normal behavior. Plus, a tired dog doesn’t have much excess energy to burn when he’s left alone!²

Other ideas given to us to help with deaf dogs that might be suffering from separation anxiety are to ignore your dog when you come and go.  

Making too big a deal of your departures will teach your dog to make a big deal of departures. Ignore your dog when leaving and don’t have a party when you come back.² 

Here is an idea that I think is worthwhile trying as a preventive measure when you first get a dog.  Do you think this makes sense?

Discourage allowing your dog to follow you everywhere. Staying in another room will help your dog learn that being alone is not dangerous. Don’t allow your dog to sit next to you all the time. Resting and sleeping while not touching you will help your dog feel more confident when alone.²

PHOTO PROVIDED BY Reggie Kaye


What causes separation anxiety?
It’s not fully understood why some dogs suffer from separation anxiety and others don’t. But it’s important to realize that the destruction and house soiling that often occur with separation anxiety are part of a panic response.³


Scenarios that can trigger separation anxiety:
A dog accustomed to constant human companionship is left alone for the first time.
A dog suffers a traumatic event (from her viewpoint), such as time at a shelter or boarding kennel.
There’s a change in the family’s routine or structure or the loss of a family member or other pet.³

How to treat minor separation anxiety:
Leave your dog with an article of clothing that smells like you, such as an old T-shirt that you’ve slept in recently.
Establish a safety cue—a word or action that you use every time you leave that tells your dog you’ll be back.
Consider using an over-the-counter calming product that may reduce fearfulness in dogs.³

How to handle a more severe problem:
Use the techniques outlined above along with desensitization training. Teach your dog the sit-stay and down-stay commands using positive reinforcement. This training will help her learn that she can remain calmly and happily in one place while you go to another room.
Create a “safe place” to limit your dog’s ability to be destructive. A safe place should:
Confine loosely rather than strictly (a room with a window and distractions rather than total isolation)
Contain busy toys for distraction
Have dirty laundry to lend a calming olfactory cue or other safety cues.³

How to cope while your dog learns to be calm
It can take time for your dog to unlearn his panic response to your departures. To help you and your dog cope in the short term, consider the following interim solutions:
Ask your veterinarian about drug therapy. A good anti-anxiety drug shouldn’t sedate your dog but simply reduce his overall anxiety.
Take your dog to a doggie day care facility or kennel when you have to be away.
Leave your dog with a friend, family member, or neighbor when you’re away.
Take your dog to work with you, if possible.³



BAER TESTING
Only in recent years has BAER testing come into common practice in checking dogs for deafness' Dogs can be deaf in one or both ears. Dogs deaf in one ear are just as likely to pass deafness on to their progeny as those deaf in both ears. The only way that a unilaterally deaf dog can be identified is by BAER testing. This testing is done by attaching tiny electrodes to a dog's skin on his head and measuring the electric impulse produced. It only needs to be done one time in the life of most dogs. BAER testing can be done as early as 6 weeks, before a puppy leaves for his new home' (It shouldn't necessary to anesthetize most Boston Terriers to do the BAER testing).


Also more things to be aware of...
Blue eyes, resulting from an absence of pigment in the iris, is common with pigment-associated deafness but is not, in and of itself, an indication of deafness or the presence of a deafness gene; however, in several breeds dogs (Dalmatian, English Setter, English Cocker Spaniel, Bull Terrier) with blue eyes are statistically more likely to be deaf.
Congenital deafness in dogs (or other animals) can be acquired /caused by intrauterine infections, ototoxic drugs like gentamicin, liver disorders, or other toxic exposures before or soon after birth] or inherited. Inherited deafness can be caused by a gene defect.
Congenital deafness has been reported for approximately 85 breeds, it can potentially appear in any breed but especially those with white pigmentation.

Deafness may have been long-established in a breed but kept hidden from outsiders to protect reputations. The disorder is usually associated with pigmentation patterns, where the presence of white in the hair coat increases the likelihood of deafness. The deafness, which usually develops in the first few weeks after birth while the ear canal is still closed, usually results from the degeneration of part of the blood supply to the cochlea (the stria vascularis). The nerve cells of the cochlea subsequently die and permanent deafness results. The cause of the vascular degeneration is not known, but appears to be associated with the absence of pigment producing cells (melanocytes) in the blood vessels.

Deafness may also occur later in life in dogs from other causes such as toxicities, infections, or injuries, or due to aging (presbycusis); these forms of deafness almost never have a genetic cause in animals and thus do not present a concern in breeding decisions.
Recognition of affected cases is often difficult, because unilaterally deaf dogs appear to hear normally unless a special test (the brainstem auditory evoked response, BAER) is performed; facilities to perform the BAER are usually only available at veterinary schools . It should be noted that a unilaterally deaf dog can be as great a genetic risk for transmission of deafness to its offspring as is a bilaterally deaf dog.
The method of genetic transmission of deafness in dogs is usually not known. There are no recognized forms of sex-linked deafness in dogs, although this does occur in humans. 

Pigment-associated inherited deafness is not restricted to dogs. Similar defects have been reported for mice, mink, pigs, horses, cattle, cats, and humans.

Deafness in blue-eyed white cats is common. Blue eyes, resulting from an absence of pigment in the iris, is common with pigment-associated deafness but is not, in and of itself, an indication of deafness or the presence of a deafness gene.

There is no question that many people have successfully raised deaf dogs. For every story of a problem deaf dog there seems to be a story of one that was successfully raised. Unfortunately, there is no way to predict how a deaf puppy will turn out. Unilaterally deaf dogs can make good pets but should not be bred.^₄

So what if your dog is deaf?
A person with a deaf dog has a unique opportunity to communicate with their dog as the animal they are. Dogs communicate through energy and body language.    "I’ve said many times that you don’t get the dog you want, you get the dog you need. I’ve seen it time and time again that the dog a person chooses comes into their life and teaches them the lessons they need most." unknown

With a deaf dog, it is critical that you be present, feel the energy, read signals, and be in tune to yourself and the environment around you, just as you are asking your dog to do. You will need to bond with your dog in a way that he trusts you as his leader; a leader whose job is to provide him with protection and direction.
Use hand signals, energy, and most importantly body language to communicate when you want the dog to sit, lay down, back up, come. Sometimes I don’t even need to make a signal because I set the intention in my head of what I want and the dog responds. They feel the energy. If you are calm and assertive, in tune to your own emotions, confident in your ability, and trust; and your dog will reward you not only with his trust, but respect and loyalty too.


¹To read the full article from the ASPCA.org, on this subject please click here.
²To read the full article on Center for Shelter Dogs – Separation Anxiety, please click here. 
³To read the full article on www.humanesociety.org please click here. 

^₄Dr. George M. Strain Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine

Special thanks to our friends and supporters for sharing thier photos and comments.

The dog side:   Hey Listen, I need some help here!  My best friend, she has been like a second sister.  It’s fantastic in a lasting friendship there has to be a lot of respect and empathy. We don't get to play as much as I like since they moved away. But I have been told we are going to go find her at her new home. I can’t wait to play with her again. BUT if I have to travel with a carload of people to go visit her, FORGET IT! Worse is the hours before we go anywhere and I can tell just by the tension and prep time This is going to be a long trip.

Okay so traveling is an issue. But if you only knew what I had to go through to take a trip. I start panting just thinking about it... And it is not for joy either. I remember the last time we took a family trip... I was so excited. So were the rest of the kids. But well things got so complicated. I just do not understand why all the activity beforehand. Humans are as bad as some dogs I know. They put themselves in such a state of panic I can't help but join them... Now if were left to me we could just grab some treats get in the car and go. But no, humans seem to need a time before hand to prepare themselves so they can be excited. By the time we finally do get to start our trip, I am just plum emotionally drained. Why do they do that?

The human side:  You’re running out of time and of course there are always distractions that happen right when you are trying to get everything gathered together. A neighbor chooses this time to come by asking to borrow a tool.  The washer suddenly springs a leak and you have not finished getting the last two loads washed.  In your hurry to grab your phone and call the repairman, you managed to get your sleeve caught somehow and knocked your favorite coffee cup off the table onto the floor of course the darn thing was full... The phone starts ringing”Hi we just have a short survey we need you to answer" CLICK:  The kid's school texts you a message, 'the school bus will be late. it had a flat and they are transferring all the kids onto another bus'.  And your Boston, is quietly chewing and tugging on the corner of your new couch's leg, trying to get some stupid toy the leg was blocking, and not being able to reach it with its paw, he seemed determined to move the couch.

The Dog Side Woof!  No wonder I can get real excited about traveling.  The secret is to train your human family to relax! I know it is tough. Tell me about it.  It took me years to get mine to enjoy the process.  But they still get all anxious sometimes and try to blame me for the stress. That is the part I don't understand. When they get excited and barking at each other, why they do not appreciate me joining in?

There is a few ruff edges of this travel thing I am working with them on...like conditioning them to enjoy car rides.  Now you might ask how do you do that. Well every time they looked like they were going somewhere I demand to go with them..  I am working on my body language for expressing my joy of riding in the car.  I hate it when they ignore me. I'm working real hard on begging and they are beginning to be more cooperative. The human kids well they just add to the excitement and when I get them on my side I know I will get to go for a ride.   I think we have a system developed now and that has really helped. Where we run into trouble is when mom gets all tensed up..

The human side:  Phew! After all that drama you just want to lie down and rest. Eck! You just glanced at the time. The kids are over an hour late getting home. You call the school.  You sigh at the remains of your favorite coffee cup as you scoop up the last of the glass and dump in the trash. Of course the rug is displaying a splotch of coffee stain. And the repairman well he will be here as fast as he can.

Let’s see the garbage can is loaded sitting at the curb ready for tomorrow morning, Oh better call the neighbor and ask if they will bring it in.  You start scanning your pile of items ready to put in the car for tomorrow.  In burst the kids with excited voices and of course the Boston is right in the middle bouncing with excitement to greet them as they circle around you telling you about why they are so late... Did you know how BIG a bus tire was? and the police car that showed up to help keep them safe while the backup bus arrived then the lady with the kids that pulled up behind them and started fussing cause the bus driver would not let her take some kids off the bus and let her take them home and Did I know why she was wearing a big purple hat.  And on and on it goes.  Finally with all of the details told and augured over and retold, the kids wonder off to the kitchen so you could start dinner, followed by the click clack of four paws... Dinner time...

"What is the most exciting and rewarding part about your experience in adopting a rescued Boston?  I know I sure have experienced a lot of joy, frustration, doubt, amazement, surprise, laughter, just plain fun. I do not think I have ever suffered from any boredom. Yes it can become all of these things and more, if you do your homework.

For those contemplating the possibility of adopting a Boston, we thought would be helpful if you read what several of our friends said when asked to answer this question.

"What is the most exciting and rewarding part about your experience in adopting a rescued Boston? 

Amanda Avery: "Well Odie came to us kinda as a surprise. I joined BTRFL(Boston Terrier Rescue Florida) last year when my first Boston, Gizmo, got sick. He was 9. Had inflammatory brain disease, fought a good year. We got Odie about a month or so before we finally lost Gizzie.  We have Ella who is almost 3.  Odie       coming in as a pup after Ella really not being able to play much for the past year was amazing! While we all mourned Gizmo passing in a ridiculous way, Odie gave us all some comfort and it was almost fate how it came together.  Odie needed a young family who knew how to pay special attention to his healing eyes and they (the rescue) picked us.  Looking back, it just was perfect timing and we are so lucky. Odie started as this timid 14week old pup w(ith) really bad cherry eyes. He was scared of a kitchen cabinet closing and would hide in our shower stall. Fast forward 6months and he is a proud little man who cannot wait to go outside and play ball or take a walk. Eyes healed beautifully and he brings an everyday smile to us. Literally couldn't think of a better situation. We didnt know rescue before Odie and don't ever wanna look back. Rescuing him gave us a new perspective on having fur-babies. We are growing with him everyday -The Moon Family
 

 Kathleen Marie Sělóover    "The growth. The bond that comes with time. This is Zoia... she has epilepsy Her owners could not afford the medical care.. And she was not socialized much either."

Donna Wilhelm Morris  "My little Trace came from the Humane Society after being found wandering in a state park. From the nature of his injuries they think he was tossed from a moving car and left to die. He had injuries to his feet and his face, broken teeth and his right eye was ruptured and horribly infected. He was a skinny 15 pounds. I got him about a week after his surgery to remove his eye and his neuter. Surprisingly he wasn't a bit shy, he was friendly, playful and loving, strutting around exploring his new home. But if I reached for him too quickly he would cringe like he was expecting to be hit, he was terrified to go in the kitchen where their food and water was, and if I got out the broom, he would run and hide. It was about two months before he came to realize that nobody here wss going to hurt him. And today he's happy and healthy and a friendly little love bug. And he now weighs a solid, muscular 27 pounds! But it breaks my heart thinking about how much pain he went through and how frightened he must have been.  The smiling little one-eyed dog in my Facebook photo is my Trace.Trace is such a sweet little guy, everybody falls in love with him.  I have no idea how old he is but I've had him for six years.  I was a foster failure."

Becky N Jerry Boyd: "Meet Penny. . This is our precious little girl. .. She has come so far from the poor little darling she was when we first got her 4 yrs ago ..She was in a puppy mill for the first 5 years of her life .. she never had human touch, and she didn't even know how to navigate stairs or walk on a soft bed ... she is very spoiled and she is a true blessing to our family."

  Amanda Burlingham: "The first pic is of Howie who I adopted from the local shelter. He was soooo skinny (the last pic is of him about a month after we adopted him). The second is of Tyson (my problem child), the third is Howie and his favorite soft blanket, the fourth is Pig and Howie playing, the fifth one is Howie trying to sneak up on Pig, and the sixth is Howie's "before" pic. He had a terrible intestinal infection and couldn't digest any food when I brought him home.
Tyson was adopted from the BTRSC and Pig was adopted from DART in TN, Howie came from the Catoosa County Animal Shelter here in GA."

BEFORE YOU GET THE WRONG IDEA not all rescued Bostons are "damaged"

IN FACT, I AM PERFECT!

Yes there is a couple of homework assignments you should do, that is if you really want to be successful and have a positive outcome. If you don't think the following is vital when considering adopting a pet, just ask anyone who has not done this.

Homework assignment one:

Answer these key questions. There is not a right or wrong answer.

How long is my family regularly away from home during the day? For example, puppies – especially those that are still being housebroken – need to be let out every several hours, depending on their age, while older dogs can often be kept inside for longer periods of time.
What is our living space like?

Do we live in an apartment?

Do we have a yard?

Is our home already pet-proof?
Does anyone in my family have allergies? Certain dogs and cats are more likely to shed.
Are we near a dog park or other public space where my pet could regularly exercise and socialize with other animals?
How experienced are we with having a pet and dog training?

Homework assignment Two:

Now that you and your family are starting to think about the impact a Boston could make on your lifes you need to answer these.

Where would we like to look for a pet?  

There are several places to look.

We do not recommend you just pick up a dog out of your neighbors back yard and we certainly do not recommend you purchase a pet shop puppy mill dog (A really bad idea).

There are several other places.  You could go to your local animal shelter. However most of these places do not provide you anything but a dog. no medical or behavior assessments and only rabies shots  and it is an AS IS  purchase. This is not to say in some areas there are volunteers that do provide adoption counselors at the shelter will also work closely with you to find an animal that meets your needs, so it’s important to have very open and honest communication about your situation.These hard working volunteers may even have foster programs which provide basic medical vetting and behavior assessments.

 We recommend that for most families and prospective adopters that they contact a local non-profit organizations in your area. If they are a solid organization they not only will have the dog in foster care all the necessary shots will be up to date (UTD). They will have dewormed, had eyes, ears, teeth checked out and in the process will have discovered most if not all of any medical conditions or behavioral concerns. 

Many of these organizations will have already spent many hours and a lot of money addressing any of the issues they come across so an adopter be able to adopt dog with a medical and behavioral history (good with kids and or cats, good with other dogs). The rescues we deal with will also have the dogs spayed or neutered before they are offered for adoption.

Here are a few questions you should ask them about the Bostons you’re interested in:
Is this dog more high energy or low energy?
Are they good with other animals and children?
Are there any medical needs we should be aware of?

Before visiting your Local Boston Rescue, peruse their websites and are on social media. Most rescues have both, they post pictures and information about  available, adoptable animals as soon as they arrive. This way, you can identify a few pets you’re definitely interested in meeting even before you enter the shelter. We also regularly feature monthly adoption promotions.

The adoption counselors will work closely with you to find the perfect pet for your family. They are there to help and are experts in their field. They can direct you to certain pets you saw online and can also connect you with other pets who might be a great fit.

After finding the right Boston Rescue to adopt from, you’ll receive an adoption application with several questions about your home situation and your experience with pets. All of the Rescue partners we work with will also require a vet reference and a home visit. The process is relatively short and simple, but it’s important that we spend as much time finding the right potential adopters. 

Boston Terrier Network provides to prospective adopters many articles that will be great resources including new dog care tips, medical information every thing from feeding to behavioral training, crate training and lots of subjects often discussed among Boston owners.

If you think you might want to adopt a Boston from one of Boston Terrier Network's partner rescues, or if you would like to know more about adopting a Boston or would like to verify if a Rescue, we will be happy to assist.  We often aide in locating a Boston Terrier Rescue's in an individual's area.

When you make contact with a Boston Terrier Network (BTN) partnered, Boston Rescue you will know in advance that this is a real rescue and not a scam. All of our rescue partners provide spayed or neutered, vaccinated Up-to-date shots with full medical  or behavioral concerns addressed. Most Bostons are also microchipped before joining their new family, This directly improves owner return rates if a Boston is separated from a adopting parent/family.

Adopting a pet is an exciting, rewarding endeavor, but it also an important responsibility. We at BTN work with our rescue partners and potential Boston owners. So If you are looking for a Boston Terrier Rescue and would like us to help you locate a rescue in your area we will be glad to help you.  We believe there is a dog for every family and a family for every dog...