BAER Hearing Test Day is always a nail-biter for breeders. I’m ecstatic to share that we have eight hearing hears as reported by Carol at Animal Mobile Hearing Testing!!
WHAT IS BAER TESTING? An audiologist pierces the skin on the top of the head and behind each ear with a fine gauge needle. Often the puppies don’t even flinch so no, there is no pain if you’re wondering. A caliper and electrode is attached to each needle and a single ear bud is placed in the ear. An 80db clicking noise is emitted for 20 seconds while the audiologist looks for specific brain wave patterns which suggest the ear is hearing. Congenital deafness happens in ACDs which is why responsible breeders test their puppies and breeding stock.
When we were done with our tests we went for a cup of tea and a visit with my good friend and breeding mentor, Leona Stringer (Heartstrings Shelties). The Heroes immediately made themselves at home playing on the deck, getting cozy in her dog bed, making friends with Shelties Ginger & Tux and almost breaking through their dog door to the deck! It’s a little different than our dog door at home but they found it in their own and explored it enough in our hour long visit to get it swinging a little! I think Leona would agree that the boys were perfect little house guests as there wasn’t even a potty accident on the floor!
Before we left for our BAER test this morning I opted to do another Food Barrier Challenge at breakfast — this time a spiral going the opposite direction from yesterday and with 8 panels instead of 6. There was an amazing improvement over night! There was still a little bit of distraction avoidance from Tony & Barry but there was an overall HUGE improvement. Here are yesterday’s and today’s times for each puppy:
- Peter: 0:45 ? 0:10
- Tony: 1:07 ? 0:38
- Barry: 1:40 ? 0:38
- Shazam: 0:37 ? 0:15
It is amazing to see their problem solving skills grow so exponentially!
Zipper The Cat seems to be showing regret for growling and hissing at the puppies when he first met them. He has been trying to entice them to play with him for two days now but they (rightfully) have been reluctant to trust him. Zipper had a wee breakthrough with Peter this morning and had a small sweet interaction (see video). I believe it is only a matter of time now before we have inter-species Wrestlemania matches!
And after such a big day of BAER hearing tests, Leona & the shelties, puppy training and more… it was time to rest and grow a bit. This is all part of their crate training. You can see that they are quite comfortable and content to be settled in them and stay there even with the doors open!
