How to tell if your dog is deaf?

Hearing loss in dogs is more common than many owners expect, and spotting it early changes how you keep a dog safe, how you train, and how you bond. This guide walks through why it matters, quick signs to watch for, the basic biology behind hearing, what prompts loss, urgent red flags, safe home checks, what a vet will do, and practical ways to live well with a deaf or hard-of-hearing dog.

Why your dog’s hearing matters: safety, behavior, and bonding

If you bring a dog into your life—whether a puppy from a breeder, a rescued senior, or a foster from a shelter—knowing about hearing matters right away. I typically see people miss subtle decline until it affects safety: a dog that used to come back when called suddenly ignores a car horn or fails to respond to an off-leash recall. That gap has everyday consequences around roads, during training, and in multi-dog households where cues are shared.

Recognizing hearing loss early also helps keep the dog comfortable. If a dog stops reacting to noisy environments, that change may mean altered enrichment, different training approaches, and sometimes veterinary treatment. For caretakers of older dogs or litters from breeds with a known genetic risk, routine checks can prevent dangerous situations and reduce stress for both dog and owner. Finally, the emotional impact is real: owners can feel frustrated and dogs can become anxious if communication channels change. Adjusting expectations and learning new ways to connect typically strengthens the relationship rather than weakening it.

Can my dog hear? How to tell at a glance

The fastest practical summary is this: a dog that consistently fails to respond to sounds it used to notice, or to everyday noises like doorbells, clapping, or your calls, may have hearing loss. Look for a pattern rather than a single missed cue—the dog may be distracted or choosing to ignore you in some situations. True deafness tends to show across settings and people; ignoring is usually context-dependent.

Signs most owners spot include a lack of startle at sudden sounds, sleeping through noise, not reacting to the owner calling from another room, and difficulty learning verbal cues. Partial loss is common—your dog might hear low-frequency sounds (heavy footsteps, rumbling engines) but miss high-pitched whistles or claps—while complete deafness means no reliable response to sound. When in doubt, conduct simple home checks described below or consult your veterinarian for objective testing.

Inside canine hearing: anatomy, range, and how dogs process sound

Hearing is a chain of events. Sound waves first hit the outer ear (the pinna and ear canal), where they’re funneled to the eardrum. Vibrations pass through the middle ear bones and reach the inner ear, where tiny hair cells translate vibrations into electrical signals. Those signals travel along the auditory nerve to the brainstem and auditory centers for interpretation. If any link in that chain is damaged, hearing can be reduced or lost.

The auditory nerve and brainstem processing are especially important for detecting direction and sharpness of sounds; degeneration there may not show as obvious ear disease but can still cause significant hearing decline. Causes can be present at birth—some coat colors and genes are linked to congenital deafness—or acquired later from repeated infections, age-related wear, trauma, or exposure to toxic drugs. I generally say a cause is “likely linked to” a given factor unless testing shows otherwise, because multiple issues can overlap.

Everyday situations that often reveal hearing loss

Age-related hearing decline is the most frequent scenario I encounter: like humans, many dogs experience gradual loss of inner ear hair-cell function as they age. That decline may go unnoticed at first because dogs compensate with vision and smell. Sudden hearing loss can follow severe middle or inner ear infections, head trauma, or exposure to certain medications that are potentially toxic to the ear; repeated untreated ear infections also increase risk.

Environmental contributors matter too. Chronic loud noise—constant urban traffic, kennel environments with prolonged barking, or repeated exposure to fireworks—may damage the ear over time. Breed predispositions exist; for instance, Merle and piebald coat patterns are often discussed in relation to congenital deafness in some breeds. I recommend that breeders and adopters check pedigrees and ask about hearing tests where relevant.

Warning signs that require immediate attention

Some changes need immediate veterinary attention. If a dog suddenly stops responding on one side but still reacts on the other, that unilateral change can suggest sudden damage or severe ear disease. If hearing loss appears at the same time as signs of pain—ear rubbing, head tilt, shaking, discharge, bad smell, bleeding, or reluctance to have the ear touched—seek care promptly; untreated infection can progress and become serious.

Neurological or balance problems combined with hearing changes are also urgent. Symptoms like circling, stumbling, severe head tilt, falling, or fainting may indicate inner-ear disease affecting the vestibular system or a central nervous system problem. These situations often require rapid diagnostics and treatment to prevent longer-term complications.

How to test your dog’s hearing at home—simple, safe checks

Before an appointment, you can run safe, repeatable checks so your vet has useful notes. Do not shout near the dog’s ear or startle it in ways that could cause stress or defensive reactions; the goal is calm, objective observation. Begin with a visual startle test: while the dog is relaxed and not looking directly at you, make a neutral, non-threatening noise—snap fingers behind them at arm’s length, or drop a set of keys on a soft surface—and watch for ear movement, head turn, a pause, or a blink. Repeat this from different angles and distances, recording what you see.

A two-person hidden-sound test is helpful. One person keeps the dog facing away or gently distracted with a treat, while the other quietly makes a sound out of sight—a low hand clap, a quiet whistle, or crinkle of paper—and notes whether the dog turns toward the sound. Vary pitch: high-pitched whistles or squeaky toys versus low-frequency sounds like stomping. If the dog reacts to low but not high sounds, that pattern may suggest partial loss at certain frequencies.

Document results consistently: note the environment, distance, angle, time of day, and the dog’s attention level. Perform each test several times across different settings; a single missed response can be normal. Avoid startling the dog with sudden loud noises or forcing tests if the dog seems anxious—these checks are for gathering data, not for training or punishment.

What to expect at the vet: professional hearing tests and diagnoses

A vet will start with an ear exam using an otoscope to look for wax buildup, foreign bodies, inflammation, or ruptured eardrums. They may take samples for cytology or culture if infections or mites are suspected. Treatable issues like outer or middle ear infections can often restore hearing partly or completely if addressed early, so this exam is an important first step.

Objective confirmation usually involves BAER testing, which measures brainstem auditory responses to clicks or tones. It’s the most reliable way to determine whether sound signals are reaching the brain and to gauge the degree and side of loss. BAER testing is often done by veterinary neurologists or at specialty practices and may require light sedation for accuracy and the dog’s comfort.

Depending on findings, your vet may recommend bloodwork, thyroid testing, or imaging such as CT or MRI to look for systemic problems or structural issues in the ear or skull. Treatment options vary: infections get targeted medications, some obstructions can be removed surgically, and certain inflammatory conditions may respond to steroid therapy. When loss is permanent, the focus shifts to rehabilitation and behavioral adjustments.

Living and training with a deaf dog: practical strategies that work

Deaf dogs learn very well with consistent visual cues. I teach owners to keep a small, clearly defined set of hand signals for sit, come, stay, and other commands, and to use the same signal every time. Pairing signals with a conditioned vibration cue—such as gently tapping the shoulder or using a vibration pager—can get a dog’s attention without startling it. Rewarding immediately with treats or touch reinforces the association.

Safety adjustments are crucial. A reliable enclosed area and walk-on-leash policy near roads are non-negotiable for dogs with hearing loss; even a deaf dog may bolt toward an interesting sound it can’t hear, so physical containment matters. Socialization remains important but should be managed: some hearing dogs may react unpredictably to a dog that doesn’t respond to vocal signals, so controlled introductions are best.

Enrichment that relies on other senses—scent games, puzzle feeders, tactile play—keeps a deaf dog engaged. If behavior changes (increased anxiety, reactivity, or confusion), consult a behaviorist experienced with deaf dogs; these issues are often manageable with adjustments to routine and training methods.

Gear and safety tools to help a deaf dog thrive

Certain tools make daily life safer and clearer for a deaf dog. Vibration or pager collars, when used humanely and set to a gentle setting, can be excellent for attention-getting; I always advise conditioning the vibration as a benign pre-cue so the dog learns to turn and look for a hand signal or treat. High-visibility leashes, LED collars, and secure gates help with safety in low light or crowded areas.

Sound-to-light devices—doorbell adapters that flash a lamp, or phone apps that trigger visual alerts—help the household function without relying on the dog hearing something. Avoid devices that apply pain or intimidation. Shock collars are unnecessary and can increase anxiety; they replace training rather than support communication and are not recommended for deaf dogs. Use equipment as an aid, not a substitute for consistent training and supervision.

Sources, studies, and resources for further reading

• American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) – “Hearing Loss in Animals” guidance and owner resources
• Merck Veterinary Manual – “Hearing Loss and Deafness in Dogs” and related ear disease chapters
• American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) consensus statements on BAER testing protocols
• International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC) – resources on training deaf dogs
• Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine – selected papers on ototoxicity and age-related canine hearing loss