Some Bonds Need No Words

Banjo wasn't the dog Rodney had imagined bringing home. And when they first met, there wasn't an instant spark that some people might expect when they meet someone special.

"He was a very handsome-looking dog and an unusual colour. He didn't seem to want much to do with me at the meet and greet."

But Rodney decided to take a chance on Banjo, and as they settled into life together, something began to shift. The dog who hadn't seemed particularly interested in him at their first meeting soon became Rodney's best mate.

"Everything Banjo does is funny, he just loves life and is a bit of a clown at times. He makes me laugh every day."

It was all the everyday moments that gave Rodney the chance to get to know Banjo for who he really is.

"We go for lots of walks together, and he makes me laugh every day. He is such a happy and funny boy. He enjoys life so much. I often have people remark on how happy he looks."

Finding their own way to communicate

Getting to know each other meant finding a different way to communicate. For Rodney and Banjo, there are no spoken commands or conversations. Instead, they've developed their own language of hand signals, head nods and careful observation.

"I think my bond is closer because he can't hear me. He watches me a lot, and our communication seems more interactive than with vocal communication."

It's a lovely reminder that communication doesn't always look the way we expect it to. Every pet is different, every relationship is different, and sometimes you simply find what works for the two of you.

"Banjo seems more responsive and tuned in to what I want him to do because he is always watching to see what I want or what I'm doing."

"People are surprised that he is deaf because he is such a happy, friendly dog and has great recall. I often get comments on how happy he looks."

Seeing Banjo for who he is

Before Banjo, Rodney hadn't considered adopting a deaf dog. "I had been told that they couldn't be trained, now I know this is incorrect."

"Banjo doesn't know he is deaf and just loves life. I doubt there is a happier dog on the planet."

For Rodney, Banjo's deafness is simply one part of who he is.

"I think Banjo would still be the happy, goofy dog that he is whether he could hear or not. His deafness doesn't affect his quality of life at all."

Perhaps the biggest surprise for Rodney has been what Banjo has taught him about connection.

"Banjo has taught me that we don't need words to communicate and there are different ways to interact with pets that have different needs."

And now, if someone asked Rodney whether they should consider adopting a deaf dog, his answer would be to not hesitate!

"I would not hesitate to recommend adopting a deaf dog. A deaf dog is just a dog like any other, you just communicate differently."