Deaf Dog and Visual Cues

A good advice by Cathy M. Rosenthal

Cathy M. Rosenthal: Teach deaf dog to react to visual cues

Web Posted: 07/28/2007 04:14 PM CDT

San Antonio Express-News

Dear Cathy: My husband and I recently adopted a dog from the Animal Defense League. After we got her home, we discovered she was deaf. We are trying to house-train her but are not having great success. She goes very well when we take her out, but we are having trouble trying to get her to tell us when she wants to go out. She is 5 months old now. She is very smart, and we have become very attached to her. She is still having accidents in the house. Do you know of any local training for deaf dogs?
— Sharon Melville

Dear Sharon: Sometimes shelters don't notice when a dog is deaf because the dog is reacting to so much visual stimuli in the shelter. And that's your No. 1 training tip here: Develop and rely on hand signals and visual cues to help her learn.

Just like with a hearing dog, take her outside when she gets up from a nap, finishes a meal or starts sniffing. When you teach a hearing dog to go out, you may also say, "Do you have to go out?" The dog learns that means go outside only because you follow those words with that action. In the case of a deaf dog, you have to connect going outside with a visual cue. For example, you could put a bell on the inside door handle and paw at it yourself every time you let her out. Visually, she will make the connection between pawing the handle and going outside. Give her a treat when she begins pawing at it herself. Of course, she won't hear the bell, only see the bell moving, but you will hear it and know she needs to go outside.

I don't know any local dog trainers who work specifically with deaf dogs, but much of dog training is based on visual cues, so most experienced trainers should be able to help you. I recommend reading the book "Living with a Deaf Dog" by Susan Cope-Becker and visiting www.deafdogs.org for more tips on how to live with and train a deaf dog.

Dear Cathy: Every summer, my granddaughter, Rachel, wants to come to my house to sew kitty comforters. We have done this for the past three years and donated them to the Humane Society. Rachel has passed along her passion for animals to her younger sister, Rheanna, who just turned 5 years old. What a wonderful role model Rachel has turned out to be. Rachel and Rheanna are so excited about sewing the comforters, and as a grandmother I'm excited for them to spend time with me doing the things they love. Because of them, the Humane Society will be getting an abundant supply of comforters by the end of summer.

— Cheryl Jones

Dear Cheryl: Let's give you some credit for their altruism, grandma. Your grandkids are interested in helping animals because they saw you as a role model. It's important that children learn at a young age to think and care about the welfare of animals, even if there are no pets in the home. It gets them thinking about things other than themselves, which hopefully leads to compassionate, charitable adults.

Tell Rachel and Rheanna that I am proud of them and have seen how much the cats love curling up on those special comforters.

If you can't sew kitty quilts, but want to help animals, check out San Antonio's Rock n Rescue — a battle of the bands that chooses opening acts to play for headliners, like "Grand Funk Railroad" and "Rare Earth," at the AT&T Summer Concert Series. Visit www.sarocknrescue.com for details.

Senior Deaf Dog Subjected to Violence

Guilty as charged!

Postman kicked deaf dog then fought owner
By Gina Bebbington

A POSTMAN has been sentenced for kicking a dog and fighting with its owner.

Michael Crowley, of New Road, in Anderton, faces a curfew after being found guilty of assault by beating and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.

The 33-year-old appeared at Vale Royal Magistrates' Court on Wednesday after the incident, which happened in December last year, and was convicted after an earlier trial.

Catherine Whincup, prosecuting, said: "The defendant attended an address to deliver mail when he seemed to turn and deliver a savage kick to the 14-year-old dog of Mr Andrew Town who was angry, confronted the defendant and was grabbed and punched repeatedly around his head."

Ms. Whincup said the dog was nearly deaf and slow to respond.

Crowley, a father-of-two, told police in interview that the animal was aggressive and growling at him so he kicked it in self defence.

He also told police that he hit Mr Town in self defence.

Karina Champion, defending, said Crowley was initially suspended by Royal Mail but later reinstated despite his conviction. He showed remorse for the incident from the outset.

"He notified his employers of the incident immediately after it happened and acknowledges that in relation to the assault that matters did become heated.

He genuinely felt he was in some danger and accepts what he did was wrong.

He said it was two people in the wrong place at the wrong time and has said he wishes he could turn back time."

She added: This is not a man who is going to trouble these courts again.

"He lost his temper and in the circumstances, although it doesn't make it justifiable, it does make it easier to understand."

Crowley was given a three-month 8pm to 4.30am curfew for each of the charges, to run concurrently, and was ordered to pay costs of £455 and compensation of £50.

12:00pm Sunday 15th July 2007

Alliance of Deaf Ferret and Hearing Cat!

Half way through, you'll find the deaf ferret noticing the camera and stares directly at it for a while before resuming his activity with the cat. Being visual attuned, it doesn't surprise me how he acts. I find my deaf dogs and others' deaf animals to be detail oriented with their own sight. Also, touching is very important for them, the animal-deafies.



Clickable link

P.S. On a side note, please spay and/or neuter your pets to help control overpopulation and encourage others to adopt from the shelters.

Deaf Pup In Alabama...

UPDATE: ADOPTED!



Can anyone help place this baby girl? Female 8-9 months old. Catahoula(double merle). Solid white with Catahula markings on a few spots. Sweet and loving a little hyper. May not be suited for small children as she does jump. Loves everyone. Very easy going and fun loving still very much a puppy. Please contact me.

Janie Thomas
BJC Animal Control
Birmingham, Al 35212
jthomas@bjcacs.com
205-591-6522

New Addition to Our World: Deaf Ferrets!

They, like some groups of animals and even humans, have deafness run in their gene. American Sign Language (ASL) and visual access continue to be one of their primary
needs. Here is an interesting website about deaf ferrets by their owner.

Here's several links on deaf ferrets:

Deaf Behavior

Deaf Ferrets

Deafness in Ferrets

Raising a Deaf Ferret

There was a documentary today on PBS about ferrets and deaf ferrets were mentioned briefly. One of the things said on the documentary was that one woman's deaf ferrets understand "outside" in sign language. Because these deaf ferrets love to go outside, the deaf ferrets know what she means. From what someone told me is that this woman was not a good signer because the way she signed "OUTSIDE," she made it look like "STORY." He said, "So, the deaf ferrets are learning bad ASL!" Oh my! Hurry and send an ASL therapist! :)

Last but not the least, here's FAQs on Ferrets for those of you who already have or want to adopt ferrets, be it deaf or hearing.

Video of Deaf Dalmatian On The News

Deaf Dalmatian Learns Sign Language

The article is good, but I am disheartened by this statement, "Deafness in dogs can lead to significant emotional problems and often deaf puppies are euthanized." It would be nice for them to point out that it's human's failure to accomodate their needs, in order to put them on equal footing as hearing dogs, by providing them visual access and communication at a young age as opposed to auditory. This reminds me of how some deaf children have emotional/behavioral problems because of lack of communication/visual access.

2 Deaf Boxers Put to Sleep by July 20, 2007 in TX!

UPDATE: ADOPTED!



Canton Animal shelter received two boxers that are deaf and are needing special homes. Please cross post and contact Misty if you can help! One male one female 14 and 15 months old NOT ALTERED!!!!!!!!!! They are very sweet and were turned in because the owners were living in a hotel and could not care for them.. Please post and contact Misty if you can help! Time is URGENT!

CANTON ANIMAL SHELTER, CANTON, TX
Canton is less than an hour drive east of Dallas, just south of I-20. Canton is requesting ANY HELP rescue can give.

CALL MISTY AT THE SHELTER: 903-567-4880 or email at cantonshelter1@yahoo.com.Back-up Number (Kelli) if for any reason you can't reach shelter: 214-734-9041.

Need to be 501c3 to tag or pull. Shelter will ask you to fax in your 501c3 - please CALL FIRST. The fax posted on petfinder previously is not in their immediate location. They now have a fax at the the same number as the shelter number, but just need to know before you fax so they can flip it to receive. That's all it takes! If they don't answer, PLEASE LEAVE A MESSAGE or call the back-up number. For anyone wanting to adopt, it's only a $25 adoption fee (plus you will need to get rabies shot and spay/neuter within appropriate time period).