Deaf dogs can lead long a long and happy life despite their handicap. Like any other dog, deaf dogs require basic training to learn where to do their business, how to walk on a leash and other tricks like sitting and lying down. Training a deaf dog can seem a little intimidating, but it really isn’t much harder than training a dog who can hear. It is just a matter of using the proper technique. Here are a few tips for training a deaf dog that will make the whole process faster and easier.
Tips for training a deaf dog
The first thing that owners of deaf dogs need to understand is that deaf dogs can be easily startled if not approached properly. The last thing you want to do is scare your dog by touching him or her when he or she isn’t expecting it. Because deaf dogs cannot hear your approach, it is best to always make your presence known before getting close or touching them. Always approach them from the front, where they can see you. Another way of alerting your dog that you are walking towards them is to stomp your feet a few times, which will create vibrations in the floor that your dog will be able to sense. If your deaf dog is sleeping, you can sit beside him or her and gently stroke their head until he or she wakes up.
1. Training a deaf dog: use hand signals
It’s obvious that you can’t give verbal commands to your deaf dog in an effort to teach him or her basic dog training. Instead, use gestures to communicate with your dog. Gestures are often used even in hearing dogs along with a verbal command, so this isn’t much different than training a dog that can hear. For example, pointing down can be used for ‘sit’, a hand with the palm facing the floor for ‘lay down’ and a hand with the palm facing the dog can symbolize ‘stay’. The other rules of training a dog stay the same: teach only one trick at a time, give your dog plenty of time to master each skill, and praise him or her every time he or she successfully obeys your commands. It’s just a matter of finding a way of communicating with your pet that the dog can understand. Treats, a good ear rub and hand gesture such as thumbs up work particularly well as rewards.
2. Training a deaf dog: get a vibration collar
Vibration collars can be a great tool to get your dog’s attention. Never, under any circumstances, use a shock collar on your dog as the goal isn’t to punish your dog when he or she doesn’t obey your command. The goal is to get his or her attention when you are ready to give a hand signal. Using shock collars in training will only serve to confuse your dog and scare him or her out of learning anything. Laser pointers can also be used while training a deaf dog, but owners should be careful to ensure that the dog doesn’t think of the pointer as a game, or all the focus that should have been put on training will instead be directed at trying to catch the light.
3. Training a deaf dog: be patient
This might be the most important tip for training a deaf dog: you need to be consistent and show a lot of patience. This is true when training any dog, but especially so with the added difficulty that deafness brings along. Show your dog love, compassion and patience and you will be rewarded with a well-mannered companion that performs neat tricks on cue.
Summary
Learning how to train a deaf dog is essential to his or her success in learning basic skills like house training, sitting and leash training. Deaf dogs can learn just as well as dogs that can hear with hand signals, praise and a little patience. And you don’t have to stick to the basics either – your deaf dog can learn more advanced tricks just like any other dog with the right training program and structure. Check our article on how to raise a puppy for a long and healthy life.
