Training and Living with a Deaf Dog
Thursday, November 29th, 2007We recently had our first experience with a deaf puppy and were faced with the predicament of whether to put him to sleep or attempt to find him a home. We couldn’t put him to sleep- his personality still shone through despite his impairment, and he loved nothing more than to follow us around the house and fall asleep at our feet. We didn’t know Barney was deaf until he was away from his littermates, as he tended to sleep near them and woke up from the vibrations, however it wasn’t till he was alone and we called him, he didn’t wake up…
Barney has since found a loving and understanding home where he will live out a happy life, however we thought it might be helpful for others out there in the process of training and perhaps just pondering on the possibility of acquiring a deaf puppy to know what to expect.
Bulldogs carry the gene for deafness.
If you are going to live with a deaf dog, you will have to learn a new way to communicate with that dog. You will have to tune into the world of movement, vibration and light. You must use some type of sign language system, either American Sign Language or signs you invent yourself. It will seem strange at first, but both you and your dog will adapt quickly. All that’s required is a willingness to learn.