A deaf dog.

[Lisa_j]

Well, we have a blind dog so I thought how hard can this be with a deaf dog? MUCH harder, IMO! Bella is awesome and I love her already but she barks NONSTOP! She just wants to play. Sometimes the others play and sometimes SHE JUST BARKS because they don't want to play! She is only 18 months and still a big olepup! The hand signs she knows are come, sit and down. THat is it! I am trying to teach SHHHHHHHHHH...... with my pointer at my mouth but with no success!!! Any advise?? I am starting to surf for a good deaf doggie book at this time.

[SpooOwner]

Kudos to you for taking on the challenge. Whole Dog Journal just had an article about working with deaf dogs.

[SilverBeat]

Well the way I read to tech dogs the "quiet" [or SHHHHHHHHHH] cue, is to wait until the instant they stop barking, mark and treat that. After a few times you say the cue [or for you, use hand signals] when they stop, and treat. Maybe you could try that?

[Montana]

What a great thread and so admirable of you to take on disabled dogs! What type of training techniques do you use on the other dogs? It sounds like it's going to be quite the challenge, but SilverBeat has a good idea. How do you mark a behavior in a deaf dog? By touch, or another hand signal?
I think I would do it by a touch, maybe like two fingers on a specific part of the body (the same part when you want to mark something), like on the left shoulder for example. I'd condition this touch first, by touch, treat, touch, treat, touch, treat, etc etc. Then when she does stop barking, hand signal, then touch and treat? Just an idea!!

[Lisa_j]

I have only ever used posative training with my dogs. She is different though because her attention must be had first!! She must see me first which is a bit difficult!! I can be 10- feet in front of her yet she does not seen me for some time.

[Lisa_j]

I have only ever used posative training with my dogs. She is different though because her attention must be had first!! She must see me first which is a bit difficult!! I can be 10- feet in front of her yet she does not seen me for some time.

Oh and ps- that is what we do, shhhhhhhh sign with index finger and treat~!

[Montana]

She'll get there! She's still in her hellion adolescents, and trying to find her place in your pack. You've only just recently started fostering her? She sounds like she's a silly one despite not having the use of her hearing, which is great! She won't let it debilitate her. I use positive methods as well, I think using a light gentle touch, or specific signal instead of a clicker or marker word, because obviously she won't hear it ;P (I use YES! with my dog) would work well. Good luck, it might take her a bit longer, but she'll get it! Keep us posted and hats off to you!

[Lisa_j]

She'll get there! She's still in her hellion adolescents, and trying to find her place in your pack. You've only just recently started fostering her? She sounds like she's a silly one despite not having the use of her hearing, which is great! She won't let it debilitate her. I use positive methods as well, I think using a light gentle touch, or specific signal instead of a clicker or marker word, because obviously she won't hear it ;P (I use YES! with my dog) would work well. Good luck, it might take her a bit longer, but she'll get it! Keep us posted and hats off to you!

You are right, she will find her way! We will stay positive and go from there. I love posative reinforcement!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Montana]

I can't wait to hear all about her progression! She seems like such a special girl, and so lucky to have you caring for her! You have a heart of gold and all your hard work will pay off greatly!

[Lisa_j]

Thanks Montana!!!