Rack the McNab SuperDog Going Deaf Means Entertaining Changes and Opportunities

Ok, so he's old.  13 is old for a dog.  McNabs will normally get around 16 so we should have a few more years left in him.

But yes, he is starting to slow down, show his age.  Aren't we all?

I am finding that while he's older, there are things I can get away with that I could not before.

First of all, he seems to be past that cancer scare we had about a year back.  Whew, right?  I am watching every move, every misstep. 

He is a herding dog after all, living in an urban environment.  If you have one, and you are not taking your dog for very long walks, you are doing them and yourself a disservice.

When I got Lettie, my prior Herding SuperDog, I immediately lost 5 pounds.  She demanded walks, and she would get them.  I was already walking all over Center City Philadelphia to and from trains so the extra four walks a day she would get just put the icing on the cake.

Yes, your herding dog needs four walks a day and I bet I could say that about any other breed of dog.

If you have someone telling you that your high drive dog does not belong in your suburban home, and you are sitting on the couch every day, you probably do need one.  In other words, Get Up And Do Something For Crying Out Loud!

Rack, and Lettie before him both, had the benefit of where I lived.   I am extremely active and I think nothing of walking four miles a day through the business districts I prefer to live near.

There is a good reason for that.  Mental Stimulation.  Think of it as Dog Enrichment.  Seriously.  He shows his preferences for where to go on one of these stupidly long walks I take him on.  Through the parking lots to visit people sitting at the bar near the house.  Greeting people.  Getting attention.

I always leave extra time for us to get around at the 5pm walk because he drags me through the bar if he has a choice just to meet up with people.  I'm nervous because bars mean alcohol but so far his winning smile has saved him.

Mental Stimulation is the key to keeping any dog, especially a high drive herding dog.

Sure I repeat myself but you get what you pay for.  Since there isn't a tip jar here, I'll move on.

Second, our boy is losing his hearing.  As in not quite deaf as a post but he is near that fence line.

Oh sure, I can still get his attention.  High Pitched Noises he can hear.  So me, all 6'4"/193CM and 190 Pounds/85KG of me making Mickey Mouse sounds is not generally going to happen but a high pitched "BIP!" will bring him around.

But what I am finding is a relief.  I am usually pressed for time.  Who isn't these days.  Rack's normal activity was to be let out of the back door and wander around.  He would watch me and if I went into the house, he'd stop what he was doing and come in.

Useful, but having that shadow behavior is a little counter productive.   I can't have your food in the bowl if you are stressed about getting out to water my hibiscus hedge, can I?

Different now.  He can't hear me go back into the house so I sneak in, replace water and food, and go about my own business. 

After all, he got to water the hibiscus, I need to as well.

I am finding it easier to get him into the yard and let him do his thing, even if he prefers me outside with him.

Third, it means for a quieter house.  No extreme barking at the door because the neighborhood stray cat has been heard.  The delivery truck isn't quite so annoying if you can't hear it.  Right now, he's laying at the door.  Snoring.  I have been able to go to and from the kitchen, grab snacks, coffee, and set things up on the table with him never rousing.

I could get used to this even if I do look ridiculous talking like Mickey Mouse.

Well he can't hear that anyway, can he. 

Most likely not.  When I talk to him and he did have hearing, he would wag his tail.  Now I suspect he sees me move my mouth and he's hearing Tinnitus.

There are good hearing days and bad ones.  This is a bad one.   The bells on the clocks are going off and he snored right through them.

I'll allow that.  It's allowing me to get my own things done.  Better than being summoned to the back door because he's ringing the bells I have tied on there for just that purpose.  I am able to take the camera out and squeeze off a few pictures without him knowing I am anywhere near.

It's all about going with the flow.  Sure, he's hard of hearing.  He may be deaf as a post.  But he's my shadow.  We're in the Bonus Years and I will look forward to riding this wave as long as I can.

For now, he's letting things happen.  The minute I get out of this chair, he'll be up and asking for that hibiscus again.

Oh wait... there we go.  At the door!