| My first experience with a deaf dog occurred when I | | | | well behaved (in public) which confirmed my belief |
| was about 16 years old and my family decided to | | | | that he knew right from wrong, he just chose to |
| adopt a dog from a local Humane Society. We fell in | | | | pretend otherwise. The other participants in the class |
| love with "Shorty" because, well, she was odd looking | | | | were simply amazed that a deaf dog could be trained |
| and seemed so very sweet. We brought her home | | | | rather easily. In fact, Chance was doing all the same |
| and after a couple of hours we realized something | | | | things the hearing dogs were doing in the same |
| was not right. We could clap our hands directly above | | | | amount of training time. One participant told me she |
| her head and she did not flinch a bit. We called the | | | | had told her mother how brave I was to take on |
| Humane Society and asked if they knew the dog | | | | such a responsibility. It never seemed to be that |
| was deaf and they claimed they did not. They did | | | | much of an issue. |
| say we could return the dog on Monday when the | | | | I recently corresponded with someone who was |
| shelter reopened but we knew there was no way | | | | considering adoption of a deaf dog and came to |
| this would happen. How could we return a dog we | | | | realize so many people do not realize how much of a |
| had bonded with only because she was deaf? We | | | | non-issue it really is. Dogs are dogs. If you are |
| never could have lived with ourselves if she had been | | | | considering adoption of a dog, hearing or non-hearing, |
| euthanized by the shelter. | | | | you should be familiar with dog behavior. Second, a |
| Shorty turned out to be the best dog we ever had. I | | | | breed is a breed. There are certain breed specific |
| trained her to sit up, roll over, sit, lie down, and shake | | | | behaviors that will be present regardless of ability to |
| hands. I had no formal background in dog training and | | | | hear. Again, this is a consideration when adopting any |
| was still in high school. She was apparently a very | | | | dog. What breed will work best for your family and |
| smart dog. She learned the boundaries of our | | | | home environment? Third, there are a few special |
| property and after a few years she never left our | | | | considerations for deaf dogs. If you already have |
| yard. We never thought of her as having a | | | | dogs in your home, will they accept another dog into |
| "disability", she was just our dog who was a little | | | | the "pack"? Remember, deaf dogs will not be able to |
| different. | | | | hear that low throated growl sound that is used to |
| The first dog I adopted after leaving home was a | | | | warn newer dogs to "back off". Whether or not this |
| "hearing" dog and it actually took a while to get used | | | | is an issue depends on your current situation. Deaf |
| to it. I had gotten used to a dog not being able to | | | | dogs will also not be able to hear small children |
| hear the doorbell ring, the potato chip bag being | | | | approaching from behind or when they are asleep. |
| opened, and movement around the house. It just | | | | Non-hearing dogs can be easily startled and may |
| seemed odd to have a dog who could hear | | | | react by snapping. Children should be taught how to |
| everything. Many years later, I came upon Chance, a | | | | approach the new dog and not to startle it. Deaf |
| deaf seven month old Catahoula Leopard Dog. His | | | | dogs also should not be allowed off leash unless they |
| sad story included a breeder who wanted to | | | | are in a fenced in area since you will not be able to |
| euthanize him because he was deaf and a lady who | | | | use verbal cues to recall your dog. |
| rescued him from the breeder but did not have time | | | | Training a deaf dog should not be difficult if you have |
| to work with him. The Catahoula breed is notoriously | | | | experience training other, hearing dogs. There are |
| intelligent, independent, energetic, and headstrong...in | | | | some dog trainers who have experience in this area |
| other words, not easy to train even on a good day. | | | | to help you with use of hand signals. Some deaf dog |
| Chance came to live with us two years ago and he | | | | owners use hand signals similar to American Sign |
| has learned to sit, lie down, shake hands and walk | | | | Language, but what really matters is the level of |
| properly on a leash. There were days that I | | | | communication between you and your dog. |
| suspected he was acting like a human teenager and | | | | If you are contemplating bringing a dog into your |
| was simply ignoring me instead of being deaf. He | | | | family, consider adoption from a rescue organization. |
| knows, at all times, what is going on in our house. He | | | | Please also consider adopting a deaf dog who will |
| seems to know, by some sort of instinct, when I | | | | bring years of love to your family with only minimal |
| enter the kitchen. His sense of smell is amazing. | | | | additional investment in training time for you and your |
| Last year, I took Chance to a puppy class offered | | | | family. |
| by a local veterinarian office. Chance was incredibly | | | | |