How To Succesfully Train A Deaf Dog
Just like people, there are dogs that are born deaf but this disability should not hinder us from training these endearing animals to do what we want them to do, especially if they serve to be our companion in our homes.
Deaf dog training is just the same as training a healthy and hearing dog. The basic concept of training is to reward the dog for behavior that you want to see them doing, and not rewarding them for the behavior you do not want them to do. Dogs understand commands this way as they will repeat whatever behavior wherein they get something in return for.
The only difference of deaf dog training from normal dog training is the way of communicating your dog. As normal hearing dog training is training where commands are spoken, with deaf dog training, the commands are more on the visual signals. When dealing with deaf dogs, you can take advantage of their vision, sense of touch and ability to smell.
Since dealing with deaf dogs involve hand signals, you have to make sure that the visual signals you use will be clear, consistent, visible even from a distance, and are distinguishable from other signs and gesture. Your body language and facial expressions are also important since your dog will base their reactions to your commands using these.
First step in training a deaf dog is to establish a sign that means good job. You may use any hand signal that you want but you have to make sure that you are consistent in the signals that have a positive meaning. Every time you use this signal, it is important that there is a reward attach to this so that the dog will understand that this signal means he has shown you the correct behavior. In training the dog, make sure you include toys, games, and lots of petting. In time, your dog will recognize acceptable behavior by repeating the sign that means good job.
After sign training your dog, you can now teach him to do what you want. You will need other forms of hand signals to command the dog to pay attention. Or you can use your foot to create vibrations on the floor that your dog can identify as to telling him what you want him to do. You can also use a vibrating collar to be able to aid your dog in following your command.
Being fair with your dog is also an important step in the training process. You have to correct his mistakes before scolding him, although it is not really advisable to scold your dog because he may resent being scolded and hamper the training process. Rewarding and praising the dog during the time you actually catch him doing something nice is very effective in dog training.
These are just some of the things to remember in deaf dog training. As you may notice, these training tips are not so different from training a normal hearing dog.
Have a great "dog training" day,
Dr. Alfonso
