BOULEVARD. >> THIS WEEK WE’RE SHEDDING LIGHT ON A SET OF UNIQUE PETS THE ONES THAT ARE DEAF. BUT THAT DOESN’T STOP THEM FROM BEING ANYMORE LOVING AND LOYAL TO THEIR OWNERS. DR. CYNTHIA BENBOW IS BACK TO EXPLAIN A LITTLE MORE ON THIS TOPIC. WHAT ARE THE SIGNS THAT THE DOG MAY HAVE HEARING PROBLEMS? >> IF YOU HAVE A PUPPY, IT IS DIFFICULT BECAUSE YOU THINK THEY’RE JUST NOT LISTENING TO YOU. LOUD CLAPPING NOISES OR YOU DROP SOMETHING AND THEY DON’T GET STARTLED. MAYBE THEY ARE VERY AGGRESSIVE PLAYING BECAUSE THEY CAN’T HEAR YOU CRYING OUT. OLDER PETS, IT’S A BIT EASIER BECAUSE THEY HEARD IT THE NEXT STOP COMING TO YOU. THEY DON’T THEIR YEARS OF WHEN YOU WHISTLE OR CALL. >> EITHER COMMON BREEDS OF DOGS THAT MAY HAVE HEARING LOSS MORE THAN OTHERS? >> YES. AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD’S, BOXERS AND POODLES. A LOT OF BREEDS WITH FULL WHITE COATS. THE GENE THAT IS DEFICIENT IN THE PIGMENT IS ALSO THE SAME STEM CELL THAT DEVELOPS THEIR HEARING CAPABILITIES. >> IS THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR PET THAT IS EXPERIENCING HEARING LOSS? >> IF IT’S AN OLDER DOG, GO SEE YOUR VET. I GET THAT QUESTION A LOT. TO SEE IF THERE IS SOMETHING MORE SERIOUS LIKE A THYROID PROBLEM THAT IS CAUSING THE HEARING LOSS. IF YOU HAVE A YOUNGER DOG OR EVEN THE YOUNGER DOG YOU CAN TO SOME SIGN LANGUAGE. THERE ARE LOTS OF INTERNET SITES OUT THERE. >> ARE THERE ANY BENEFITS TO HAVING A DOG WHO IS HEARING IMPAIRED? >> I FIND THEY ARE THE MOST WELL-BEHAVED. IF THE HAVE A MOM AND DAD WHO TRAINING. THEY ARE USUALLY MORE FOCUSED FOR TRAINING PURPOSES. THEY ARE BETTER FOR THERAPY DOGS BECAUSE NOISES WILL NOT STARTLE THEM. YOU DON’T HAVE THE PHOBIA OF THUNDERSTORMS OR NOISES. >> IS THIS A COMMON THING? HEARING LOSS AND ANIMALS? >> ABSOLUTELY. MY DOG IS GOING TO BE 20 YEARS OLD THIS YEAR AND SHE IS LOSING HER HEARING. IT HAS BEEN A GODSEND BECAUSE SHE DOESN’T HAVE THE ANXIETY ANYMORE WITH EVIL KNOCKING ON THE DOOR OR THUNDERSTORMS. THAT’S GOOD INFORMATION.