Congenital deafness can potentially appear in any breed and has been reported in many varied dog breeds. It is particularly prevalent in dogs with white pigmentation of skin and fur. The disorder is usually associated with two pigmentation genes in particular; the merle gene (e.g., Shetland sheepdog, Australian shepherd, Dachshunds, Harlequin Great Danes, Old English sheepdogs, collies) and the piebald gene (E.g., Dalmatian, bull terrier, greyhound, beagle, bulldog).

Dogs with this disorder are not born deaf. Deafness usually develops in the first few weeks after birth while the ear canal is still closed. Collapse to the blood supply to the cochlea causes the sensory nerve cells of the cochlea to die, resulting in permanent loss of hearing. The exact cause is not known, but it is believed to be connected to an absence of melanocytes (pigment-producing cells) in the capillary loop in the upper portion of the cochlear duct.

Today there are many resources out there to help people navigate the challenges of living with a deaf dog. It’s also important to realize that hearing is not a primary sense for dogs and they are also an extremely adaptable species, who want nothing more than to be happy and loved. Plus, think of all the things that make deaf dogs unique from hearing dogs: Deaf dogs are not afraid of fireworks or thunderstorms, they are not bothered by your loud music or surround sound TV, they could care less when you pull out the vacuum, they make great service dogs, you can take them anywhere because they are not distracted by noise and commotion, plus, they form a tight bond with their human and will follow you anywhere.

The idea of doing a series on deaf dogs came from my desire to show that deaf dogs are just ordinary dogs that can lead normal happy lives and deserve a chance. People often think deaf dogs will be difficult to train or they will need a special trainer, but that is not the case. By capturing beautiful portraits of these dogs and showing their unique personalities, I hoped to dispel some of the misinformation surrounding deaf dogs.

When I started the deaf dog project, my goal was to create a coffee table book highlighting each dog and their special journey, along with gorgeous portraits of each. Unfortunately, the project got cut short when COVID-19 started, and I have not been able to get back to it. I posted some of the photos on Bored Panda hoping to create some of that awareness.

I have a background in animal behavior and earned my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in physical anthropology with a specialization in primatology (primate behavior) at the University of Alberta. After working in academia and research for many years and moving to California in 2009, I became interested in the idea of turning my photography hobby into a career, so I took a chance in 2010 and combined my love of dogs with my love of photography. I moved my business to Texas in 2015, where I took my photography indoors, focusing on studio portraiture. In that time, I earned my Master of Photography and Photographic Craftsman degrees through PPA and have been honored with multiple awards for my work.