tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2974406546323301344.post4079586318748515970..comments2023-04-08T06:06:13.055-07:00Comments on Notes from the Pens: Brownie's HearingAya Katzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07830585801297506770noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2974406546323301344.post-61081429542578381612016-12-18T17:55:52.669-08:002016-12-18T17:55:52.669-08:00Brownie has always had a sweet disposition, and he...Brownie has always had a sweet disposition, and he tries to do as told, but he has trouble understanding what we say. Now that he is almost completely deaf, it's no wonder.<br /><br />I am glad you have noticed the different degrees of language comprehension that your dogs and cats have had, Julia. Some people just take it for granted that their understanding is minimal, just because they cannot speak. Aya Katzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07830585801297506770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2974406546323301344.post-11412354132861663842016-12-18T09:19:35.676-08:002016-12-18T09:19:35.676-08:00I had always thought Brownie looked docile in vide...I had always thought Brownie looked docile in videos, but maybe some of this is because he is now deaf, and has to gather more visual information before acting. I used to have a chocolate lab when I was growing up, and she was extremely hyperactive, even after training her. Her hearing was okay, but I always noticed Buster, the Siberian Husky could detect sounds more distinctly. It actually became a big problem when our neighbor kids were harassing him, and shouting things to make him bark. I would literally have to go out there every five minutes to calm him down. Their mom Lady actually had wonderful language comprehension. Sometimes I would want to watch the end of the show before I walked her, and I would tell her to wait. She would actually get up and come to me with the cue of the ending credit music. Irina's language comprehension is also progressing as well. When I count 1. 2. 3...she nows this means to make a big jump across furniture. She could not jump when we first got her, so it quite capitivating to now see her fly through the air. Also, when she is across the room and I tell her I need some kitty cat love, she will come to me and start rubbing against my legs and hands.Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11147781152448695481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2974406546323301344.post-72450790003816330752016-12-15T16:31:15.943-08:002016-12-15T16:31:15.943-08:00Hi,Kathy. We usually don't hold full blown hea...Hi,Kathy. We usually don't hold full blown hearings to deal with doggy misconduct -- but that was an interesting guess about the title. Actually, Brownie is very sweet and hardly ever does anything wrong. He won't even come inside when the door is open, unless he is sure he is allowed to. Which is why his not responding to my giving him verbal permission has been so strange. I think this is actually proof of sorts that most dogs do understand human language, when we notice such deficits for one who can't hear. Because if it were all based on non-verbal cues, at least when he is looking at me and I am calling him, he ought to know I want him to come in. But he needs me to touch him and gesture very explicitly now. Aya Katzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07830585801297506770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2974406546323301344.post-14588946749194680242016-12-15T13:55:12.068-08:002016-12-15T13:55:12.068-08:00When I first read the title of this post, I though...When I first read the title of this post, I thought, 'uh-oh, Brownie is having a trial- what did he do?' HA! Poor Brownie - it does have to be a little scary living in a world where you can't hear everything - it would scare the living daylights out of me to have someone suddenly touch me on my back, if I hadn't heard them coming and knew who it was.<br />I find it so fascinating that many dogs DO have great language comprehension. Nikki has learned many commands, as expected, but it goes beyond that. She seems to know when Bob and I are talking about her, and even when we try our best to avoid certain words (ie, "WALK", "TOY" or "TREAT", "FOOD", etc.), she seems to catch on quickly to what we are referring. Nikkis Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04900207220789667368noreply@blogger.com