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Quick Summary
- Train a deaf dog using positive reinforcement. Treats always help build trust as well as get their attention.
- Use hand signals to train your dog and mark a good behavior.
- Take care not to startle a deaf dog. Do this by touching the dog in one same spot as you offer a treat. As with any new thing you will teach a deaf dog, start when your dog can see you. Once she is used to that, begin doing the same exercise with you out of sight.
If you are wondering how to train a deaf dog, it basically also works through positive reinforcement and the use of treats. Markers through hand signals are also essential training methods. Below, I’ve written a comprehensive guide on how to spot a deaf pup, how to interact and take care of them, and a list of useful hand signals.
There is not much in life that is as cute as a litter of puppies playing together. Watching them chase one another, yip, and bow down in banter is adorable. But, sometimes, a pup will be born a little different from their brothers and sisters. While some ailments are easy to spot, others might be a little more difficult to determine. For instance, what if one of them is born deaf? How would you know?
Deaf puppies won’t think they are any different than the others. I’ve seen many deaf dogs and they’re still lovable little balls of fluffy energy. The difference is that they don’t know that a breeze rustles leaves, that birds chirp, or that the sound of food bowls means it’s dinner time. So while he may be happy with life the way it is, the lucky human that ends up with a friend for life will need to learn a few ways to interact with him appropriately.
How to Spot a Deaf Puppy
There are a few things you can do if you suspect your puppy is deaf:
Observe the Ears
As your puppy is walking around, observe her ears. Dogs will turn their heads towards the direction of the sound to figure out what is making it. A deaf dog doesn’t hear anything interesting, so it will not display this behavior.
Easily Frightened
If the pup seems easily frightened when you approach him or jumps when you touch him from behind, this is a clue. While he can feel your footsteps, he won’t know which direction they are coming from and maybe startled. So, if your pup cries or shies away from you when you approach him from behind, he may be deaf.
Calling From Another Room
If you suspect your puppy has a hearing impairment, try going into another room and calling him loudly to you. The pup can see you in the same room, read your body language, and likely go to you. However, if you go out of the room and call him, and he only comes to you when you come back into sight, this indicates an issue.
Make Noise
Squeak a loud dog toy or shake your keys and see if the puppy reacts. Dogs love investigating the world around them and will naturally seek out the source of the noise. A deaf puppy will be oblivious. Try different objects and sounds to see if you garner a reaction. No reaction could indicate complete deafness, while a moderate one like turning his head slightly may mean the impairment is not total.
Waking the Puppy Up
When your pup is asleep, try calling her name or whistling. Start across the room, moving a little closer each time. Puppies wake up or at least stir a bit in response to sounds while sleeping, but a deaf puppy will not.
Auditory Exam
Finally, take your new ball of fluff to the veterinarian. The vet can refer you to a place that performs brainstem auditory evoked response (BAER) testing [1]. While it may sound intimidating, the test is painless, brief, and measures the electrical activity in the cochlea. It will give you a definitive answer to the level of auditory response, and therefore deafness, that your puppy may or may not have.
If it is determined you have a deaf puppy, don’t freak out! Raising and training a deaf dog is not much different than having a hearing dog. The main difference is that you will be mainly using dog training hand signals as opposed to voice commands. Once you become accustomed to that, you both can have a happy and complete life together. The following tips will give you a great head start.
Take Care Not to Startle a Deaf Dog
Even when sleeping, a hearing dog will know you are coming towards them because of the noise you are making. Unfortunately, deaf dog doesn’t have the luxury of that warning, so they are often scared or startled by a person touching them or suddenly appearing.
Because of this, it is essential for dog owners to desensitize the dog to reduce the anxiety that comes with this. You can accomplish this by always touching the dog in the same spot while offering a treat each time. Start this training by only doing it when your dog can see you. Once she is used to that, you can begin doing the same exercise with you out of sight.
The dog will soon associate the soft touch in that spot with something good—a yummy treat!
How to Gently Wake Up a Deaf Dog
Since your deaf dog will not hear you calling him when you want to wake him up, you need another solution. To train him to wake up to a gentle touch, start by placing your hand in front of his nose while he is sleeping. This action allows him to smell you. Then, gently stroke a few hairs and gradually increase the pressure you apply until he wakes up. Finally, when his eyes are open, offer a treat as a reward. In this manner, he learns that waking up to your touch is a good thing.
Training a Deaf Dog to Come to You When Called
One major issue owners of deaf dogs have is figuring out how to train a dog to come when called. Auditory commands will not work, so you will have to get creative. Luckily, there are a couple of solutions to help you with this problem.
Vibrating Collar
Vibrating collars are popular with owners of deaf dogs, and for a good reason. The best dog GPS trackers commonly have this feature among other helpful ones like tracking your dog’s location, monitoring health, and more. When you want your dog to come to you, you press a button on a hand-held device, which remotely activates the collar to vibrate, similar to a cell phone. When the dog is trained with this type of collar, they learn that the soft vibration means to look toward the owner and follow whatever hand signal is given. For more information on these collars, visit the Deaf Dog Education Action Fund [2] .
Do not confuse a vibrating collar with an electric shock collar. Think of how a cell phone vibrates. It is meant to get your attention, not give you an electric shock. Likewise, training your deaf dog should not include any form of punishment. Think of it as the vibration replaces your voice, soft and gentle without causing any pain. Be sure to know the types of dog training collars before getting one.
Recalling at Night
One handy trick you can use to train your deaf dog to come at night when they are outside is to turn an outdoor light on and off. When you begin training a deaf dog to notice this, be sure to offer treats when she pays attention.
Hearing Dogs
If you have a hearing dog in the same house as a deaf one, it can be easier to train for recall. Dogs are pack animals and will learn to respond when their hearing companion responds to noise. This behavior is learned from the time they are very young pups, which is one reason it can be challenging to determine if a puppy is actually deaf—they respond along with their littermates.
When your hearing-impaired dog is outside with a dog that can hear, they will learn that they will be left behind if they don’t follow along.
Stomping the Floor
You can communicate with a deaf dog indoors by training her to look at you and have eye contact when you stomp on the floor. The dog can feel the vibrations caused by the action, and in this manner, it is much like the vibrating collar. Unfortunately, this will not work if your home is built on a concrete slab and you are on the bottom floor.
Hand Signals for Deaf Dogs
When training a deaf dog, hand signals are used instead of voice commands. There are no hard rules on which ones to use. Many trainers will use hand signals in conjunction with auditory ones when training hearing dogs, and these work well with deaf dogs as well.
You may even want to pick up an American sign language (ASL) book to help you. Many owners have found success with using these signals. The key is to be consistent and make sure the movements you choose do not look too similar and confuse the pup.
Here are some popular signals used to train a deaf dog:
Good dog:
A thumbs up or wave will let your deaf dog know you are pleased.
Shoulder Shrug
You can use an exaggerated shoulder shrug to show disappointment as if you are saying, “What did you just do?”
Come
Raise your right arm to 12 o’clock, then sweep it clockwise down to 6 o’clock.
Down
Raise your right arm to 90 degrees with your palm facing down, then lower your palm toward the ground.
Get Down
Start with your palm up and quickly flip it down. This movement works well to get the dog off of the furniture, out of the car, or even off of you.
Stay
Point your finger.
Meal Time
Put your fingers to your mouth.
I Love You
Place your hand over your heart and smile.
Of course, you don’t have to use these as the sign language for your and your pup. What matters is what you are comfortable with and will use consistently. Again, just make sure that the hand signals you use are unique, or your dog may get confused.
More Tips to Care for and Train a Deaf Dog
You will need to be more physically active when working with a deaf dog. For instance, you can give a verbal command to get a hearing dog to stop chewing on something she is not supposed to. However, with a deaf dog, you will have to go over to the dog, give the chosen hand signal, and redirect the dog’s attention, such as a chew toy.
Furthermore, you must take extra steps to keep your deaf dog safe. They cannot hear traffic and are more likely to be hit by a car. Never let a deaf dog off-leash when they are not within a fenced area. You also need to ensure that the place in which the dog plays is safe and secure so they cannot escape. These tips are also applicable to when a dog loses hearing due to old age.
Advantages of Having Deaf Dogs as Pets
While you have to learn different ways to train a deaf dog, owning one has distinct benefits. For example, deaf dogs are not going to be as reactive to noise as hearing dogs are. So you will not have a dog that constantly barks every time someone rings the bell or knocks on the door. Likewise, if you travel a lot, your deaf dog will not be barking at noises other hotel guests make. This is not to say deaf dogs do not bark, as they do. However, it is not noise-reactive barking. If you live in a condo or apartment building, this can be a huge plus.
Dogs are amazing creatures that bring love and joy to our lives. And deaf dogs are no different; they enjoy having fun while playing, pleasing their owners when training, and giving love just like any other dog!
How to Train a Deaf Dog FAQ
Are deaf dogs harder to train?
Deaf dogs are not harder to train; you just have to adjust training methods. When learning how to train a deaf dog, you will see that hand signals, such as American sign language, and consistency is vital.
How do you get the attention of a deaf dog?
Getting the attention of a deaf dog can be accomplished through the use of vibrating collars. This is different from training a dog with a shock collar; instead, these collars vibrate gently like a cell phone and alert your dog that they should look at you. Indoors, you can also stomp your foot, as your dog will feel the vibration and turn his attention to you. When it is dark outside, turning a light on and off works well.
Can you train a dog that is deaf?
You absolutely can train a deaf dog. Instead of verbal commands, you will be using hand signals and positive reinforcement. Many people choose their hand commands based on American sign language. Make sure the movements do not resemble each other, be patient and persistent, and you will find success.
Can a deaf dog hear a dog whistle?
The level of auditory response your dog has will determine if she can hear a dog whistle or not. Take your pet to a facility that performs brainstem auditory evoked response (BAER) tests. They can help you ascertain this. Or, you can buy a whistle and see if your dog has any reaction to it, like a cocked head or turning towards you. Some otherwise deaf dogs can hear the shrill sounds the whistle makes, and only through testing will you be able to determine if yours is one of them.
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