Three and a half senses

In my research into deaf dogs I'd found that they can sleep through almost anything. Patch is no different. They suggest that you put your hand in front of the dogs nose and let him get the smell of you so he will wake up. Many deaf dogs have a tendency to snap when startled. The first day Patch is with us I take this to heart and stick my hand in front of his nose and talk to him to wake him. Look, I know that he's deaf but I still find myself talking to him almost all the time. I suppose in the interest of total honesty I should admit I talk almost all the time to everyone so Patch is treated no differently.

I'm bent over waving my hand in front of Patch's nose trying to get him to wake up...nothing. Soon I start to touch his shoulder gently as I continue to talk to him. Still nothing...how hard does this dog sleep? I can see he's still breathing! Finally I shake him, the whole time my voice has continued to get louder with each attempt. As I've said, I can't help it! After a couple of shakes Patch jumps straight up in the air like I've poked him with a sharp stick. So many of the traits I've read about deaf dogs apply so well to Patch, thank goodness he chose a different path on the snapping. Patch doesn't just sleep hard, he sleeps like the dead.

I find that Patch walks well on a leash. For the most part he doesn't pull, he likes to walk beside you and keep you in his peripheral vision. He's a joy to walk, other dogs bark at him, he doesn't notice. Someone is mowing the lawn, he just keeps up a steady pace. Because Patch is down a couple of senses he spends a lot of time living in his sense of smell. Sierra comes home while he's asleep, comes into the room to talk to me and then goes to her room. As soon as Patch wakes up he notices someone has walked thru and follows the trail back to Sierra. Occasionally on a walk he'll pick up a trail and take off to follow. I find he also likes to taste me. He'll come to me and gently hold my arm in his mouth. He also gives actual smoochy kisses. I'm already very attached to this amazing guy. It's going to take someone special for me to agree to him leaving.