When a Great Dane named Hogan is born deaf and visually impaired, his future seems uncertain. He was part of a “mistake litter” and was surrendered by the breeder to a Great Dane rescue organization. Fortunately for Hogan, Crystal and her family were contacted by the rescue and asked if they would be interested in adopting her. When Crystal and her family met the puppy, it was love at first sight. Crystal is determined to give Hogan the fullest life possible, full of adventures and experiences he might miss.
Crystal and her family quickly realized that Hogan was not only deaf but also visually impaired. The vet determined that Hogan’s pupils were underdeveloped, causing great sensitivity to light. This caused Hogan to run into parked cars and fall onto the curb. Crystal couldn’t figure out why Hogan seemed to see shadows or strange things, but she found a solution: doggles. These dog glasses seem to improve Hogan’s vision during daylight hours.
To communicate with Hogan, Crystal and her family use a vibrating collar. When Hogan felt the collar vibrate, he knew to go back and check in with his family. The sensation is similar to a Fitbit vibrating on one’s wrist. Crystal also uses sign language to communicate with Hogan, but due to her visual impairment, she has to use large, exaggerated signs. Some of the signs are ones they made themselves to meet Hogan’s unique needs. He learned commands like “sit,” “stay,” “come,” “paw,” “away,” and “off.” They are also working on teaching him a few more.
Despite his challenges, Hogan is a happy-go-lucky dog who just wants to be close to his family. Crystal believes that she is very intuitive and knows what she needs when she needs it. Hogan loves snuggling, although it takes him a while to calm down when he gets excited about receiving affection. Crystal’s family has five rescue animals, and Hogan, at 98 pounds, is still plump compared to Crystal’s previous Great Danes, who weighed 160 and 140 pounds.
Crystal and her family are very grateful for the opportunity to adopt Hogan. He brings light and happiness into their lives and enriches their family in ways they never expected. Hogan has a beautiful soul that continues to shine as bright as the sun.