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It is unsettling when a dog who used to whip their head around at the sound of your voice suddenly looks right through you. The hard part is that “not responding” is not a single symptom. It can be hearing loss, but it can also be confusion, pain, vision changes, anxiety, or a medical issue that makes focusing difficult.
This article will walk through the most common explanations, how to sort out clues at home, what your veterinarian may check, and how to help your dog feel safe and successful again.
Important: This is general information, not a diagnosis. Always check changes in behavior with your dog’s veterinarian, especially in senior dogs where multiple conditions can overlap.
What “not responding” really looks like (and why details matter)
Before you assume your dog is “ignoring” you, try to describe what’s actually happening:
- Do they fail to respond only when you call from another room, but respond when you’re nearby?
- Do they respond to other sounds (food bag, doorbell, squeaky toy) but not their name?
- Do they startle more easily, like they didn’t notice you approach?
- Do they seem “far away” in general, even face-to-face?
- Is it sudden or gradual?
Those details help separate sensory changes from attention, confusion, and discomfort.
Common reasons a senior dog stops responding when called
Age-related hearing loss (or other hearing problems)
Hearing loss is common in older dogs, and it often creeps in gradually. Many families first notice it as “selective hearing” or a slower response to cues. Degenerative changes can affect the nerves and structures involved in hearing, but hearing can also drop from more treatable issues like inflammation, infection, or blockage in the ear canal.
Clues that point toward hearing changes:
- Your dog sleeps more deeply and startles when touched
- They do not notice you enter the room
- They respond better when they can see you
- They miss higher-pitched sounds first (some age-related loss affects higher frequencies earlier)
Where research is limited: Even though age-related hearing loss is considered common, veterinary references note that its prevalence and details in dogs are not well defined compared with humans.
Canine cognitive dysfunction (dog dementia)
Canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CCDS) is an age-associated, progressive condition that changes how the brain processes information. It can look like “not recognizing” familiar cues, getting stuck in corners, staring at walls, or responding more slowly, even if hearing is fine. A commonly used framework for signs is DISHAA: disorientation, changes in social interactions, sleep disruption, house soiling, learning/memory changes, activity changes, and anxiety.
Clues that point toward cognitive change:
- They seem confused in familiar spaces
- They wander aimlessly or get “stuck”
- Nighttime restlessness increases
- They seem less interested in family interaction or react differently than usual
Where research is limited: CCDS is widely described as underdiagnosed, partly because there is no single definitive test and signs overlap with common senior issues like pain and sensory loss.
Vision loss or reduced vision combined with hearing changes
Many senior dogs compensate quietly for a long time. If vision is declining, your dog may not respond because they cannot locate you, especially in dim lighting or from another room. When both vision and hearing change together, it can look like your dog is “in their own world.” The AKC notes that age-related vision and hearing loss can be disorienting even when not painful.
Clues:
- Hesitating in low light
- Bumping into furniture in unfamiliar spaces
- Difficulty finding you unless you’re in their line of sight
Pain, especially arthritis or dental pain
Pain is a huge, commonly missed reason older dogs seem less responsive. If getting up, turning, or walking toward you hurts, your dog may choose not to respond, or may respond slowly. Pain can also make dogs seem “grumpy,” distracted, or withdrawn.
Clues:
- Slower rising, stiffness, limping, reluctance to climb stairs
- Less enthusiasm for activities they used to love
- Changes in appetite, chewing on one side, bad breath (dental discomfort can reduce responsiveness too)
Because pain can be subtle and intermittent, it often takes a veterinary exam to confirm.
Ear infections, inflammation, or buildup in the ear canal
Not every hearing change is permanent. Inflammation, infection, and debris can reduce sound conduction and also make dogs avoid interaction because their ears hurt. This is one reason a vet visit matters even if you suspect “normal aging.” The Merck Veterinary Manual describes conductive causes of hearing loss, including obstruction and ear disease, alongside sensorineural causes.
Clues:
- Head shaking, scratching, ear odor
- Sensitivity when ears are touched
- Redness or discharge
Medical or neurologic issues that affect attention and responsiveness
Senior dogs can have systemic conditions that change energy, awareness, or sensory processing. In some dogs, medications can also contribute to sedation or “checking out.” In other cases, neurologic disease may play a role, especially if you see circling, head tilt, new imbalance, seizures, or sudden personality change.
If the change is sudden, treat it as urgent. A rapid shift in awareness or responsiveness is not something to watch casually.
At-home checks you can do safely (and what not to do)
You can gather clues without turning your living room into a science experiment.
Quick, gentle hearing clues
Try these when your dog is relaxed and not looking at you:
- Clap softly once from behind (not right next to the head)
- Jingle keys or tap a surface
- Use a familiar word in a normal tone, then a slightly higher tone
Watch for ear flicks, head turns, blinking, or body shifts.
What not to do: Do not test hearing by shouting close to your dog, making very loud noises, or startling them on purpose. That can increase anxiety and may create fear around you.
Check whether it’s “hearing” or “locating”
Some dogs still hear something but cannot pinpoint where it came from. If your dog reacts but looks the wrong direction, that points to partial hearing loss or processing changes rather than total deafness.
Watch body language for pain
When you call your dog, do they:
- Look at you but hesitate to move?
- Move stiffly or take a moment before walking?
- Approach but sit or lie down quickly?
Those “movement decisions” often matter more than whether they heard you.
What your veterinarian may do (and why it helps)
A senior dog who is not responding to cues often needs a whole-dog evaluation, not just an ear look.
Common components include:
- Full physical exam (including orthopedic assessment for pain)
- Ear exam (otoscope) to look for infection, inflammation, or obstruction
- Neurologic screening exam
- Vision checks
- Senior lab work as appropriate (to look for systemic disease that can affect behavior and energy)
- Behavior history using questionnaires for cognitive dysfunction
AAHA’s senior care guidance includes cognitive screening tools such as CADES and emphasizes watching for brain aging signs alongside other senior changes.
Hearing testing: BAER
If hearing loss is unclear, referral centers may offer BAER (brainstem auditory evoked response) testing, which measures electrical activity in the auditory pathway in response to sound.
It can help distinguish true hearing loss from “not listening,” and can support decision-making when multiple issues overlap.
Real-world limitation: BAER is not available in every clinic and may require referral, and sometimes sedation depending on the dog and the testing protocol.
What to do at home while you’re sorting it out
Even before you have a final answer, you can make daily life easier.
Adjust communication so your dog can win again
If hearing loss is suspected:
- Pair voice with clear hand signals
- Use gentle vibrations to get attention (stomping lightly on the floor, tapping near them)
- Approach from the front when possible
- Reward check-ins heavily, even if they are slow
If cognitive change is suspected:
- Keep routines consistent (walks, meals, sleep)
- Use shorter cues and simpler tasks
- Reward calm behavior and successful responses
- Avoid scolding for confusion. They are not being stubborn.
Safety upgrades that help deaf or confused dogs
- Keep your dog on leash in unfenced areas (deaf dogs cannot hear hazards)
- Consider a “Deaf Dog” or “I have hearing loss” tag on the collar
- Use baby gates or closed doors to prevent wandering into stairs at night
- Add night lights in hallways for dogs with vision changes or confusion
Enrichment that supports aging brains (and reduces frustration)
For many seniors, gentle mental activity is helpful:
- Sniff walks at the dog’s pace
- Food puzzles that are easy, not frustrating
- Short training sessions using treats and hand cues
- Calm companionship time in a predictable spot
There is active research into cognitive dysfunction diagnosis and management, but veterinary literature still emphasizes that treatment options are limited and that screening tools and caregiver observations are central to monitoring.
Red flags that mean “call the vet today”
Seek veterinary guidance promptly if you notice:
- A sudden change over hours to days
- Head tilt, loss of balance, rapid eye movements
- Seizures, collapse, extreme weakness
- Severe ear pain, swelling, discharge, or a strong odor
- Not eating, vomiting, or marked lethargy alongside the behavior change
- Nighttime panic, pacing, or getting stuck frequently
With seniors especially, two small problems can stack into one big behavioral change. A dog with mild hearing loss may cope fine until pain, anxiety, or illness lowers their ability to compensate.
The most useful mindset shift: treat it like a communication problem, not a disobedience problem
When an older dog stops responding, it helps to assume they are struggling, not ignoring you. Your job becomes:
- figure out what they can still perceive comfortably
- remove barriers (pain, fear, confusion, environment)
- build a new “language” that fits their current abilities
And your veterinarian is the best partner for that process.
Always check with your dog’s veterinarian before assuming the cause, starting supplements, or changing medications, especially for cognitive dysfunction or sudden sensory changes.
Sources
- Merck Veterinary Manual, “Deafness in Animals” (Merck Veterinary Manual)
- American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), “2023 AAHA Senior Care Guidelines for Dogs and Cats” (AAHA)
- JAVMA, “Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome Working Group guidelines…” (AVMA Journals)
- Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, “Cognitive dysfunction syndrome” (vet.cornell.edu)
- AKC, “Age-Related Hearing and Vision Loss in Dogs” (American Kennel Club)
- LSU Veterinary Medicine, “What is the BAER test?” (lsu.edu)
- University of Florida Small Animal Hospital Neurology, “BAER Testing” (smallanimal.vethospital.ufl.edu)
- VIN, “Age-Related Hearing Loss in Dogs…” (notes limits in prevalence knowledge) (Vin)