Our dog Sophie went missing on October 11th around 5:30 am in the Meadowlands & Viewmount area (Oakridge Blvd). She is an all white long haired Maltese dog and is approximately 7 pounds and 9 years old. She has health issues (respiratory) and is completely deaf.

She was let out on the front lawn for her morning washroom break and then disappeared. She was not wearing her collar at the time but she is micro-chipped.

Please NOTE: Our dog is deaf and she shows aggression towards other dogs and any people that approach her too quickly (also commonly chases people running or walking by). Although she is deaf she will respond to vibrations such as loud clapping and stomping feet on ground or floor.

She is DEARLY missed by our family and we are praying for her safe return. If you have any information that may help us to locate her – or if you have her – PLEASE PLEASE contact us immediately. Email Duane or call 613-619-0555.

She did not have a collar, however is Microchipped.

Always keep the dog on a leash when outside of a fenced area. Deaf dogs cannot hear your voice, traffic, or literally any other noises to alert them to danger.

Start pairing hand signs with voice commands as soon as hearing loss is noted. Basic hand signs for sit come and down are usually all that is required. Sit can be a stop motion of the palm at the chest, down can be a downward motion of the hand from the chest to the waist and come can be a sideways arching motion from straight out in towards the chest.

Always be sure a deaf dog can see and smell you before you pet it to prevent it from snapping or startling from you.

Allow your dog to wake up naturally on his own. You could alert him of your presence by your scent alone. You can do this by wearing a signature perfume, for example. As you come home from work, or walk by your sleeping dog, the scent of your perfume will waft into his nose and he will soon awaken. After awhile, you can wake your dog up by walking up to him wearing your familiar and signature scent, touching him very gently, and popping a delicious treat into his mouth.

Next, establish a routine with him. Walk the same route everyday so he doesn’t feel the added anxiety of new situations. He will learn to anticipate the events of his everyday life because of this routine. Although it is indeed beneficial for dogs to be challenged by new surroundings, you should only slowly factor in novel encounters once you have established that he is comfortable with his new life.

Teach your dog touch is a positive thing. Touch every part of his body from his ears and muzzle, to his belly and the in-betweens of his toes. If you feel confident and comfortable with your dog, you could also run your fingertip along his teeth or open his mouth so you can look inside. This exercise prepares your dog to be comfortable with maintenance procedures that you will perform on him like nail clipping, teeth brushing, and also for veterinary visits.

You could give him treats as you are petting him. Next, give him a deep muscle massage by working your fingers firmly into his shoulder muscles and run your fingers from the top of his head to all the way down to his back. Do this several times. This exercise is very relaxing for dogs. Finally, lay him on his back calmly as you pet him in calming and comfortable strokes.

You will also begin training him and teaching him hand commands

You and all your family members have to learn not to do anything that will startle the dog. Things you might do that will startle your dog include: stamping on the floor to get his attention; waking him up abruptly like plopping down heavily on the couch when he’s sleeping soundly on it; and scaring him when he comes around a corner. Remember, you would want your dog to associate your touch with good things.