My puppy ignores sounds and her name. Could she be deaf or distracted?

It can sometimes be difficult to tell with puppies if they have a true hearing problem, or if they simply get absorbed in what they are doing and don't register sounds around them :) You can try clapping your hands behind his head when he isn't looking, or making a sudden loud sound like clanging pots together - if he doesn't react at all to these things, it's likely that he may be deaf. If you're still unsure, I would recommend having him checked by your vet to get their opinion.

HI, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Snow is very very cute!! 5 weeks is very young. In the US we do not recommend puppies be removed from their mothers that young. Snow is to young to learn commands and come when called. I promise you with time and as he grows he will learn his name and come. Just practice a few times per day for only a few minutes. Puppies tire easily. It is very common at 5 weeks to appear deaf and like they can't see. It is just immaturity! I hope this helps and have fun with your new puppy!

Puppies hearing develops from 2-4weeks but his responses and behavior in relation to noise takes some time to learn and is often stunted if weaned away from his mother and siblings to early. If you are concerned your vet can do some checks to see if and what frequencies are affected but there are limited treatment options available if there is any lack of hearing. I recommend some puppy socialisation classes as soon as he is vaccinated to encourage some positive training aids at a young age

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It sounds like you’ve done all the usual tests so yes, I wouldn’t be surprised if she were deaf. I will say though that testing during puppyhood is difficult because puppies haven’t learned how to react to things yet. I’d say there is a slim chance she can hear. But for her, I’d recommend hand signals along with your verbal commands when training her. Best wishes to you and your adorable new family member Harley!

She is so young I wouldn't expect her to go blind, although it can happen. But because of this symptom I would bring her to a veterinarian to make sure they evaluate her eyes. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi and thanks for posting on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is not abnormal for there to be some hearing loss in older pets. Hearing loss can happen as an age related change much the same way it happens in people as they age. Not responding to her name when called or not responding to other auditory cues (bag of treats or can of food being opened in another room) or commands (sit, stay, come), can be signs that she has some hearing deficits. There are a few other causes of hearing loss in pets such as chronic ear infections or a perforated ear drum. I would make sure Tazo is checked out with her veterinarian as well to make sure nothing else is going on that may be causing the hearing loss. I hope this helps!

Hi there. It sounds like Bea is having some trouble with her focus. While much of that is just being young and full of energy, I feel you would benefit from clicker training (a treat and reward system) as well as a well organized puppy class. Puppy classes are often offered at your local pet smart as well as through several trainers as help puppies to develop a sense of ability to socialize without being distracted enough by their surrounds that they ignore their owner. To many puppies-they see this as an exciting time to meet new friends and play with their owners. For us it is a wonderful area to help the puppies feel safe and bond with us over respect and learn boundaries. She is likely just reacting to stimuli (things she doesn't often get to see) and doesn't realize she's being "bad" as well as being full of energy. This will take a lot of patience and treats on your part when she performs or listens to you. She will get there, it is just a learning process.