New puppy, fireworks and a show for the neighbours!

candygirl

If it's any consolation deafness isn't common in labs, as much a sit is in boxers, dalmatians etc.I used to breed labs and have never heard of a deaf one.Hope he isn't deaf hun, but i know how hard this must be for you at the moment.Please ring the breeder asap though, as they will need to know that this is the situation Please consider keeping him in any case, even though it could be a challenge, it will be rewarding.xx

pboae

I know an excellent trainer who specialises in deaf dogs, she has collies, but I would imagine the basics are the same whatever the breed. I don't know if she is in your area, but I am sure she would answer any questions you have. If you would like to contact her the easiest way is through http://www.dogsey.com/ where she posts as 'Patch'.

candygirl

Oooh i'm a long standing member of Dogsey, but I don't post as much nowadays;)

zebidee1

We've been doing some 'testing' this morning and it seems the pup isn't totally deaf as he can hear a squeaky toy but he has no idea which direction the sound is coming from. It takes him a long time to suss it out and he has to go towards it in stages.

He can't hear the doorbell or his food bowl being rattled or our voices so it looks as though he can hear a particular frequency but not others.

I spoke to the breeder who was very kind and assured me if we did return him she would not get him put down (I'd read on the net sometimes this happens) and that she had a lab pup left from another litter we could have instead if we wanted.

I have no idea what to do. I've read a fair bit since last night and it's obviously a problem that can be coped with given time and determination, but he'll never be the pup that the children wanted/expected to play with in the 'normal' way. He's in our hearts already though so the thought of swapping him makes me feels so deperately upset.

My OH (with his male less emotional view) is swaying more towards swapping him as he is concerned that the dog, when he's big, will not be very easily managed by our children and they wont be able to let him off the lead to run about with etc.

I made an appointment with a BAER testing centre but it's not until next Wed and it's hundreds of miles away from us so Lord knows how I'm going to get there with the logistics of kids/school etc.

I need to make a decision about the pup before the end of today as the breeder cant keep the other pup available for too long as she has other people asking about him.

JennyW_2

it would be very sad if he was returned because he was deaf, plus I'd be worried what would happen to him plus I cant believe a dog would be destroyed purely because he was deaf :eek:

zebidee1

JennyW wrote: »

it would be very sad if he was returned because he was deaf

Without doubt. It makes me feel I'm a horrible person for even thinking about it.

candygirl

Don't return him, and I know you're not thinking of doing this for financial reasons, but maybe the trainer could give you a partial refund which could go towards any specail training classes he might need.I would have offered any of my puppy buyers the option to return the pup, or a partial refund and keep the pup.
Labs are usually hip scored and eye tested but not routinely BAER tested as deafness isn't a common problem in the breed, so your breeeder wouldn't know this was a possibility.
Incidentally were the sire and dam hip and eye checked?

Merlot

I'm going to say to return him, purely because the pup will require so much time and you mentioned that you have a disabled person in the family.

I know this is not going to be popular, but I returned my cavalier King Charles pup to the breeder after a couple of months, I took him to the vets on numerous occasions and it was discovered that he had a serious heart murmur, its very common in the CKC, but I was reassured by the breeder that he had been checked out and I paid an awful lot of money for him £700, and I wanted to breed from him, which I was told from the vet not to do so. The breeder has since re-homed him FOC, and I am now looking for another Cavalier King Charles pup. I was heart broken and still miss him, my Daughter talks about him constantly but she is aware of why we made the decision, the vet did say, due to the severity of the heart murmur, he wouldn't have lived beyond 5 or 6.

I wish you well in trying to make the very difficult decision.

zebidee1

Breeder has just called to say she has queried this with her vet and he says it's very very unlikely the pup is deaf, he thinks he's just distracted and not listening. We had already thought of that, and tested him at quiet times when he was stitting/lying down himself with no-one else in the room.

I am waiting for my vet to call me back as I want to query if the pup's hearing is set at this age or if it is still developing.

I just bought a clicker this morning to see if he can hear that (since he heard the squeaky toy) but he's just laid down on his bed and I stood above him about 3 feet away from his ear and clicked and nothing. Not even a twitch.

So it looks to me that the only thing he can hear is a loud squeak and even then he can't pinpoint where it's coming from.

Just for the record....(and I know what you mean candygirl so this isn't as a reply to you)......I don't give a toss about the money. If it came to it, I would give him back with no refund if need be. Also, as far as I am aware there are only a handful of classes in a 30 mile radius of us and none cater for deaf dogs, but that info came from a vet's assistant so I'd need to check it out.

We wanted a pet the children could freely interact with and who would be a companion for the disabled person in our family, not a pet who itself would need special care or training. And yes, I feel such a heel for saying that. Especially when he looks at me.

supermezzo

Sounds a dreadful situation to be in, but if I were in your position I would be taking him back. I guess that you have to do what's best for all of you but right now, it sounds as though he needs more than it's possible for you to give him (sounds like you've already got your hands full).
But I don't envy you your situation or decision as I can only imagine how hard it's going to be for all of you, whatever your decision in the end.
Best of luck.