Tips and Guide on How to Train a Deaf Dog

Deafness in dogs is not a widespread condition, but it does crop up now and again, especially in certain breeds, such as the Dalmatian, which has a genetic tendency toward deafness. Perhaps your new pup happens to be deaf, or perhaps you have decided to adopt a deaf dog from a shelter. In either case, you can be sure you are in for a lot of work.

Deafness, with all its hardship, can be sometimes seen as a blessing for a dog owner, as unfortunate as that sounds. A deaf dog will not hear all the other neighborhood dogs barking and so will not join in. The same goes for the sound of your neighbors coming home late, a raging thunderstorm or other sounds that might set off an excited dog.

Of course deafness also comes with its difficulties. Your deaf dog may not hear important sounds like that of approaching danger. Naturally, a deaf dog is not likely to be a good guard dog either. Easily the greatest difficulty accompanying canine deafness is training. So much dog training is done by speaking. How then does a dog owner train a deaf dog?

Before we go any further, it is important to realize that not all deafness is permanent. It may be wise to first take your dog to see a veterinarian. Infections, foreign bodies lodged in the ear, and even medications can cause deafness that may be reversible.

If your dog is indeed permanently deaf, don't give up hope quite yet. If you have ever watched a professional dog trainer, you will notice that each vocal command is usually also accompanied by a hand signal. Some trainers will not use vocal commands at all, instead using only hand and body signals. The reason for this is that one of a dog's greatest forms of communication with other dogs is done entirely through body language. The position of a dog's tail, head, body, and tail can reveal a lot about how a dog is feeling or thinking.

Your first step is to decide what hand signals you would like to use for each command. The most important thing is to be consistent. Nothing could set back training more than to confuse your dog by either using the same signal for two commands, or using different signals for the same command.

Hand signals should be very clear and obvious. Signals such as a raised hand (in the "stop" position) or a fist are of the best kind, whereas signals with only slight variations (two fingers up and three fingers up) can be very confusing.

Once you have decided on your signals, you can commence with the training. This is done exactly as you would train a hearing dog. Carry treats with you to give as rewards each time your dog performs the correct action. Remember that using negative reinforcement (punishing a dog for doing the wrong thing) often confuses a dog and doesn't aid in training. If your deaf dog is still a young pup, consider using his food as treats such that each time he does the correct thing, he gets fed.

Remember to be patient. Your dog will eventually get the gist of your hand signals and may even respond better to them than another dog might to vocal commands. You may find it difficult to praise your dog when he does the right thing. The easiest way to praise a deaf dog would be to use treats as reward.

If treats are not available, petting and a good rub are also effective. You may also consider choosing another hand signal such as clapping to sign that you are pleased with your dog.

Dogs are creatures of habit and routine. They form expectations and schedules, including feeding, potty and playing time. To learn more about your canine, including topics such as canine dog health and canine dog care, visit CanineTouch.com.