Owning a Dog When You Have Tinnitus?

[JohnAdams]

I'm sorry but if you need a bark-shocking collar for your dog then you don't need a dog.

 

[BobbyH]

I'm sorry but if you need a bark-shocking collar for your dog then you don't need a dog.

I agree with you 100% and hope this isn't a response to my post about training a dog to communicate differently. Actually, when training dogs for veterans with PTSD, they are trained as a team. The dog is never shocked or otherwise abused. At any rate, if you didn't mean me, all is good. And, again, I agree with you 100% about bark-shocking collars

 

[Christophe_85]

So I am a little afraid of animals, but recently my parents thought that they should get me a dog since I really wanted an elephant, but they compromised and said...let's go for a dog. But won't a dog barking really bother my Tinnitus? How do you handle the unpredictability of dogs barking in your face when you reach down to hug it?

Hello,

You can educate your dog as he/she doesn't bark all the time for no reason...

One very good thing is going to dog class to help socialise your dog with other dogs and people...

But I think this is a very good idea as he/she will give lots of love and tenderness !

 

[Bill Bauer]

I'm sorry but if you need a bark-shocking collar for your dog then you don't need a dog.

There is something to what you said, however what about a person who gets a dog, only to discover that it is terrorizing his neighbours with its constant barking? What should that person do: ignore the neighbours and their need to enjoy their property, euthanize the dog, or get a bark-shocking collar?

 

[JohnAdams]

There is something to what you said, however what about a person who gets a dog, only to discover that it is terrorizing his neighbours with its constant barking? What should that person do: ignore the neighbours and their need to enjoy their property, euthanize the dog, or get a bark-shocking collar?

You can train a dog without high voltage shocks to the neck.

 

[Bill Bauer]

You can train a dog without high voltage shocks to the neck.

Good point. I thought that it would take many months to train a dog to stop barking, but now that I think of it, this wouldn't be a problem in most circumstances (except when the owner suffers from T).

 

[kelpiemsp]

@coffee_girl I've grown up with both dogs and tinnitus. There does not exist a T volume that Would ever prevent me from having a dog. Yes a dogs bark can be loud, but when measured on an accurate dB meter, it's only spending several milliseconds at peak dB. But a dog can do sooooooooo much for stress reduction, and happiness. A dog isn't going to damage your hearing, but what they can teach you is so much more. Their companionship is one of the greatest assets in this life.

 

[Michael B]

View attachment 20650

Funny!

 

[Bill Bauer]

There does not exist a T volume that Would ever prevent me from having a dog. Yes a dogs bark can be loud, but when measured on an accurate dB meter, it's only spending several milliseconds at peak dB.

I remember reading a post where someone described getting T after a dog barked next to his ear. I am not the only one who remembers that post (or a similar post):

Yes somebody got t due to his dog barking but his dog barked right beside his ears.

Unfortunately, my quick search hasn't revealed the original post.

 

[Alue]

If you don't want to get a cat, you can get your new dog one of those collars that get them to not bark... It is not nice for the dog, but it will bother the dog less than T will bother you if the dog were to bark into your ear and restart your T again.

Or you can train the dog to not bark. Shock collar is probably quicker, though.

A side note: I like dogs, but I hate people that don't train their dogs at all.

 

[Jonstorm]

I think its very likely that if people get tinnitus spikes from relatively low dB and short lived dog barks that it is going to be anxiety spikes not true hearing damage. Unless you get some huge beast of a dog I guess. The barking is annoying but not hearing threat in loudness. I have 2 pugs and their bark is especially poor lol

 

[Imshael]

@coffee_girl there are breeds that are known for being quiet, if I remember correctly Basenji is known for this. Just google "breeds that don't bark" or something like that, and you will find dogs that might suit you. Good luck!

 

[Bill Bauer]

I think its very likely that if people get tinnitus spikes from relatively low dB and short lived dog barks that it is going to be anxiety spikes not true hearing damage.

One can get a T spike as a result of exposure to mild noise (while not having any anxiety and not having any hearing damage). There doesn't need to be any hearing damage for one to get permanent T. Also, when the spike is permanent, it obviously can't be due to anxiety.

 

[kelpiemsp]

One can get a T spike as a result of exposure to mild noise (while not having any anxiety and not having any hearing damage). There doesn't need to be any hearing damage for one to get permanent T. Also, when the spike is permanent, it obviously can't be due to anxiety.

You can absolutely get a permanent spike due to anxiety.

 

[Bill Bauer]

You can absolutely get a permanent spike due to anxiety.

In the long run, your anxiety will return to its baseline. So how can T caused by anxiety not return to Its baseline?

 

[TuneOut]

In the long run, your anxiety will return to its baseline. So how can T caused by anxiety not return to Its baseline?

Once the deed is done it's done. Stress may cause a lasting damage/alteration to the ears or brain.

 

[Bill Bauer]

Stress may cause a lasting damage/alteration to the ears or brain.

I can't fathom how that would work.

 

[TuneOut]

I can't fathom how that would work.

Here's a random article that might provide some insight on the mechanisms of stress-induced damage. It shows benefits of aspirin, funny enough.

-

Aspirin inhibits stress-induced increase in plasma glutamate, brain oxidative damage and ATP fall in rats

Our present findings confirm that acute immobilisation stress is able to induce the pro-oxidant, inflammatory enzyme iNOS in rat brain and the release of the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-a; moreover, we now show that these effects are accompanied by an increase in plasma glutamate concentration, by the induction of an oxidative status determined by an increase in lipid peroxidation and a reduction in reduced glutathione and by a decrease in brain ATP levels.

Interestingly, we also demonstrate that the NSAID aspirin is able to reduce all these effects induced by stress, an effect that aspirin exerts at concentrations corresponding to antithrombotic-analgesic doses, with possible therapeutic implications.

 

[Manny]

Is

Comfy, cute, low maintenance, and comes housebroken.
Who here /cat/?
View attachment 20630

this a real picture? Omigosh what a CUTIE! Now I want a cat!!

 

[Bill Bauer]

Is

this a real picture? Omigosh what a CUTIE! Now I want a cat!!

That image shows evidence of some Photoshop touching up of the eyes and the mouth...

 

[threefirefour]

That image shows evidence of some Photoshop touching up of the eyes and the mouth...

I think it is shopped. Cats "smile" but it's not really an actual smile. It's more of when they're really content, they tilt their heads slightly upward, revealing more underlip.

 

[Sarah200]

@coffee_girl

I know this is an old thread but not only do I own a dog as you may know and have tinnitus but before I started studying physiotherapy I qualified as a dog behaviorist. I know a LOT about dogs but my area of expertise is breeds so I wondered if you have already got one or if you're still thinking of getting one as I know a lot about breeds and know which ones are the quiet ones. So could help you not only with a list of breeds that would suit your tinnitus but also how you can train your dog to not bark.

 

[coffee_girl]

@coffee_girl

I know this is an old thread but not only do I own a dog as you may know and have tinnitus but before I started studying physiotherapy I qualified as a dog behaviorist. I know a LOT about dogs but my area of expertise is breeds so I wondered if you have already got one or if you're still thinking of getting one as I know a lot about breeds and know which ones are the quiet ones. So could help you not only with a list of breeds that would suit your tinnitus but also how you can train your dog to not bark.

Hey there, thank you for the kind words. I do have a dog now and she is a yorkie, she used to bark a lot but now i realize that it is only when she really needs something. It's always "I want water" or "I have to poop", so when she barks at me i do one or the other and she stops barking. Her barking used to always hurt my ears but now i don't let her sit next to me on the couch any more, she still sleeps in bed with me but she doesn't bark when she's there. Instead, she licks my face in the morning to get me up and take her out.
Definitely love her to pieces, she is only 4 months old and looks like a little bear lol

 

[AZeurotuner]

Hey there, thank you for the kind words. I do have a dog now and she is a yorkie, she used to bark a lot but now i realize that it is only when she really needs something. It's always "I want water" or "I have to poop", so when she barks at me i do one or the other and she stops barking. Her barking used to always hurt my ears but now i don't let her sit next to me on the couch any more, she still sleeps in bed with me but she doesn't bark when she's there. Instead, she licks my face in the morning to get me up and take her out.
Definitely love her to pieces, she is only 4 months old and looks like a little bear lol

If you reward your dog for bad behavior, the behavior will continue. Instead ignore the barking, and reward her with praise and treats when she stops. It will be rough for a little while, but eventually she will understand that she is not the boss, you are.

 

[JohnAdams]

do not get a dog if you don't already have one.

 

[coffee_girl]

If you reward your dog for bad behavior, the behavior will continue. Instead ignore the barking, and reward her with praise and treats when she stops. It will be rough for a little while, but eventually she will understand that she is not the boss, you are.

Yep i've been doing pretty good with this, the whole idea is to be gentle but firm. She's doing extremely well =]

 

[Martin G]

It's always "I want water" or "I have to poop", so when she barks at me i do one or the other and she stops barking.

Seems strange that your drinking or pooping would make your dog stop barking.

Still, I guess . . . whatever it takes!

 

[MuffinMan]

Not sure if you are serious about the elephant.....

I wish to a have a lovebird pet or some other small parrot species (as a free wandering pet, not a caged one)

 

[Sarah200]

She's still just a pup and pups can seem like they're doing great but she will in the next month or so hit the teenage stage which is hell for most owners. It's when your well behaved puppy starts testing you to see what she can and can't get away with, she will start ignoring you and that will include barking. You have to be consistent and only reward her for good behaviour and ignore bad behavior. You need to keep going with her training now while she's still a pup as she's like a sponge right now and will soak everything you train her.

But when she hits the teenage stage keep calm and be consistent with your training. Yorkies are known barkers and many are given away due to barking so please keep working on it as many start barking at everything in the teenage stage.

My Bernese has a command when he hears something or sees something I allow three barks and no more. Once he's done the third I say thank you and he stops. I reward him immediately for stopping.

When you say her bark used to hurt your ears that is because Yorkies have high pitched barks where Berneses for example have deeper barks which are easier on the ear. I can't work as a behaviourist because of my tinnitus i could not work with small dogs as when I'm near them they're the only ones who hurt my ears but large dogs I'm ok with but my ears prefer giant breeds as they have a much deeper bark and my ears like sighthounds as they hardly ever bark.

 

[Nonna]

I have 7 dogs that will sleep 22hrs out of everyday as long as the Lucy show is on. If they're outside in the pen they will bark if the wind blows.
My pekingese is louder than my lab.