How to Teach a Deaf Dog

Deaf dog training and training a hearing dog are similar in many ways. This form of training does have some of its own issues, however. Using facial expressions, body language and hand signals are the major ways in which you can communicate with your deaf dog.

Obedience commands like stop, come, down, stay and sit can be taught through the use of hand signals, but for full communication you will need to expand on this. You can make up sign language on your own or use American Sign Language (ASL) for communicating with your dog.

Finding ways of praising and offering verbal feedback to your dog as well as methods for getting and sustaining your dog’s attention will need to be found. You also need to consider that fact that a deaf dog needs to be safe as well as desensitized from being easily startled from unexpected touch as well as distractions.

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Tips For Getting Started

Lots of patience, as well as time and consistency are needed for deaf dog training. Punishing your deaf dog or puppy for behaving in an undesirable manner is much less effective than positively reinforcing good behavior through rewards. Deaf dogs and puppies like to be rewarded with treats. Enthusiasm and affection are effective ways of rewarding an older deaf dog.

Due to the fact that dogs communicate primarily through visuals than they do verbally makes it fairly easy to teach dogs hand signals. What is important is to make sure that your hand signals are consistent, clear and distinctly different from other hand signs.

Using some basic obedience commands such as stay, down and sit is a good way to get started. It is important that you have a “yes” signal which can be followed up with treats or other rewards. Deaf dog training requires plenty of consistency, repetition and patience, but as long as your dog receives plenty of positive reinforcement they should learn your hand signals pretty easily.

Another thing you need to have is some means of gaining your deaf dog’s attention. You can do this in several different ways. One method is to stomp on the ground. Your deaf dog can often feel or sense the vibrations underneath him. Another way is to toss a toy or ball directly in front of him, or lightly touch him. To get his attention at night, turn outside lights on and off.

Keep This In Mind

Deaf dogs have a tendency to get startled from things like be woken or touched suddenly, so your deaf dog training needs to address this. Touching a sleeping puppy or dog lightly on the shoulder or holding your hand near their face so that they can smell it are a few things you can do to help desensitize a dog. Another thing you can do is come from behind the dog and touch him.

When they respond by turning around, always give a treat so that being touched unexpectedly is not associated with something bad. Go gentle when it comes to this aspect of deaf dog training. It is very important for you to keep your deaf dog away from harm. Always keep your dog on a leash when outdoors unless he is inside a fenced yard.

You and your dog can both find deaf dog training rewarding. General dog training will cover quite a lot of what a deaf dog needs to learn, although there are some specific areas that need to be addressed. Consistent training and patience will go a long way towards establishing good rapport with your deaf dog or puppy.

For more training tips, check out the Dog Training Handbook.