When Pips arrived at her new home, nobody realized the little blue heeler couldn’t hear a word they were saying.
She was the smallest puppy in her litter, which immediately made her a favorite with Michael and Carlee Squires’ daughters. The West Virginia couple adopted Pips and her sister, Ruth, expecting two energetic additions to the family. Instead, Pips soon presented the audiologists with a very unusual challenge — one that happened to be right in the middle of their professional expertise.
At first, Pips’ behavior was easy to dismiss. She was quieter than her sister and rarely barked unless something caught her off guard. Even her bark sounded unusual.
Then one evening, the family got their answer.
Michael called the dogs inside, but Pips didn’t move. She was sleeping outside and remained completely unaware of the commotion around her. Calling, clapping and whistling produced no reaction.
The Squires realized their newest family member wasn’t simply ignoring them. She couldn’t hear them.
Because both owners work in audiology, they already understood that communication would have to change. They didn’t treat Pips as incapable. Instead, they figured out how to give her information without relying on sound.
Hand signals became her commands. Lights could be switched on and off to attract her attention from a distance. When she wasn’t looking, the family learned to approach carefully and use a gentle touch so they wouldn’t frighten her.
Training required some adjustments, but Pips proved to be a quick learner. With help from a professional dog trainer, she learned to respond to visual cues. A vibrating collar also gave her a way to recognize when her owners wanted her attention.
Once Pips looks toward them, she can follow commands just like a hearing dog.
And there is little evidence that her hearing loss has held her back.
Pips loves chasing a ball, playing with the family’s children and exploring the family’s sprawling property alongside the other dogs. Her owners describe her as energetic, playful and always ready for the next adventure.
Her situation has also changed the way the family looks at dogs with disabilities. Michael believes animals with hearing or vision impairments are often overlooked by potential adopters simply because people assume they will be too difficult to care for.
Pips has shown his family that the biggest obstacle may simply be learning a different way to communicate.
For this small blue heeler, silence isn’t keeping her from enjoying life. Her family just had to learn how to speak her language.
