AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |
Back to Blog
Deaf dog training hand signals4/9/2024 ![]() The most important thing is to use positive reinforcement to reward desired behaviors. Training a deaf dog may seem like a daunting task, but it is actually very similar to training any other dog.ĭeaf dogs can be trained using hand signals and visual cues, in the same way that many dog owners teach their hearing dogs. As Bertie aged he lost most of his hearing, but he always stayed nearby and regularly checked in with us, so we were still able to have him safely off-leash © The Cat and Dog House How do I train my deaf dog? To get her attention you can try using a flashlight or simply just stay in her eyeline.Īgain, teaching a regular check-in will help with this. When your deaf dog is outdoors, she may become anxious if she can’t see you or doesn’t know where you are. Having said that, you can train your deaf dog to perform a regular check-in with you as well as a reliable recall so she can have some free, off-leash time. ![]() You can always use a harness and a long line to give her some extra freedom. We would always wake or approach him carefully and respectfully and give him a chance to orient himself before moving on to the next thing © The Cat and Dog House Can I have my deaf dog off-leash?ĭeaf dogs are “less protected from certain dangers, such as motor vehicles,” says Strain, so once your deaf dog is outside, it’s not really safe to have her off-leash unless she’s in a securely fenced yard. Bertie would sleep long and deeply as he got older and deafer. I’ll go into this in more detail a bit later.Īnother option for getting your deaf dog’s attention is to very gently touch or stroke her shoulder until she looks at you. I’d always make sure to make eye contact and have a happy face to communicate with Bertie, and would use a hand flash in the same way you might use a marker word like “yes” or “good” or a clicker to mark good behavior (followed by a reward). I’d leave my hand there for him to sniff and only when he had fully gathered his senses would we move to the next step of going outside. The movement and vibration would wake him gradually, and I’d then wait till he’d fully woken and had seen me. To wake him without startling him, I used to gently tap on his bed a few inches from his nose. Although we generally didn’t disturb him, sometimes we had to wake him up to take him out for a bathroom break last thing at night. ![]() Our senior dog Bertie began to show a loss of hearing around the age of 16 years (he lived to be 18½) and would sleep long and deeply. It’s preferable not to wake your dog, but if you have to for some reason, then do it gradually. So take extra care if you approach her from where she can’t see you, if you touch her without her realizing you’re there, or if you need to wake her up or move her for some reason. This is most likely because a deaf dog may react to a perceived threat before she has the chance to rationalize what’s happening. George Strain of the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine points out that deaf dogs are more likely to be startled, which can lead to biting. Don’t worry – your deaf dog can still have a wonderful, happy life with you. I’ll also provide some extra resources if you need more help in caring for your furry friend. In this article, I’ll discuss some tips for living with and training a deaf dog. Not at all! Deaf dogs can live just as full and happy lives as any other dog – it may just take a bit of extra effort on the part of their owners. They offer us companionship, love, and loyalty – and make our lives a lot more fun.īut what if your dog can’t hear? Does it limit her ability to enjoy life? There’s no doubt that dogs are amazing creatures. Should I use a vibrating collar on my deaf dog?. ![]()
0 Comments
Read More
Leave a Reply. |