Living with and training a deaf dog or cat can be a greater challenge than is
the case with their hearing brethren. The experience is easier with animals
that lose hearing after normal postnatal auditory development has occurred
than it is with animals with congenital deafness. Several resources have been
published for owners of deaf pets that provide advice in dealing with the
issues that these animals raise (Becker, 1997; Eaton, 2005; Senechal, 2009).
People choosing to adopt a pet that is deaf will benefit from an understanding
of the behaviors that might be anticipated and with guidance in the life
course that their pet will follow.
