My Two Writing Teachers colleagues and I are hosting the 14th Annual March Slice of Life Story Challenge, in which teachers from around the world participate in posting a story per day.

Our dog, Indie, lost his hearing over the course of one summer several years ago. At first it seemed like he was just selectively ignoring us. We’d call to him to come, and he’d just stare back in a way that we interpreted as stubborn—but it turns out he probably just, legit, was not hearing us.

He’ll be fourteen years old in June. I’m not even sure what that would be in dog years - 80? 90? 100? In any case, although he’s small and shaggy and still looks puppyish, he’s a very old dog.

Since he can’t hear anything anymore, without thinking much about it I’ve started adding gestures whenever I talk to him. When I say “sit” I tend to wave down to the floor. When I say, “treat” or “cookie” I hold my fist in the air as if I’m holding a dog treat. To get him to come, I pat the side of my leg.

Even though it wasn’t intentional, Indie has picked up on all the cues and now he pretty much responds just as if he could hear us—unless of course he’s outside and out of eyesight.

Who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks?

Hopefully when I’m his age, I’ll still be learning a trick or two myself.