Do you have a deaf dog? Have you ever had the chance to work with a deaf dog? Until Whitney, I had never owned a deaf dog. Whitney was a senior dog who had completely lost her hearing but had perfect vision. She could see a robin clear across the yard!.
Whitney’s deafness presented a training challenge and necessitated some modifications, but I think that Whitney’s other senses—smell, peripheral vision, and body language—may have even been strengthened, as is frequently the case when people are deaf. Although all dogs are keen observers of body language, deaf dogs are even more perceptive of gestures and body language. This was certainly true in Whitney’s case.
Dogs are taught to understand intent and meaning through “speech” from owners and trainers. The verbal route is not an option when working with a deaf dog. Communication needs to focus on the visual sense instead. The most crucial thing is to move your hands, face, and body with caution and purpose.
When Whitney performed a desired behavior as intended, I would clap my hands. That training cue was more for me than her. Whitney, of course, was unable to hear my cheers, but she nonetheless understood that bringing my hands together was a sign of approval. I would give Whitney a treat as soon as I taught her this new cue so that she would know she had earned access to something she found rewarding.
One of the most beneficial behaviors for a deaf dog, and the one to work on first, is to heavily mark and reinforce eye contact. Naturally, your dog must be staring at you to observe any hand motions you may be making. The following step was to keep an eye out for something Whitney did that I liked. For instance, I would use a visual hand clap marker to note when she sat and then reinforce that action. I had to be quick to catch Whitney’s attention so I could quickly give my visual cue and then repeat it.
Fostering a “check-in” behavior is essential. Another thing to think about is how to get your deaf dog’s attention since you can’t call your dog to you. You should mark and encourage your dog’s attention-seeking whenever it occurs. Sometimes you can get your deaf dog’s attention via vibrations. There’s a chance that stomping or tapping the floor will cause a loud enough vibration to get your dog’s attention. I frequently employed this method at home with Whitney. When your dog gives you a look, note and reward it. I used to call Whitney inside from the yard by crossing my right arm over my chest and putting my left hand on my left shoulder. Whitney could see this wide sweep clearly from a distance.
If it’s dark or dusk, you can also try turning on and off the lights to refocus your dog’s attention on you. Some people employ a tiny flashlight, but always take care not to shine it directly into the dog’s eyes. Keep in mind that you should always follow up marking with something your dog finds reinforcing.
Shoulder tapping, which conveys the command “look at me,” is another helpful technique to train with a deaf dog. Tap your dog on the shoulder and then give him a tiny piece of something delicious to eat. Repeat this pattern frequently and in each room of your house before starting to practice outside. Your dog will start to anticipate the tasty treat when he hears the tap because he will learn that it is a sign of good things to come.
Continue to train your dog to turn to face you by rewarding it. You may eventually be able to substitute attention and affection for your food reinforcer after countless, countless, countless repetitions in order to maintain the behavior once it has been established.
Keep in mind that deaf dogs frequently startle when you begin to teach them the shoulder tap. A deaf dog may be startled when you suddenly appear because it cannot hear you coming and occasionally cannot feel the vibrations of someone nearby. Work on associating people’s approach with positive things. Every time you approach your deaf dog, you might have to hold back a small amount of a delicious food.
The following stage in deaf dog training is to add more visual cues for communication. Some people prefer to communicate with signs in American Sign Language (ASL) or single-handed versions of the ASL signs. Additionally, you can create your own signals provided they are distinct and reliable.
Teaching a recall is another essential skill for communicating with a deaf dog. Working on longer-distance recalls in fenced areas or while wearing a long leash is advised because I am a staunch supporter of putting safety first. However, as with any behavior, you should begin your training in close quarters and in a quiet setting. Move away, initially just an inch at a time, and then ask your dog to come to you by giving a visual cue. As the dog approaches where you are, watch for movement in your direction and make sure to reinforce. As with any recall, gradually increase the distance before adding distractions.
As you practice recall with a deaf dog, the regular “check-in” behavior you previously taught will be crucial. Your deaf dog needs to look back at you for guidance. Remember, just like training a hearing dog, be sure to break any new behavior into small pieces and train in brief training sessions with many opportunities to “get it right.” Behaviors that are reinforced are repeated, so be sure that your pup finds coming to you when “called” a highly reinforcing behavior! ” Always end the exercise on a positive note.
There are common frustrations training ANY dog, or ANY animal. However, these frustrations might be worsened if the dog is deaf. Try to keep in mind that even though you think you have divided the task into very small, manageable pieces and are speaking clearly and effectively, you are actually speaking with a different species.
A deaf dog may initially find it challenging to communicate in different ways because humans tend to focus on verbal exchanges of information. If you ever feel overburdened, pause and take a break. Return to something very basic, like maintaining eye contact and highlighting and rewarding this desirable behavior. Celebrate small victories, but keep in mind that this is a marathon, not a sprint. As with hearing dogs, communicating and training with your deaf dog will be an ongoing process for you.
Can my deaf dog understand me?
A dog experiences the world differently from you and me. Dogs utilize all manners of non-verbal communication. Even hearing dogs rely heavily on body language. Consider the times you have interacted with dogs or have seen them interact with one another. Here are just a few examples:
Although deaf dogs can’t hear our voice or our tone, or the barks, growls, and whimpers of other dogs, they can still read body language just like any other dog.
How do I know if my dog is deaf?
The BAER (Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response) test is the most reliable method of determining whether your dog is deaf. Computers are used in the procedure to record the brain’s electrical response to particular sounds and pitches.
Your regular veterinarian might not be able to provide BAER testing because it is typically carried out by a veterinary neurologist. If you can’t get this test, DDEAF also suggests the following do-it-yourself test to determine hearing loss:
Dogs that do not respond to these auditory stimuli may not hear well. Consult your veterinarian if you’re concerned that your dog might be experiencing hearing loss.
If a deafness or hearing loss diagnosis is made for your dog, you’ll likely feel worse about it than they do. Dogs are resilient and don’t feel sorry for themselves. Deaf dogs can live long, happy lives with the right communication techniques in place.
Signs of Hearing Problems with Your Dog
If your dog exhibits any of the following symptoms, your veterinarian should conduct an examination to rule out any ear issues or signs of deafness.
Since dogs’ hearing mechanisms are essentially the same as those of humans, they can develop hearing loss for many of the same reasons as do people: they can be born deaf or develop hearing loss as a result of dirt, wax, ear mites, or other foreign objects in their ears; an infection or inflammation of the ear canal; head trauma; noise trauma; exposure to certain antibiotics or other drugs; or old age. I don’t know when or why Edgar started to lose his hearing, but aging is undoubtedly a factor in some of it.
However, he also had a persistent skin infection that had spread to his ears. I treated this with antibiotics because either of these conditions can result in hearing loss. His hearing seemed to have gotten worse over night, but it was probably a gradual process that I wasn’t aware of until he showed some of the more noticeable symptoms, such as pacing around looking for his people, being visibly distressed when left alone, and reacting startlingly to being touched while he was sleeping. Related article.
Dogs are especially at risk for ear infections. Hereâs how to prevent them.
Dogs are very adaptable and skilled at making up for their hearing loss, as they are in most other areas, claims Dr Colette Williams, DVM, an electrodiagnostician at the Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital of the University of California, Davis She uses brainstem auditory evoked response (BAER) technology to test animals for hearing loss among many other experiments. Breeders frequently seek her advice, using BAER to detect congenital deafness in their puppies.
Dr. Williams has examined thousands of dogs and has two hearing-impaired pets. One of her dogs, a Dalmatian that was born deaf, learned the hand signals that Dr. Williams created. The key, according to her, was consistency and rewarding him with treats. At the time, I also had a hearing dog, and he was more challenging to train than the deaf dog. â Hearing dogs often aid a deaf dog, Dr. Williams points out. They give social cues and can help with training. Williams’ deaf dog accepted his condition and moved on with life, just like Edgar had to. “Dogs don’t have the same level of self-pity that many people do,” â.
Diane Rich, a dog trainer in the Seattle area who has worked with many deaf dogs over the past 25 years, emphasizes the significance of learning alternative forms of communication whether your dog is deaf or has excellent hearing. She instructs people to use a mix of auditory cues, hand signals, and body language. In this manner, the dog won’t feel quite as alone if they lose their hearing as they age. People prefer to communicate with an older dog, she claims. âIt takes a lot of patience. You must learn new ways to communicate besides just verbally. â.
Rich also suggests teaching all puppies the command “watch” in addition to the standard commands. Maintain eye contact with the dog as you slowly raise some appetizing food to your eye level near the dog’s nose. Say âWatchâ or âLook. Work on “fading the lure” until you can eventually just point to your eye and command the dog’s full attention. âDogs use an array of body language already,â says Rich. People must be able to communicate with their dog through their own body language. â.
Any hand signal will do as long as it is used consistently, even though some people teach their deaf dogs American Sign Language. There is no limit to the number of words or signs a dog can learn, claims Rich. As long as they have a pulse and you are motivated and patient, they can learn. Making training enjoyable will encourage learning and strengthen your relationship with the students. She argues that contrary to popular belief, older dogs can learn new tricks and in some cases, because of their longer attention spans, training them is simpler.
Instead of feeling sorry for your dog, consider his disability as a matter of fact. âDogs arenât saddled with ego,â she says. If we feel sorry for them, it may lead to the dog acting out or shutting down because they believe their behavior has offended us. Dogs will react as though the disability isn’t a big deal if you act that way. â.
He still remembers the hand signals we learned in puppy class 15 years ago, such as “come,” “sit,” “stay,” “down,” and “good boy,” which Edgar and I practice each day. When he performs an action well, I pat him and smile while giving the thumbs up. He continues to give me a blank look as I tell him my jokes, as he always has. Despite the fact that he needs a lot of extra care due to all of his special needs, I am happy to give it to him in appreciation for the joy he has brought me. In conclusion, he is still my best friend, and advancing age will never change that, despite the fact that he has lost his hearing, arthritis has slowed him down, he sleeps for most of the day, and he is unable to fully participate in all of our old antics. Related article.
FAQ
How do you get the attention of a deaf dog?
When the dog is within reach, it is simpler to get the dog’s attention. When the dog is within reach, it is simpler to get the dog’s attention. Give your dog a gentle, deliberate double tap on the rump or flank with one or two fingers to get his attention if you are within reach of him.
How do you communicate with a newly deaf dog?
Sometimes you can get your deaf dog’s attention via vibrations. A loud enough vibration could be produced by stomping or tapping on the floor to get your dog’s attention. When your dog gives you a look, note and reward it. Additionally, your dog may become interested if you wave your hands or arms distantly.
What are the hand signals for deaf dogs?
Deaf dog hand signals include: Lie down, come here, stay, go outside for a wee, walkies, let’s play, get your toy, drop it, bring it to me, eat, dinnertime, no, stop it, someone is at the door, and sit.
Can a deaf dog hear a dog whistle?
Some dogs who would normally be deaf can hear specific frequencies, like a loud dog whistle. Use this whistle and encourage your dog to respond if he is fortunate enough to have this level of hearing. You never know when it will come in handy.