| Learning that your new pooch is deaf is the first hurdle | | | | voice commands first and then move onto hand |
| any owner must accept. But then learning that training | | | | signals. Hand signals are by far, much easier for a dog |
| a deaf dog is not very different from training a hearing | | | | to learn. Therefore, training a deaf dog is really not |
| one, can take some of the sting out of learning that | | | | difficult at all. |
| your dog is deaf. | | | | ASL |
| You don’t need to use any different methods in | | | | Deaf dog training does not mean that you have to hire |
| deaf dog training, only different cues. Training a deaf | | | | a trainer. There are many books on the subject of |
| dog does not even take any more time or effort. The | | | | training deaf dogs and learning the hand signals can be |
| concepts are all the same, as hearing dogs learn the | | | | done visually in the training book. There is a famous |
| meaning of words and commands through repetition, | | | | saying, “you can train a dog in five minute, it takes |
| deaf dogs learn the same way. Because we depend | | | | much longer to train the owner.” |
| so much on speech to communicate as humans, we | | | | Consistency is the first and foremost important thing |
| just assume that dogs do so as well. | | | | about training a dog, whether the dog is deaf or not. |
| Dogs do not understand the English language or any | | | | There are no ‘wrong’ hand signals in training a |
| other language. When two dogs meet, there is very | | | | deaf dog; you can use whatever feels most |
| little verbal communication between the two. They use | | | | comfortable to you. Some people use American Sign |
| scent and body language to communicate. They tell | | | | Language or ASL. This is the same sign language that |
| each other almost everything through these two forms | | | | is used for deaf people. The advantage to using ASL |
| of dog communication. The barking, whining and | | | | in training your deaf dog, is that anyone who can sign |
| growling that our dogs use as verbal communication | | | | ASL can communicate with your dog. |
| are an additional form of dog interaction, but not the | | | | There are some dog owners who make up all of their |
| primary one. | | | | own hand signals. However, most dog owners who |
| Competition dogs who compete for Obedience titles | | | | are training a deaf dog, will use a combination of ASL |
| are required to learn hand signals. Working dogs use | | | | and their own signals. Any hand signals that you |
| either hand signals or body language cues to perform | | | | choose will be fine for you and your dog. |
| their work. Most trainers will teach owners to use | | | | |