Living with Our Deaf Pups

Our deaf animals can be wonderful and loving members of our families if we remember they have some special needs. Adopting them, like any pet, is a real responsibility and commitment.  Below, I have made a simple list that is designed to help us and our special family members and indicates the most important things we need to do.

1. Learn to communicate with them their way.  American Sign Language (ASL) is great inasmuch as it is already invented and allows many others to communicate with our deaf pups.

2. Always let them know when you are nearby.  Like any dog, we need to be cognizant of their need not to be startled.  The expression, "Let a sleeping dog lie," didn't come about because of deaf dogs, but any dog.  Courtesy first!

3. Approach them slowly from the front where they can see you.  It is always best to approach our dogs, whether they hear us or not, in a manner that they know that we are present.

 4. Always be gentle with touch and gesture.  Our love needs to be shown in every way.  Massage is also a great way to establish closeness and trust.

 5. Use only praise, encouraging touch, and positive reinforcement. And lots of it !!  Our pups love to please us and the more wonderful feedback that we give, the happier they are.

 6. Allow them to approach a newcomer first by smelling the person's fist.  Never allow a stranger or anyone to rush in.

 7. Keep them on leashes and close to you when out on walks.

 8. Tether them to you in the house in order to help with initial adjustment, house breaking, bonding, and helping them feel safe.  My deaf pups bonded so closely with me that they were nicknamed Velcro dogs.  There is no better feeling than having a devoted and loving dog by our side. 

 9. Provide outdoor fencing that is secure and essential for their safety.  They can't hear dangers.  However, we need to remember that all pets need to be kept safe; and it's our responsibility to keep them safe.

 10. Work with them in an established and continual training program.  Our pets are adopted members of our families, and daily attention is "a non-negotiable" just as it is for any child or loved one.  Learning is continual throughout their entire lives.

** Love and accept them with their special needs. **

NOTE:  To make comments in this blog, simply click on the title and scroll to the bottom to type your text.  Thank you and God bless!

American Sign Language with Deaf Dogs

I have had the awesome privilege to have been the human parent of three amazing and loving #deaf #dogs over the past 23 years beginning in 1993.  Working with these wonderful #pups has brought clear understanding of just how imperative it is for us to develop solid and loving relationships with all our family members and friends, human and all God's creatures alike.  No matter what our particular strengths and weaknesses happen to be, they combine themselves into making us the unique and special beings that we are. 

I have also discovered that working with and/or #training our #deaf dogs has not changed, and I begin today to offer tips to anyone who may need or be interested in caring for our very special pups.  I shall continue over the course of the next few weeks to give folks my list of tips, one by one.  But, today I simply offer a glimpse into our home back in 2007 when my son-in-law, Julius, captured a couple minutes of me and my pups in the kitchen during a holiday festivity communicating with American Sign Language (ASL).  You will see: Hogan, the older deaf Dalmatian; India, the elderly Black Labrador who had gone deaf with age; Clarence, the young yellow Labrador who understands ASL; and Georgia, the petite deaf Dalmatian.  The two smaller pups are our daughter's; and they, too, have been taught to understand some signs. 

I teach all my pups to understand this already-invented form of communication so they can all comprehend what I am saying at any particular time.  Of course, being a verbal human, I use the spoken word at the same time which naturally increases my facial expressions and enhances my message.  ASL is extremely convenient as well because we have often encountered others outside our home who are familiar or even fluent in signing.  It's incredible to watch others interact with my pups in a productive and meaningful way!

But, the message I hope everyone understands first and foremost is that communication is key in our success.  We all need to be able to communicate, to understand, and to be understood.  Without a solid method of communication our pups, like us, will become frustrated and anxious.  I encourage folks to get a pocket-sized handbook on ASL and start!  It's not only fun, it's a game changer!!