I can't HEAR you!

Photos posted courtesy of Merci's furever family

     Merci's Furever Mommy did not plan on adopting her.  Fara was already very busy with her own dogs, and other foster dogs as well.  Maxx, a large German Shepherd, Milly, the Queen-Bee-Boxer of the house, and Finnegan, a 50/50 Miniature Schnauzer Jack Russell Terrier mix were already quite comfortable in the Robinson home.

     Merci is an adorable mix that appears to be part Dalmatian and part American Pit Bull Terrier.  She was surrendered because her former owners thought she was "stupid" and "wouldn't listen".  It didn't take any time at all for Fara, an experienced foster Mom, to realize that Merci was quite clever, and quite deaf.

     This lack of hearing may seem like a handicap to some; indeed it seemed an insurmountable problem for her original owners.  The other foster puppies were getting adopted left and right from Fara's home.  Merci just kept on getting passed over.  Fara stated "Puppies are normally adopted out very quickly – especially ones as beautiful and unique looking as our girl, but we had Merci for 7 months before I realized that I just couldn’t stand to part with her and Doug and I adopted her for ourselves.   No one wanted a 'damaged' puppy."

Merci and her buddy Finnegan

     From the beginning, Merci got along fine with the other dogs in the household.  This is quite fortunate since there were up to 10 other fosters in the home at a time, in addition to the three "House Dogs" Maxx, Milly (who has unfortunately recently passed away) and Finnegan.  When it was time to come in from play time, the other dogs would come barreling in, and it was Finnegan, the scrappy mix who would turn and bound back to Merci to show her the way.  Merci also fawns over Maxx, the GSD, wiggling his way with submissive mouth licking frequently.  The other dogs definitely don't look at Merci any differently for all her lack of hearing.

     In basic training, Fara found that Merci was wonderfully responsive- just not to words.  With hand signals (mostly American Sign Language) Merci can be told "Sit", "Down", "Place", "Leave it", "Off",  "Give", "Let’s go", "Ride", "Speak", "No","Come" and go to her crate.  She also demonstrates understanding of "Good girl" and "Toy", and is learning a "Touch" command (where she uses her nose to tag Fara's hand).

     Fara claims that Merci has made her a better handler and trainer.  Even though it is easier because there are less distractions (Merci cannot be distracted by the sounds of other dogs) it still requires patience, like any other training!  Merci has accommodated Fara's effort by becoming remarkably adept at interpreting nuances of facial expression, gestures and body postures.

     Fara said "She [Merci] seems to be able to read my mind sometimes.  Of course when she decides she’s cold in the middle of the night, she taps me twice on the shoulder and I dutifully lift the blankets so she can crawl under the covers.  I’m not quite sure who is training whom…"

Merci is not afraid of heights!

     One of the most amazing discoveries they have recently found with Merci, is that she responds to a high pitched squeal that Finnegan sometimes calls out.  When Finnegan yells, Merci comes running to him!  Fara affectionately calls this Finnegan's Singing, although she cringes when she talks about the noise.  Fara says it is quite a shrill sound, and wonders if it is at a certain range that Merci is just barely able to detect.  Fara and her husband are now working on training Finnegan to "sing" on command to call Merci.

     I asked Fara how Merci does when she is taken out to events in public.  "Usually when I take Merci out, she wears either a collar sleeve or a vest announcing that she’s deaf.  I want people to ask questions and meet her and see that she is a perfectly normal dog who just happens to not hear.  There are plenty of things that make her extraordinary – her sweet, happy temperament, her love of high places and sense of adventure, her serene nature – but they have nothing to do with the fact that she’s deaf."

     Thank goodness Merci and Fara found each other.





     *Fara is active with local rescue, and even after adopting Merci has not slowed down a bit.  Her rescue information is provided below.

The Greater Charlotte SPCA
Greater Charlotte SPCA Facebook Page