Living with a Deaf
Aussie
The thought of living with a deaf dog may
seem like an insurmountable task for the common dog owner.
What would the average person know about training a dog
that can't hear? The good news is that average pet owners
do have the skills to own and train a deaf dog. Deaf dogs
are just like other dogs, except they cannot hear. They
run, play, cuddle and can be easily trained with the use of
hand signals.
Read on for some valuable information about living with a
deafie. Maybe you'll even decide to add one to your family.
What the Owners of Deaf
Dogs have to Say
Living with a deaf Aussie is very similar
to living with a hearing Aussie. Exercise and training are
very important. The only difference is that deaf Aussies
cannot be allowed offleash in unfenced areas. They can be
exercised in fenced in areas or on long lines. Training is
done visually or through touch (I personally use American
Sign Language in combination with touch signals, scents
(using target sticks), lights (ie, flashing lights or laser
lights), and vibrations (ie, stamping on the floor or
tapping the dogwalk, A-frame, or tunnel when doing
agility). Deaf Aussies can do anything.... except hear!
They can do agility, flyball, therapy work, etc. and are
often easier to train than hearing Aussies. They are not
distracted by sounds and have excellent eye contact with
and focus on their owners. They also are able to respond to
your commands through glass doors and you can impress your
friends by how your dog "listens" to you without you having
to use your voice. Deaf Aussies compensate for their lack
of hearing with their other senses. They do not know they
have a "disability" and are just as playful, active, and
fun as any other Aussie.
Kimberly -
Deaf Dog Owner
Having deaf dogs as part of our family has been
tremendously rewarding. That said, I can remember a much
different feeling when we first considered a ‘special
needs’ dog. What seemed a daunting task was merely a matter
of working past the intimidation of something so different
and recognizing that the most natural form of communication
for animals includes the use of body language. Establishing
a good visual connection (‘watch me’) and utilizing basic
hand signals helps to build a strong foundation for
effective communication. And while many deaf dogs do just
fine taking ‘cues’ from other dogs in their environment; my
experience is that you get what you put into something…deaf
dogs are no exception. They are not for the lazy (you can’t
call them from across the room/yard in the traditional way)
but, then again, I don’t think any dog should have a lazy
family! Deaf dogs are capable of more than a mundane
existence…they are hiking buddies, play pals, agility dogs
and so much more. They require the same structure and
commitment as other dogs to reach their full potential…it’s
just done in a slightly different way. For us, they’ve been
a great source of love and comfort; not only as an integral
part of our family but also as certified Therapy Dogs.
Marsha -
Deaf Dog Owner
Our family has
lived with deaf dogs for several years now. Our dogs have
been deaf since birth, so to them, it is all they know. Our
dogs run, play, and socialize no differently than our
hearing dogs. They can do activities such as agility,
obedience, and pet therapy amongst many others. It can be
very rewarding and fun to train a deaf dog. We find it very
special!
When living with deaf dogs, there are some adjustments that
need to be made, but overall we find them really not any
different than our hearing dogs. Some of the adjustments
that need to be made are training the dogs with hand
signals for basic obedience commands. Using eye contact to
be able to communicate with deaf dogs is important, as well
as touch. One of the most important would be a recall for
the deaf dog – this takes reinforcement such as treats or
lots of praise, and eye contact is very important since the
dog can’t hear a verbal cue, they need to see the hand
signal. These commands are typical for training any dog for
their basic manners, but just need some modification for a
deaf dog. Again we find it quite fun!
A securely fenced yard is preferable for a deaf dog to keep
them safe, obviously for commands such as a recall.
Otherwise if a fenced yard is not an option, a deaf dog
could potentially be leash walked and would do just fine!
A common concern for many is if a deaf dog will startle if
awakened suddenly. There are things that can be done to
ensure that a deaf dog isn’t startled such as using a
signal such as vibration to get their attention. This could
be done by stomping the floor.
With a little extra management, a deaf dog could be a great
and rewarding choice! Please consider adopting a deaf dog!
They really are wonderful.
Matt and
Lauren - Deaf Dog Owners
Links About Deaf Dogs
Aussielads
Deaf Dogs
Deaf Animal Row
Deaf Dog Yahoogroup
Training with a vibrating
collar
Deaf K9
D2care
Deaf Dog Atlas
Books About Deaf
Dogs
"Living with a Deaf
Dog" by Susan Cope Becker, ISBN: 0966005805
"Hear, Hear A Guide to Training a Deaf Puppy" by Barry
Eaton, ISBN: 095330390X
Videos
Deaf Aussie Doing Agility
Check out Youtube for videos on training deaf dogs.
Article
Breaking the Sound
Barrier:Living with and
Training the Deaf Dog by: Elisabeth Catalano, MA, CPDT, CDBC