| Do deaf dogs bark? Do they easily get started? Are | | | | positively and not be anxious about it. |
| they difficult to train? These are the most common | | | | Note that this technique would not be possible if the |
| myths about canine deafness. I hope that knowing | | | | dog really bit every time it was startled, the most |
| what is true from what it is not will assist you and your | | | | common reaction to that for a deaf dog is to yelp in |
| dog in having a happier, healthier and long lasting life | | | | fear). A deaf dog can also be desensitized by gentle |
| together. Becoming a good deaf dog trainer takes little | | | | touch while sleeping. Let your pet smell your hand by |
| effort, it is just a matter of knowing the right deaf dog | | | | putting it in front of his or her nose, then gently graze |
| signs. Training a deaf puppy is actually a fun and | | | | his/her fur on the shoulder or back with two fingers, |
| rewarding process. | | | | then gently stroke him/her with the whole hand. Your |
| I am so pleased that you have come to this article | | | | pet will wake up sometime during this exercise and at |
| because it means that you are a responsible dog | | | | that point a treat is given so that waking up becomes |
| owner who truly cares about yours or someone else's | | | | a positive experience. The secret to training a deaf |
| dog. I am sorry to say that many perfectly healthy | | | | dog is to condition it to react positively to unexpected |
| dogs are put to sleep totally unnecessarily every year | | | | events and that is EASY when knowing the right |
| because so many people seem to believe what | | | | techniques. |
| amounts to nothing more than myths about canine | | | | Myth #2- "The Extremely Difficult to Train" MYTH |
| deafness. | | | | Deaf dogs are incredibly challenging to train because |
| Here you will find all the information you need to know | | | | they cannot hear the commands. |
| to help him or her to live a full, happy and healthy life | | | | This is so untrue. Dogs are tuned into the body |
| just like mine did. It's actually remarkably simple. I say | | | | language of the person before them, they respond to |
| this because training a dog that cannot hear requires | | | | signals and voice commands are used as only an |
| no more time or effort that doing so for a hearing dog. | | | | extra aid, they are not a requirement. Remember, dogs |
| Myth #1- Deaf dogs get startled easily because they | | | | don't know what words mean. Humans talk...dogs do |
| cannot hear you approaching from behind. They get | | | | not! And deaf dogs are even more tuned into the |
| startled when they are woken up, or when you touch | | | | body language of their owner. Deaf dogs in fact are |
| them and they are not looking. They will be always on | | | | extremely attentive and, from my experience, even |
| edge and eventually they will become fearful and | | | | more than hearing dogs (they are used to picking up |
| aggressive. | | | | our movements with their peripheral vision and make |
| This is one of the myths that has caused more | | | | eye contact on a regular basis). |
| damage than any other because it seems to make | | | | Dogs use their body to communicate their emotions; i.e., |
| sense. However any experienced owner will know this | | | | fear, cowering, happiness, aggression and they read |
| to be completely untrue. Dogs that become deaf over | | | | our bodies for exactly the same reason. Dogs do not |
| time adapt to their new conditions and those that are | | | | understand the stream of prattle that we direct at |
| born deaf do not know any differently. They simply do | | | | them in a doggie voice every day when we are |
| not realize that they cannot hear. | | | | playing or cuddling with them, because read our body |
| Actually, all puppies are born deaf and stay so for the | | | | language. Some dogs, like Dalmatians, have even |
| first few weeks of their lives so deafness is not alien | | | | learned to smile! |
| to them at all. In addition, any animal, including humans | | | | As most dog training is for hearing dogs, the deaf dog |
| can be startled by any movement that they were not | | | | owner needs to learn the right techniques. There are |
| expecting, did not hear or were not aware of in their | | | | simple methods that are used to train a visually |
| peripheral vision. This is a natural based survival instinct | | | | oriented dog and these have to be learned by the |
| in all creatures and dogs are no different. Whilst there | | | | owner in order to succeed with minimal effort, |
| may be an increased opportunity for this due to their | | | | otherwise he or she will fail. |
| deafness, there are simple ways to overcome these | | | | Myth #3- There is a chance that the deaf dog will go |
| rare occurrences. | | | | crazy with old age and will suddenly become |
| The obvious solution is to train your hearing- impaired | | | | aggressive. |
| dog or puppy and help them not to getting startled. I | | | | This is an urban myth. It never happened to my dog |
| call this the "sneak up" technique. It is based upon the | | | | nor to any other deaf dog that I have dealt with since |
| principle of allowing your dog to get used to people | | | | then. It is ridiculous to think that your loving family pet is |
| approaching from behind so that they get used to is. It | | | | a time bomb and that there is a chance that it may |
| is common sense really, but one thins that I have | | | | suddenly become like Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde as he or |
| learned about so many irresponsible dog owners is | | | | she gets older and start biting. Dogs become more |
| that it may make sense but it would appear that it is | | | | chilled as they age, not the reverse. Research shows |
| not very common, so it pays not to take anything for | | | | that deaf dogs are not brain damaged. (research done |
| granted. | | | | by Dr Strain of Louisiana State University published by |
| To use the 'sneak up' technique simply walk up to your | | | | the British Veterinary Journal) |
| dog from behind when he or she is not looking and | | | | And lastly, do deaf dogs bark? Of course they do, |
| touching them. Immediately give them a treat as they | | | | deaf dogs do not have an elaborate system of |
| turn around. By doing this your pet will associate a | | | | communication like we do that needs to be learned |
| pleasant sensation (food) with being touched | | | | through hearing. They act through instinct and if they |
| unexpectedly and therefore will learn to respond | | | | feel like barking, they will. |