Training and educating a deaf dog may seem like a real challenge, since we are used to using verbal communication to relate to our dogs. However, our dogs mostly use body and non-verbal language to express themselves, communicate and interact, both with us and with other animals and with their own environment. For this reason, all dogs, including deaf dogs, are capable of interpreting various signs, gestures and facial expressions, and not just sound recordings.
If we want to teach a non-hearing dog we must learn to communicate through non-verbal language, using our body to express what we want to pass on to our best friends. Instead of using words to communicate the obedience commands, tricks and tasks that we intend to teach them, we can use gestures, signals and tools
Do deaf dogs have learning difficulties?
Hearing is a very important sense for dogs, since it allows them to better understand their environment and all the sound stimuli that the world offers. However, deafness in dogs does not reduce their cognitive, emotional or social capacity. In other words, a dog that was deaf from birth or a dog that has totally or partially lost its hearing is not less intelligent, less capable of learning, nor will it have greater difficulties to create a he althy emotional bond with her tutor.
Because dogs maintain a complex and varied body language, including numerous body postures, actions, and facial expressions, their communication and intelligence are not limited to utterance and capture of sound stimuli, but also depend on their powerful sense of smell, their good vision and their other abilities. In addition, when properly stimulated, deaf dogs can develop their vision and sense of smell better, somehow managing to "compensate" for the total or partial loss of their hearing.
A deaf dog has the same cognitive, emotional and social abilities as a dog with intact hearing. Therefore, can be successfully trained, learn a wide variety of tricks, tasks and sports, as well as enjoy his family just like any other dog. However, he will need to be educated in a special way and receive some specific care for deaf dogs, since he will not have the hearing to understand us and interact with his environment.
This does not mean that a deaf dog may not have a learning problem, but this problem is probably related to the use of inappropriate methodsthat can harm the training of any dog, and not specifically with his deafness. For this reason, we will never use counterproductive or dangerous techniques to educate a deaf dog, such as choke collars, punishments or scoldings, but we will use positive reinforcement to stimulate their learning and reward their achievements and efforts.
How to train a dog that doesn't listen?
Although it may seem very complex, educating a deaf dog correctly is based on the same techniques and the same pillars that govern the education of any dog. However, as our best friend has totally or partially lost his hearing, we will have to use signs instead of words when teaching the basic canine obedience commands.
That is, we will not use our voice to give our dog a verbal order, but we will use our body to give him a nonverbal order. verbally, making the sign or gesture that we have chosen to express each command that we want to teach a deaf dog.
So, instead of teaching our dog to associate the word "quiet" with the act of stopping and waiting in the same place, for example, we will work so that he assimilates a sign or a gesture to this same act. A simple and obvious signalfor the order to stay could be, for example, placing our hand in front of his face and at his level with the palm open
To get the attentionof a deaf dog, you won't be able to call him by his name either, since he won't be able to hear you. However, since deaf dogs can feel the vibrations, you can gently tap your foot on the floor to get their attention, make a request, or start a training session.
Using the vibration collar for deaf dogs
Another effective option to facilitate education and communication with deaf dogs, but also more expensive, is to purchase a vibration collar In On the market we will find several options: collars that emit only vibration and collars that, in addition to vibration, carry out electric shocks. They are also known as "educational collars", as they are generally used to prevent a dog from barking.
However, it should be borne in mind that the use of electric shocks is neither adequate nor effective to educate a deaf or hearing dog, since it is based on punishing the animal every time it barks or carries conduct considered inappropriate. In addition to causing an uncomfortable and even painful feeling for the dog, these tools are counterproductive, since the dog associates learning in a negative way.
Vibration-only collars or educational collars in the proper mode do not emit electric currents, but do vibratory waves, which they arouse the dog's attention without causing them pain, fear or any other negative emotion. In addition, it is a safe and effective way to grab the attention of a deaf dog outside the home (during walks, for example), where knocks on the ground will not be very effective, especially at medium to long distances.
We should only use vibrations when we really need to communicate with our dog. Emitting them without communicating anything and even using them excessively can cause stop paying attention to us It could also generate a stress picture in the dog.
Is there sign language for deaf dogs?
There is still a universally accepted sign language for training deaf dogs, just as there are no good or bad signs to the time to educate a deaf dog. The most important thing is to establish, before starting to train a non-hearing dog, a clear and specific signal for each command that we intend to teach him. In this way, we do not confuse our dog with very similar or confusing gestures. Remember that the objective of a communication is always that both parties understand each other and can interact in a positive way.
A simple and effective solution is to use the basic signs and signs of ASL (American Sign Language) or Spanish Sign Language (LSE), which are designed for communication between people not hearing, and between hearing and non-hearing people. Later, we will work together with our dog so that he assimilates each signal with the order that we are communicating to him. Of course, this requires that you learn the basicsigns of ASL before you begin training your dog so that you can be confident and firm when using them in training sessions. training.
The training sessions with a deaf dog follow the same guidelines as with a hearing dog, but we must be even more careful with the environment where we choose to teach to avoid any accidents. Of course, we will apply positive reinforcement to stimulate the intelligence of our furry, rewarding him for every good attitude and achievement during his training. On our site, we tell you what a dog training session should be like.
Basic tips for training a deaf dog
If you want to train your dog at home, we invite you to know our training tricks that every tutor should know and that are effective both to educate a deaf dog and a hearing dog. But below we also offer you some tips to educate a deaf dog correctly:
- Learn how to interact with a deaf dog on a day-to-day basis. Even if they don't have the ability to hear fully, deaf dogs are very sensitive. Therefore, we must be careful and deeply loving when interacting with a deaf dog on a daily basis. We should always approach a deaf dog slowly and from the front, so that the dog can see us and does not get scared. It is also important to wake them gently, with caresses, and not abruptly or violently.
- Invest in early education This advice applies to all dogs, deaf or hearing. If we start educating our furry from the moment he arrives at home, in his first months of life, we will achieve results more quickly and efficiently. Puppies have a more flexible character, which is why they are especially predisposed to training. In addition, during their first three or four months of life, dogs establish their notions of behavior and social coexistence, so the ideal is to start training them and socialize them from puppies
- Training a deaf dog requires perseverance and a lot of love: training any dog requires perseverance and commitment, since dog training is a constant and gradual process, where each exercise must be duly absorbed, memorized and executed to perfection. Educating a deaf dog also requires a lot of love and a lot of dedication, since the tutors must also have the enthusiasm to expand their knowledge. Therefore, training your deaf dog at home is an extremely rewarding and enriching experience, since your best friend will also teach you to improve your communication and learn to interact in a different way, using mostly non-verbal language.
- Learn how and when to teachBasic obedience exercises should be trained daily, in short sessions of 10 to 15 minutes in duration, so as not to overload the dog. In addition, each exercise must be presented and trained individually, until it is perfectly executed. In other words, we will work only one signal at a time until our dog fully assimilates this command and reproduces it successfully. Each dog will take its own time to learn a new command, and its learning time will also depend on the complexity of the proposed activity
- Pay attention to the place where you teach. Even if your dog cannot hear the noises of people, dogs, cars and other objects, the presence of these items can distract you. Therefore, it is best to choose a quiet place where there is no excess of visual stimuli, aromas or vibrations. It is also highly recommended that a deaf dog always go outside with a vibration collar, which allows him to easily capture his attention even at medium or large distances.
- Put emphasis on your facial expressions. While you will use signs and gestures to communicate directly with a deaf dog, you must not forget that facial expressions are very important in communicating something to any dog, especially a non-hearing dog. If you want to reward your dog for good behavior in his training or in his routine, learn to put emphasis on your facial expression, communicating your joy and pride with a wide and true smile, for example.
- Never lose patience or judge a deaf dog. A deaf dog will need the patience and dedication of its guardians to throughout his entire life. If at any time you think that your deaf dog is limited because he cannot hear, remember that this same dog is capable of perceiving aromas and vibrations that go unnoticed by you, for which his senses are neither better nor worse than yours, they are simply different and very special. And if you feel like you don't have the patience or time to train a deaf dog, be honest with yourself and your dog, and simply find a trainer or dog educatorprofessional who can help you.
