![]() ![]() But no doubt, you do a lot of talking to your dog, too. Because any dog can nip when frightened, it’s essential to desensitize your dog and teach them that being startled is a good thing and can lead to rewards.You may have seen deaf dogs responding to the hand signals of their owners, and perhaps, you use hand signals with your own dog. This can be of even more concern with dogs who lose their hearing later in life because they no longer have the auditory cues they previously relied on. Startle TrainingĪlthough your deaf dog can feel your approach through vibrations in the floor, they can’t hear you coming and might startle when you touch them or suddenly appear. Then, when you’re training new behaviors, any time your dog does something correctly, give them the gesture before offering a reward. ![]() The most practical marker for a deaf dog would be a hand signal (such as a thumbs-up gesture).įirst, you need to pair the gesture with rewards so your dog learns it predicts something wonderful is about to happen. And the true strength of clicker training is marking the behaviors you want your dog to repeat. Although they can’t hear the noise of a clicker, you can mark a behavior with almost anything. You might be surprised to learn that clicker training will work with a deaf dog. If they already know hand signals, the transition to deafness will be far easier for you both. Plus, many dogs lose hearing as they age. Hand signals are excellent to use for communicating with any dog because dogs often pay more attention to what people do than what people say. This becomes the traditional hand signal of lifting your hand palm up from your side to a 90-degree angle. For example, to teach your dog to sit, you can lure them into position by lifting a treat over their head. The movement of the lure naturally evolves into the signal as you fade the lure. One of the easiest ways to teach hand signals is with lure-and-reward training. Deaf dogs can excel in these pursuits just as well as dogs who can hear. You can also use hand signals for tricks like rolling over and for dog sports like Agility or AKC Rally. Dogs are remarkable at reading body language, yet signals that are too similar can confuse them. Make sure each signal is distinct from the others. However, be consistent so you always use the same signal for the same behavior. Some people use American Sign Language, others use traditional obedience gestures, or you can make up your own. You can choose any signal you like for each behavior. When it comes to teaching your deaf dog obedience behaviors, hand signals are the perfect way to communicate what you want them to do. Hand Signals for Obedience and Dog Sports Stomp on the floor or pound the floor with your fist. Also, some dogs can become compulsive about chasing the light. This will show in daylight, but avoid flashing it in your dog’s eyes. Your dog can see the wink of a flashlight out of the corner of their eye, but a flashlight works best at night (such as when your dog is out in the yard). Keep your touch gentle so you don’t startle your dog. The following will give you some ideas: Gentle TouchĪlways touch your dog in the same place, such as the shoulder or top of the rear end. There are many options for an attention signal. Now you have a way of asking for attention when your dog is preoccupied.ĭenise Welk uses a handle signal with her deaf dog Juno. ![]() In time, your dog will turn to you as soon as they experience the signal. Next, wait until your dog is looking away before you give the signal and offer the treat. ![]() When your dog is looking at you, give the signal and then feed a treat. It’s also valuable to teach your dog a signal that means “look at me.” You can’t speak their name or use a verbal cue like “ watch me,” but you can use anything your dog can sense (like a gentle touch or a flash of light). In addition, games like hide-and-seek encourage your dog to check in with you. This will reinforce the behavior and your dog will learn that paying attention to you is worth their while. Start by rewarding your dog with a treat or game anytime they voluntarily look at you. The first step in training a deaf dog is teaching them to focus on you. But your dog can’t see your signals if they aren’t looking at you. Teach Focusīecause your deaf dog can’t hear your voice, you must rely on visual cues like hand signals or other body language to communicate. Whether your dog was born deaf or lost hearing with age or an ailment, read on to learn how to train a deaf dog. You need to teach them basic obedience, just as you would with a dog who can hear, and with a few other lessons like focus and startle resistance, your deaf dog can understand and obey you with ease. Although working with them requires a shift in technique, they aren’t much more of a commitment than any other dog. You might think a deaf dog is extra challenging to train and own. ![]()
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