Skip to main content

Viral video of a deaf dog that thinks she’s barking is the cutest thing ever

“Adorable” and “sweet” are two words you’d probably never expect to describe a video of a dog barking incessantly, but this video of a deaf dog’s attempts are just that. Originally posted on TikTok, the video was recently recirculated on the subreddit r/WhatsWrongWithYourDog where Redditors immediately fell in love — and it’s not hard to see why.

@lind_saymyname

Related Videos

Sound on or off. Doesn’t really matter. ? ? #dogsoftiktok #doggo

♬ original sound – Lindsay Kelly

The video, posted by Lindsay Kelly under the TikTok handle @lind_saymyname, features her super-cute pet attempting to bark — but while the action looks right, no sound actually comes out of the pooch’s mouth. Kelly captioned the video, “My dog is deaf. She’s seen other dogs do this but doesn’t know she’s supposed to make noise.” Kelly is encouraging to her pet throughout the video, using that gentle tone we all reserve for our dogs — and while we can’t actually see her, we’re sure her facial expressions and body language matched exactly so her deaf dog knew exactly what she meant.

Can deaf dogs bark?

After watching this video, you might be wondering if deaf dogs can bark — and the answer is yes. Several TikTokers reported that they also have deaf dogs at home, and their barks are definitely not silent. Charle Anastasia wrote, “I have a deaf dog. His bark is a high-pitched scream. it sounds like he’s being murdered.”

AlinaMaria added, “I also have a deaf dog. He used to bark in his sleep only, but at about [nine] he figured out how to bark while awake. His barks are still weird.”

According to Lone Tree Veterinary Medical Center, deaf dogs are just as capable of vocalization as other dogs. It’s true that they may not respond to the same stimuli (a deaf dog, for instance, likely wouldn’t be as bothered by fireworks or thunder the way some other dogs are), but they can certainly bark when they’re startled, scared or (like most dogs) just because.

A Dalmatian howls outdoors

How to tell if a dog is deaf

There are several reasons why a dog might be deaf — just like humans can suffer hearing loss as they age, dogs can as well. Dog deafness can also be the result of an injury, chronic infections, or it could be a condition dogs are born with. This is called congenital deafness and it’s associated with pigmentation (most dogs with congenital deafness have an all-white or mostly white coat).

Breeds that are prone to congenital deafness include:

But if you’re wondering whether or not your pup can hear you, it’s easy enough to test out.

  1. Make sure your dog cannot see you so that you know their response isn’t because of any visual cues.
  2. Grab a squeak toy, a bell, or anything that makes sound — including your voice or your clapping hands — and see if your dog responds.
  3. Repeat a few times at different times to make sure you don’t have a false positive or negative result.

If your dog never indicates any reaction, they’re likely deaf. Of course, a trip to the vet can tell you for sure.

Deaf dogs may require a bit of different training and for you to keep their deafness in mind — they can’t hear when being called or the sound of a loud horn from an oncoming car, so you’ll have to accommodate for that. But luckily, deaf dogs can lead perfectly normal, happy lives.

Editors' Recommendations

This is what a flea looks like, and it’s disgusting
You definitely don't want these gross bugs to take over your house and bite your pets
Dog scratches their side while in the grass

We could have gone our whole lives without seeing a flea up close under a microscope — they're terrifying! Most of the time, when you spot a flea, it's outside in the grass, or unfortunately, on your dog or cat. It's not pleasant, but at least at such a small size, it's tricky to make out any kind of identifying details (imagine if one of these creatures was actually large enough to look at without magnification assistance).
While it might spook you to take a look at a flea up close, you should be even more concerned about spotting them in the wild, where they might be snacking on your pet and infesting your home.

What do fleas look like?
If you gaze upon the close version of this insect, you'll spot the telltale six legs, brown or reddish body, and tiny needle-like appendages for sucking blood (fortunately no wings). Instead of flying, these little buggers jump from person to pet to grass. They feast on blood from mammals, so they're coming for you and all your furry friends. To the naked eye, you'll likely spot a tiny blackish speck that could be deep in your dog's fur or even crawling on your floor.
What do fleas do to pets?
Mostly, eat them. As with other biting bugs, they inject a bit of anticoagulant in order to keep the blood flowing --  that's part of where the itchiness comes in. You'll notice red spots and lots of scratching if they wind up on your dog or cat. These pests can also cause other more serious problems, such as tapeworm and anemia, so you want to take care of this quickly once you discover the infestation.
What treatment is available for fleas?
Luckily, a little maintenance usually prevents these parasites from moving in. You have a few options to use as a preventative, including oral, topical, or removable. Many choose to give their pets a chewable or a pill (and some combo pills are available that tackle multiple freeloaders at once, like heartworm and fleas).

Read more
Why you shouldn’t feed your dogs trail mix
3 reasons why dogs can't eat trail mix or their common ingredients
A Yorkshire terrier licks their lips and looks into the camera

At first glance, trail mix might look like a healthy snack for everyone in your home. It has a little sugar, some healthy fats, and a small number of carbohydrates to keep you going throughout the day. Sounds great, right?
Although people can eat as much trail mix as they please, the same isn't true for our canine friends. There are many ingredients in this popular combo that aren't safe for dogs to eat. Let's go over a few of the reasons why as we answer some of the most common questions:

Can dogs eat raisins?
Why can't dogs eat trail mix?
Which nuts are safe for dogs to eat?

Read more
5 safe and fun adventures you can plan with your small dog
Your small dog can do just as much as a big one if you follow these tips
Cute small dog stands in front of a blurred background

As a small dog owner, you might gaze longingly at the humans who can play endless games of fetch with their shepherds and go for 5-hour walks accompanied by their collies. But you can have all sorts of good times with your little guy. Don't let their size stop you from planning outings together. While, of course, you'll need to work within your beastie's physical constraints, there are lots of things you can do while accommodating their diminutive size.

Hang at the dog park
This is the pastime of many dogs, both large and small. Don't stay away from the park just because your bud can't race around for hours on end. Many parks now specifically set aside sections for small breeds. Take your pup there to find friends of a similar size. If you want to foray into the big dog section (or there isn't an area available for your pup), you can always ask the group if the dogs in there are friendly to their little cousins.
Go for hikes
While it might take a little preparation (and possibly a dog sling), your tiny Fido can enjoy hiking, too. You should work up to this by doing a little bit more each day or each week until they're ready to strike out for a longer adventure. Also, be sure to prep with necessary accouterments, such as water, treats, possibly a dog carrier, and mushers wax if it's winter.
Travel together
One of the biggest benefits of having a little dog is they can go on planes and trains. If your pooch seems to enjoy exploring new places, take them with you on vacation. The fees to travel by air can be a little high and there are some rules (you need them to lie down quietly under the seat for the duration of the flight). But for many doggies, they prefer the flight to staying behind with a sitter.

Read more