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Can Deaf Dogs Learn Cues? Experience from CATCH Team Member
CATCH Student Support Team Member Amy Wiard brings us this fabulous story:
“Luna is 10 y.o., Lab / Dalmation mix. spent over a year in a local rescue after being left behind in her previous owner’s back yard after they had moved out and took their other dog with them. She struggled in the shelter setting, and bouncing from foster to foster was difficult. She was passed over multiple times due to her deafness, but her deafness is what drew me to her.
I saw her on craigslist and was taken back by her uniqueness! I reached out to the rescue, and did a ton of research on how to work with deaf dogs. I learned a lot of American Sign Language in the process, and immediately knew I wanted to meet her. She spent a “test week” with me, but I knew in the first day that she was staying with me. We immediately got to work with hand signals (thank goodness she was incredibly food motivated), polite leash manners, and introductions to other dogs.
She can do anything – anything that any of my other dogs can do. She has taught me patience, consistency, how communication can look different for everyone, and the importance of finding and respecting the communication style that works best for her. She knows over 20 hand signs, loves car rides and hikes, can’t resist a good chase, and is full of love.
Her deafness has never limited her. In fact, it strengthens our bond every day. She is every bit of a dog that she can be!”
Do you have any experience working with deaf dogs? Please share your story!
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1 Reply
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I’ve watched deaf dogs struggle in the shelter environment and not been able to do much more than offer enrichment and begin to teach some basic Mark & Reward training with them. I will admit to being very drawn to some deaf and/or sight-impaired Aussies but have never felt I had the knowledge to support them in the ways that they deserved. I would welcome other folk’s stories and knowledge related to living with and training these special needs dogs.
Thank you Amy, for being willing to be just the person that Luna needed you to be!
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