I'm sorry this is really long, but I need to get this out and would appreciate any advice. So, last night we figured out that Nikko (frenchie/pug) is deaf. He will be 14 this June. This dog has been the love of my life since I brought him home at 7 weeks old. My soul dog. His song is "here comes the sun" because that's what he did. When my mom died, he came into my life and was the only reason I got out of bed in the morning. To say I love him is an understatement, he IS my heart.

Yesterday I came in from the backyard and he was on our back patio looking for me. I was walking up behind him calling Nikko Nikko, Mom's home and he didn't turn around! This continued until my husband turned his head my direction and the happy homecoming dance ensued. But this was the moment we both realized he could not hear a thing. I mean I've noticed he wasn't barking at the door recently, nor is he barking at his fence nemesis the neighbor dog. It used to be when the mail came or the dog barked at the fence, Nikko was barking back.I thought he was just mellowing out as he got older.

I'm having so many feelings about this. My first thought was that is it so sad that he will never be able to hear me say I Love You or Good Boy to him again. It breaks my heart and I've been crying since last night. I also feel incredibly guilty because it took me this long to figure it out. I'm so sad to think of how lonely he must be in his silence. I talk to him ALL day long. I work from home and he is my constant companion. What if he thinks I just stopped talking to him? That is so incredibly sad.

More important than how I feel is what can we do to help him be happy and feel loved now? Since we figured this out last night, I started a few hand signals. For Good Boy, I've been holding my hands flat and wiggling my fingers, kinda like jazz hands. For I Love You, I've been rubbing my hand on my heart. I have no idea if he gets it.

We have done a few tests since last night and I'm quite sure he is completely 100% deaf. While he was sleeping next to me, I played dog barking sounds on my phone at high volume. His ears didn't even twitch. Then, the ultimate test... I crunched a chip bag right next to him while he was laying next to me. Nothing. This dog used to hear a chip bag open from another room. We'll go to the vet next week.

I think what has me so broken up about this is that it underscores how old he is and how he won't be here forever. And, if I had known it would have been the last day he heard me say it I would have told him I loved him and that he was the BEST GOOD BOY so many more times that day.

Maude Flanders is 6 months old tomorrow and eager to learn new things. Or eat the treats. Whatever.

He is OBSESSED with her.

Celebrated Otis’s 5th bday last week. Held it at the school where he had his training and invited all the doggos he trained with.

They surprised us with the balloon arch but we went extra and got him a crown and some cake to share.

Most of these dogs are dog reactive so it was great to give them a chance to socialize in an environment that they’re comfortable and with scents they’re familiar with.

My baby girl is a teenager now!

Way too nice to be inside!!

This is Summer Moon Maude Flanders, we brought her home two weeks ago when she was 5 months old. She and Edna, our 6 year old Frenchie have become friends.

She is learning the basics and doing very well with them. She enjoys training mostly do to the yummy treats, but whatever. She, like Edna, really likes to sniff, so it's going to be a summer of learning scent detection and barn hunt for her. While Edna runs agility, rally and barn hunt.

By forever I mean “15 minutes at a time, then a nap”

Herb says "I don't want to go near the water, I'm built like a bowling ball!" We go to the beach at least a few times a week and he's always very cautious and exercises good ocean safety.

So when we got our two year old rescue Frenchie girl in September. She has been a ball of pure energy and joy....A few toy and food aggression issues with other sister doggos and some potty issues but we have been working through them..... Now we are dealing with hives! She is a bit itchy more than usual.... Will benadryl and an oatmeal bath solve this or do I need to take her to the vet?