My dog is now totally deaf, she wasn't born deaf, she was fine, then it was partial deafness and now in the last few months its total and utter deafness. I often spend my time wondering what it is like for her as with the total loss of hearing has come changes in her behaviour, happiness and general wellbeing. I also ponder how hard it is being deaf in London, the busiest of streets, roads, people rushing, dogs everywhere, kids ten to the dozen, there is just so much to deal with for us let alone a dog and a deaf one at that.
I've tried doing things like wearing headphones with a song playing which obviously I can hear but to replicate the feeling of having no idea what is going on in the outside world around me. It is quite scary. You can't hear kids on bikes, skateboards, cyclists, other dogs or people approaching you from the side or behind. In short, I felt quite anxious which is why its been no surprise to me that some of her behaviour has switched and in all honesty its been hard work. In addition to a young baby it makes for a lot of preparation and planning when I'm doing things with the dog.
It's why I was really interested to read Gillian Orr's piece in The Independent about what it feels like to be a deaf person and the incredible power a hearing dog has on a deaf individual's life. It makes sense to me, the feeling of exclusion, the disorientation and the lack of interactions are things that I know are having an impact on Cookie dog. And its heart breaking to watch. I have to be her ears for her, her trust in me and my husband is amazing.
You often find that physical reactions happen when emotional things are taking place and this has certainly been the case recently in Cookie's life. With the total deafness came a retraction from her daily life, she didn't want to go out and walk, she didn't want to play outside of our house and she just wanted to sleep in what I call her safe place. I feel its totally different for dogs that have been born deaf, they don't know any differently.
I have to maintain Cookie's trust in me whilst also trying to reinstate things she is struggling with. We are getting there and I think she is coping better and I'm finding ways to try and make it easier for her too. Some people when they meet her think she isn't very interested in them but when you are living in silence it takes more than a pat on the head to make her wiggle! I've invented lots of ways to tell her I'm pleased with her, so yes I am the woman dancing around her dog in a London park that you may have spotted!
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