I was walking Rigby (on right) in a nearby park, when we spotted another Springer Spaniel for a tail wagging meet and greet. “Daphne” was introduced as a 12 year old female who had recently lost her hearing a few weeks ago, the pet parent shared. She expressed to me that she is now trying to re-train Daphne to respond to hand signals for behavioral direction when needed. As a sound behaviorist, this inspired me to share with you the importance of teaching your dog hand signal behavioral training as well as verbal training before your dog loses hearing which is inevitable starting in senior age so you can be prepared.

Listening communications by our dogs are so much part of their relationship with us along with visual cues. Our movement is an energy that our dogs look to for direction. Just getting up from a couch can mean it’s treat time, meal time or time to go for a walk and your dog is cued and ready. They do the same with us. Getting a toy, playing with it a bit and then dropping it in front of our feet is an invitation to play. No words needed!

Even though my years of research and focus in the science of sound and how a dog hears, I am keenly aware that behind it all is a field of energy that is a silent communication. Dogs are energy beings. Even when a dog is completely deaf, the energy of movement and sound is felt through your dogs paws and body. To know this makes this stage of senior life easier for you to transition your communication from verbal to intention through energetic communication. You only have to look at the language of signing by the deaf community to observe the energy of this beautiful language.

Whether you use verbal direction or hand communication, it’s all fun for your dog. If you already have hand signals with verbal directions for your dog (with or without treats in hand) you can forgo speaking these out loud and you will see the good results and be prepared for later on in your dogs life when hearing diminishes.

Here are some common hand signal gestures that you probably already do with your dog but can practice without sound.

Whenever you notice your senior is not responding to you as always, make sure to take your dog for a veterinary visit to check their ears for infection , excessive wax or senior hearing loss. At home you can test your dog’s hearing by taking our Home Pet Hearing Test which will tell you if there is partial or full hearing loss in 1 minute, at any age.

Please write to me if you have any questions about your dog’s hearing and behavior. hello@petacoustics.com There is also a lot of information in my latest book, What Dogs Hear: From Puppy to Senior.

Dogs: Preparing for Senior Life