Deaf Not Difficult

23/10/2025

Tom and I had such a great talk about deaf dogs and how to understand and support them to bring out their self confidence and increase other natural abilities into becoming their super power.

New Episode

In this episode, we discuss how to best support deaf dogs both in a kennel environment and how they move into their new homes. They explore how communication through visual and tactile cues can replace verbal signals, helping dogs feel secure and understood. The conversation highlights the importance of building a trusting relationship, creating consistency between caregivers, and offering gentle, structured support during transition. Caroline gives us some amazing practical tips as well as helping us possibly challenge our perceptions!

About Caroline Lewis
Caroline is the founder of Help at Hand Dog Behaviour, and Deaf Not Difficult. a member of International Companion Animal Network and the Dog Welfare Alliance and an expert witness. All meaning she is passionate about ethical force free methods, whilst ensuring standards are high for the welfare of dogs.

Whilst Caroline works with all dogs of all ages, she is known for the work she does in and around rescue centres advising on rehabilitation, behaviour, rehoming and always ensuring dogs are understood including those displaying complex behaviours. Combined with a huge passion for deaf dogs, running courses in the UK and internationally to remove the misconceptions, and show how amazing they are.

14/05/2025

The benefits of having a dog are proven on many levels for our mental, emotional and physical wellbeing.

Take time out to just be with your dog, and enjoy the natural bond that develops if we let it.

Image courtesy of: https://www.canineassistedlearning.com/

09/05/2025

As you can see, if a dog can not hear - the body has many abilities to adapt to what is no longer working.

The next time your dog stops and looks at the ground, starts to dig at a spot, sticks their nose deep in to the grass sniffing hard, they may have felt vibration, smelt something and are investigating.

Once we understand our dogs are multi sensory in every way you can think of, then you can let them be curious and be the dog they naturally are.

Become observant around what your dogs are naturally doing and sensing - it is not all about fast movement, play, distraction.

08/05/2025

Not only can dogs hear the sound of thunder way before we do, they pick up the changes in the air pressure and know the weather is changing.

As the pressure lowers, the scent begins to drop nearer the ground. So if you have noticed changes in your dog's behaviour, see them sniffing the air, they seem stiffer with their joint problems etc - these can all be signs they are picking up changes that we are unable to.

So, never think your dog is stupid or being difficult - your dog is so super sensitive to the atmosphere in a way we are unable to comprehend. Let them guide you. I do with my dog Morris. He is deaf, with the most incredible sense of smell - his behaviour changes two hours before a storm.

06/05/2025

The ear flaps are really important for a dog -

They channel sound waves down in to the inner ear, so aid hearing.

They are made up of 18 different muscles that create important movement for communication between them and other dogs and of course ourselves.

Look after them, do not pull them, do not crop them.

02/05/2025

Dogs Eyes

It is always good to understand a little of how our dogs senses work.

Dogs see moving objects much better than non moving, and they have 10-20 times greater motion sensitivity than humans.

They have a greater field of vision than we do, and can see better in the dark.

Dogs can pick up on small changes in body posture and movement. This is why our own slower pace on a walk is really important. It gives them time to process and work out what is happening.

01/05/2025

Having Respect for Animals Makes Us Better Humans - Dr Jane Goodall.

Respect means having regard for the feelings, wishes, or rights of others.

There really should be no other way of being.

27/04/2025

Today is National Pet Parent Day!
It's time to celebrate everyone out there who treasures their pets, does everything they can for them, loves them unconditionally, puts their needs first and makes every moment count.

26/04/2025

It is National Sense of Smell Day!

This is such an important sense, and something that our dogs excel at with up to 300 million olfactory receptors....to give you an idea, we only have up to 6 million!

There is no doubt at all that when a dog has one sense that does not work such as hearing, we see other senses (in particular sense of smell) becoming super powered!

Morris regularly tracks tiny insects that I can only just see.

It is essential to let you dogs sniff and use their nose. Set up sniffy mental enrichment - treat searches, sniffy items for other animals, places you have been to, different experiences. Why not learn scentwork too.

Enabling your dog to sniff on a walk is like going to school - they are constantly learning and exploring their new environment. Let them do it!

It is a polite calming signal between dogs and towards ourselves, also being used when they need a moment to process.

Sniffing helps dogs to relax, reduces stress, lowers heart rate. It has massive benefits. This is so important for our adolescent dogs.

So, let your dog sniff - it is essential for their mental and physical wellbeing.

25/04/2025

Day 25 - Adolescence in Dogs
Ensuring an adolescent dog has the correct stimulation both mentally and physically, is really important for their overall wellbeing, and ability to develop into the balanced dog we wish for.

Encouraging your adolescent dog to chase after balls, frisbees etc, particularly over long distances and repetitively can without doubt lead to problems mentally and physically.

They are still growing physically so you could damage joints. Ball play can also lead to obsessive behaviours and a very heightened chase instinct. We can also see the dog struggle to relax and stop moving.

Why not try hiding the ball and encouraging them to seek and sniff it out instead. Look at other mental enrichment activities as well.

This excellent sheet is from Canine Arthritis Management, and I highly recommend you follow them: https://www.facebook.com/CAMarthritis

22/04/2025

The environment your dog comes from has a huge impact on its mental, physical and emotional welfare.
This kind of start in life can impact how a dog handles that developmental phase of adolescence.

It means we are to be calm, consistent, take our time and enjoy being part of the dogs recovery as it grows up. Don't set your expectations high to start with, instead enjoy helping the dog realise the world is a good place.

This picture is from the UK - last week - and over 80 dogs were discovered at the property.

Let that sink in for a moment.

Right now, the UK is experiencing a crisis in rescue - yet people still breed. But, not many people are wanting the puppies so these kind of situations (which have always been there in the UK) are now more likely to happen.

If you want a puppy go to a rescue - because trust me, they do have plenty of puppies and young dogs now, of all breeds.
We need to follow what some other countries do - no breeding from dogs unless they have won a competition, their health is checked, proper licensing and checks, a limit to what can be charged...and there aren't dogs in rescue. Now wouldn't that be a great solution!

Maybe now the UK will stop hiding these situations under a very large rug!

20/04/2025

Happy Easter everyone
Don't forget your lovely dogs deserve treats too today...well every day, but definitely today when we eat lots!