Deaf With Bad Knees

Heidi might come for a trial visit, a long stay, or live with us until she dies. She is totally deaf and has had a knee surgery. Needless to say she might fit in, or might have, or maybe will. Perhaps we will give it a try. He Who Must Be Obeyed is strongly against it. What do they think we are, a nursing home? Do we know sign language? No. What if she or pees in her bed? What then?

Yesterday I contacted the poodle rescue folks in Omaha and a nice volunteer came out this afternoon, in spite of the ice on the roads and the predicted 15 inch snowfall. She seemed a little anxious to get Heidi placed in the "Seniors for Seniors" program. We would have plenty of support, get boarding if we went on a vacation, and receive all sorts of advice on the care and feeding of this old deaf dog with a bad knee. It sounds like a great way to get a dog well out of the puppy stage. But there are a lot of "buts."

How does one communicate with a deaf dog? I had kind of hoped for one I could boss around. That would be out, forget the baby talk. That would fall on deaf ears, so to speak. How does a mini poodle get about in 15 inches of snow with a bad knee? The hearing problem is one thing, but I am not much for a snapper who gets alarmed when approached from the back. That must happen quite a lot unless she stands around with her back to the wall. Even I am a bit skeptical.

Shoot.