calliecritturs
Posted : 3/6/2006 9:35:45 PM
Noel, the first thing is to go have a senior blood panel and a GOOD exam done. Just to level the playing field and find out where he really is.
Hearing just isn't all that important to a dog. If it's normal deafness from aging you aren't going to slow that down with an herbal.
HOWEVER, you want to maximize the health he has. Stuff like: having a dental done (that's one of the best things you can do to maximize heart/stomach health and just help them FEEL better), but also having the vet tell you how the *eyes* are is also a big deal.
In other words-- with an older dog you don't want to teach them to rely on another sense that may disappear. So -- you teach him to rely on his NOSE. He's a retriever -- he's gonna be GOOD at it.
Start with a tennis ball -- put a dot of some scent out of the cupboard on it - vanilla, peppermint, etc. Show it to him and then cover his eyes and toss it not far away and tell him to 'find'.
Use a 'tap' on the nose, or a double tap on his shoulder and PAIR it with the word looking you FULL in the face (he lip reads better than you have any idea he does!!). But he will pair that 'tap' just like a command -- and use it EVERY time you 'say' the word.
You'll find you can 'hide' things and he'll find them.
Begin to use cues to 'call' him that are vibration oriented -- keep a broom handle in EVERY room -- and teach him to 'come' to you by tapping once on the floor REALLY hard. Or tap a radiator or whatever will carry sound/vibration in your home.
You can also use light to your advantage -- when you call him to come inside -- pair 'calling' him wtih flicking on and off the porch light. Or flash a flashlight on and off.
Be consistent -- give some thot to it and write it down if you have to -- because you may use light and vibration later on for more things.
I had a cocker who had TWO bilateral ear ablations -- Muffin was STONE deaf -- literally he had no ears at all (pick up his ear flaps and he looked like he was from FAO Schwartz!) -- but he learned abouit 50 signs and lip read a scarey amount.
If your lab's eyesight is still good -- you can begin to teach some sign language -- they pick it up fast If he's got the hearing problems you say, then he probably has been lip reading you for a LONG time now.
But when you stand behind him, don't frustrate him by yelling -- just stamp your foot. Once. Or try to catch his eye in a shadow on the wall and teach him to watch things around him for 'cues' as to who is where.
Nothing 'stops' aging -- but you can deal with it and keep it at bay. Keep him sharp -- don't let him shut down just because he's frustrated that he can't hear.
Call around where you live and see if anyone does any 'tracking' training. It's FUN and it's not hard. Entering your dog in a tracking class can be a whale of a lot of fun for both of you and frankly, and old dog can really benefit by getting a new' job' that makes a new lease on life. It keeps them sharp and interested. And that helps keep them healthy.