Question: My husband is an avid duck hunter. We have an eight-year-old Lab who no longer listens to me. He can be fifty feet away in the backyard and not respond to my call. My husband claims that this is from the gunfire of duck hunting, not from disobedience. Have you seen this before?

Janet M., Grosse Isle.

Answer: I know of many husbands who have trouble hearing their wives, especially around hunting season. As far as dogs go, yeah, seven years of sitting by a duck blind or in a boat while shooting is going on can affect both man and beast's hearing. My guess is, though, that your dog is showing signs of selective hearing. Try calling the dog when your husband's home. If it doesn't reply, have your husband try. Some dogs spend most of their time with only one handler, be it male or female, and respond better to that gender.

Charlie Linblade

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