pls help - foster pup is deaf

1065 Views 9 Replies 6 Participants Last post by balakai, Jul 14, 2008

berrysheetmetal

Discussion Starter · Jul 10, 2008

I have a new foster pup. His name is Jake & is 8 weeks old. He has been to a couple different vets & to a specialist. Jake is deaf

I was wondering if anyone else has ever dealt with a deaf pup/dog. He is a very sweet loving pup but I don't know how to correct him or to teach him anything. He follows me & the other dogs everyplace but in many ways he seems to be in his own world.
I would like to be able to help this little one & find him a great forever home but I just don't know what to do for him.
I would love to hear from anyone that has any suggestions.
Thanks
Debby
volunteer
German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County
http://www.gsroc.org

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LandosMom

· #2 · Jul 10, 2008

my mom had a deaf pup. i have to say that it was her favorite dog ever. try training with hand signals.

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WiscTiger

· #3 · Jul 10, 2008

Good thing dogs are visual. You need to train the pup on hand signals.

I have always had a habit of training hand signals from pup on and it has come in handy with my first GSD (RIP) in his old age went deaf.

It helps if the pup is following the other dogs, now you just have to get the pup to look at you and learn the sign for what you want.

Val

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WiscTiger

· #4 · Jul 10, 2008

I found a link:

http://www.wagntrain.com/deaf_dog.htm

http://www.deafdogs.org/training/signs.php
This one has moving pictures of the hand signals.

Val

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berrysheetmetal

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jul 10, 2008

Thanks. I will read up on training using both voice & hand signals. I have trained all our dogs using hand signals. One of the problems with this little one is trying to get him to look at me. He seems to be more interested in other things right now. I'm sure there are many reasons for this, he is only 8 weeks old, he just got here last night so everything is new & then of course he cannot hear.
Thanks, I'm off to reading...
Debby
http://www.gsroc.org

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WiscTiger

· #6 · Jul 10, 2008

Debby you might want to teether the pup to you and teach watch me. The way I would do it is have a little treat in each hand, show the pup the treat in one hand, bring that hand up to you face, I go to my nose, because I want the dog focusing on the center of my face not just one eye, as soon as they are giving me that good eye contact I give the treat in the other hand and try not to break the pup looking at my eyes.

Make sure you document you signs, if the pup is going to a forever home they need to know how to talk to the pup.

Val

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arycrest

· #7 · Jul 11, 2008

You've been given some excellent suggestions. I've never had a deaf young pup, but have had a few elderly Hooligans lose their hearing. The one suggestion I can offer is to teach him to come when he sees the porch light, back yard light, or flashlight being flicked off and on - this enables a deaf dog to come when he can't see the hand signals in the dark.

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berrysheetmetal

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jul 11, 2008

Thanks so much for all the great suggestions.

Debby
http://www.gsroc.org

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dd

· #9 · Jul 11, 2008

There are two groups that work specifically with deaf dogs and you may wish to contact them for suggestions:

Deaf Dane Rescue:
http://gracieland.org/DaneRescue/danefaq.html#Special_signs

CODA :
http://coda.givemepaw.com/

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balakai

· #10 · Jul 14, 2008

http://www.deafdogs.org is a great site. My best friend, who has a Deaf JRT that has tons of agility titles, including some of the highest you can earn from multiple organizations, uses the site a LOT. There are a couple of email lists and forums (check the "Websites" page).

~Kristin

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