A Deaf Dog’s Letter to Santa

5 Gifts Your Deaf Dog Will Love

This time of year, no matter where we look, we are flooded with images of joyful children tearing into magical gifts left under the tree by Santa. Among the pile of carefully wrapped boxes, a happy child is sure to find a special toy that will bring pure joy to his life, his face lighting up as soon as he sees it. Suddenly, his whole life is planned around those Matchbox cars. It’s not that he doesn’t like every one of his gifts, it’s just that those race cars and pick-up trucks are extra special.

And you know what?

The dogs in our lives experience the very same thing. They, too, have favorite things. I know, for example, that Galileo, despite his wonky knees and creaky back, will clear the dining room table to get to his PetSafe Busy Buddy Jack toy before Foster of Edison do. He LOVES this toy more than anything. We have four of these Jacks in our home, one for each dog, but in Galileo’s mind, they are all his. He’s never happier than when he’s kerplunking himself in the head with all four at the same time.

Every single dog has his own distinct personality, unique set of likes and dislikes and quirky habits. They are fully formed and sentient creatures that way- like people, only fuzzier and more huggable. I share my heart and my home with four dogs, and each one is as unique as the fir we’ll be decorating this holiday season.

Last night, I began to imagine what a letter to Santa from my boys might look like. You see, it’s almost mid-December and I haven’t even begun to start my shopping. My DIY treat jars are a good start but not enough. I adore these dogs and their Happy Merry Chrismakwanzakah will be epic, if I have to die trying.

As I laid there, I began to think about what Edison & Co. would say in their letter to Santa.

What toys and treats would Edison  & Co. insist that they need? And what gifts will give them joy while also improving their lives? How about paying it forward with philanthropic gifts that also honor my deaf dogs, Edison and Foster?

Here are five gifts I’m pretty sure they would choose, and I recommend all of these for your dogs. Though these were chosen with deaf dogs in mind, they would make excellent presents for hearing dogs too. After all, Santa loves all good dogs- regardless of their ability to hear or not.

I am sharing these products because Edison & Co. and I love them.
We have NOT been compensated to share them with you.

Hey Santa, are you listening? We need some Jones Natural Chews!

My boys are big and they need size-appropriate bones and chews, so Jones Natural Chews is a perfect fit! Each of Jones products is certified as being Made in the USA and most are made with a single ingredient. I like Jones Natural Chews because they are slow-cooked with extra-special attention paid to the moisture content during the heating process so that the bones are both tasty and less likely to splinter. We also love them because they last, if not forever, then certainly for months! These are durable, high-value treats and chews that are locally-sourced with American products by a family-owned company that will bring joy to your dog’s life long into spring!

Jones is currently running a Holiday-themed giveaway. Enter here for a chance to win a massive Dino bone  and Rocky’s Rollers for yourself!

Yo Santa! I Need a Groom Genie!

Deaf dogs tend to be extra-sensitive to touch. Whether petting, trimming nails or regular brushing, soft, gentle contact with your deaf dog should always be the goal. My deaf dog Edison especially enjoys soft circles of touching and rubbing much more than scratching or petting. I always greet him with a “doggie massage” rather than a pet or earnest scratch behind the ears. And grooming? Well, that can always be a challenge. He accepts it, but he’s definitely not happy about it. Fortunately, I have a Groom Genie.

The Groom Genie has soft, gentle bristles that both groom your dog and relax him at the same time. As you know, I have small pony-size dogs with short hair so I tend to be lazy when it comes to grooming, but Groom genie makes it easy, even enjoyable! I adore these brushes for the grooming, the stress-reduction benefits and relaxation they provide my deaf dogs. The brush is designed so that it fits naturally in my hand and brushing feels more like petting than brushing, a more pleasurable experience for both Edison and me.

There have been many studies about the positive, healthy relationship between petting and touching a dog for humans. We also know that pleasant touch is a positive experience for the dogs that we adore. The Groom Genie feels like I’m petting my dogs, which deepens the bond between us and relaxes us both- all while brushing them.

Check out Groom Genie here.

Deaf Dogs Want Training, Santa! Won’t You Please Put Some of That Under the Tree?

One thing all dogs crave is to make us happy. They want to understand the rules of the house and to have a job to do, even if that job is simply walking nicely on a leash or coming back when recalled. I love these training books by Michelle Huntting because her passion for animals and helping them live better lives is evident on every page. That I know her personally only means that I can vouch for her complete dedication to positive reinforcement training techniques, which is critical when working with a deaf dog.

In her book, “Come, Boy”, Ms. Huntting dedicates an entire chapter to deaf dogs and called upon the expertise of Christina Lee, founder and president of Deaf Dogs Rock, a national not-for-profit whose mission is improving the lives of deaf dogs everywhere.

These books are perfect for beginners but also include advanced techniques and tips if you’ve been at this a while. Each book is full of great resources and from food and treat recommendations to training devices and more. A bundle of all three books would make a perfect gift for your dog, or for a close friend who just gave a homeless shelter dog the best Christmas ever: a forever home!

Not only has Michelle written 3 books tackling different aspects of dog training, she also offers her Zen Dog online dog training courses. Take a look at Michelle’s three books here or ask about the Zen Dog class schedule. Order a bundle and use the money you’ll save to buy more gifts for your pooch!

I Left You Cookies, Now Bring Me Some Dr. Harvey’s All-Natural Treats!

I am a huge fan of all things Dr. Harvey’s. All of their products are wholesome and unique but their treats are extra special. Each one is made with one single ingredient, such as dehydrated Coconut Smiles, freeze-dried raw green tripe in the Power Patties or the single-ingredient freeze-dried protein treat, Le Dogue Bites. Dr. Harvey’s treats are a great way to offer powerful holistic, nutrition in a treat your dog will love…and one they will work hard to get! They are perfect for training rewards. A bag of Dr. Harvey’s treats and a few books or classes from Michelle Huntting and you’ll be on the road to deaf dog training success!

Check out what I wrote about holistic training treats for deaf dogs and then go pick some up for yourself!

It's always a good time to talk about deaf dog training with #holistic dog treats training rewards from @doctorharveys! Get the goodies on the blog! #NoTricksAllTreats #DeafDogNutrition #DeafDogTraining

A photo posted by Bernard Lima-Chavez (@dogandhisboy) on Oct 31, 2015 at 4:13pm PDT

Really Want to Prove Your Love? Make a Donation in My Name!

I can think of no better way to honor and celebrate your deaf dog and all the joy he brings to your life than by making a donation to Deaf Dogs Rock in his name! Deaf Dogs Rock is a 501(c)(3) charity focused on helping deaf dogs and their pet parents everywhere. Your tax-deductible donation helps sponsor deaf dogs into private rescue where they are free from the threat of euthanasia, pays for spay/neuter surgeries, helps treat medical conditions such as heartworm disease and also helps support critical transport programs.

Photos of Bowie with Deaf Dogs rock courtesy of Christina Lee, Deaf Dogs Rock

I make a monthly donation that is automatically billed to my credit card. You can choose any level of support that you are comfortable with. It’s automatic, easy and that email reminder every month will make you smile. A monthly donation to Deaf Dogs Rock is a great way to honor your deaf dog and make the world a whole lot better for a deaf dog desperately in need!

You can support Deaf Dogs Rock right here.

I am sharing these products because Edison & Co. and I love them.
We have NOT been compensated to share them with you.

Which of these items would your dog add to his Letter to Santa? Would you add any other items? Let us know in a comment below!