A Deaf Dog for Adoption

Forbes is doing well with his new dental routine. He seems able to eat anything. We took a visit to the animal shelter last week.  There was a stray Cavalier I wanted to meet. Forbes was a gentle soul as always, but unfortunately the stray really wasn't interested. While we were there, we decided to visit all the dogs that were for adoption.  We met one little girl that was so cute and she seemed to like me. There was no aggression between Forbes and her but no real interest either.  After a while, I began to notice, she did not respond to her name.  I feared she was deaf.  Now Forbes is hard of hearing but I wasn't sure I was ready to tackle a special needs dog right now. I was concerned about training.

How to train a deaf dog.

Although it was once believed that deaf dogs could not be trained, many people that love and care for them say deaf dog training isn't difficult. Dick Russell, a dog trainer near Baton Rouge, La., has worked with more than 100 deaf dogs in the past 20 years.
"It's as easy to train a deaf dog as a hearing dog," Russell says. "The only difference is you use hand signals instead of verbal commands."

The secret, he says, is having a clear hand signal for each action you want the dog to learn. It doesn't matter what they are, he says, as long as you're consistent.

Russell says it's also a myth that deaf dogs are more aggressive. He says any dog, if startled, could bite. He tells clients with deaf puppies to wake them up repeatedly, with a tasty treat in hand. They'll soon  associate being awakened, even if startled, with something good. And if you don't want to startle a sleeping dog, stomp your foot near them or bump the couch or bed they're sleeping on. The vibration usually awakens them, he says.

Other than that, Russell says, people really don't need to make a lot of special adjustments for their deaf pets.

How to keep a deaf dog safe.

First, you must keep the dog on a leash or in a fenced yard for it's own safety. A deaf dog can't hear a car or other danger coming.

To keep track of your dog, put a bell on her collar, Becker suggests. And put a tag on her that says "Deaf," along with your contact information.

To get your pet's attention, deaf dogs can be taught to come in with the flash of a porch light or flashlight at night.

During the day it can be harder to get their attention if the dog is focused on something else. Usually waving your arms works.  Deaf dogs usually bond with their owners  so well that they look to them constantly. However, they may need to be touched to get their attention if they are in the middle of a barking frenzy. I have found a wealth of information available on caring for deaf dogs. Many deaf dogs dropped off at public shelters are usually euthanized.

If you are considering adopting, remember deaf dogs can do almost anything a hearing dog can do. They are just dogs that can't hear.