How to Train a Deaf Pet

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27-09-2016, 05:55
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So, you just got a pet...a puppy, or maybe a dog that has been around the block a couple of times. However, there seems to be something odd about him. Why does he ignore you so thoroughly? Have you taken him to the vet? Deafness can happen to everyone and all types of animals, but the gene that makes animals white seems to lend itself to deafness as well. Take 'Rover' to the vet and get a complete checkup. He may not be ignoring you...he just can't hear you.

Choosing a Method

  1. Choose a training method. Some of the methods are as follows:
    • Operant conditioning. Operant conditioning includes two types of reinforcement.
      • Positive reinforcement - Most trainers who use positive reinforcement also use "negative punishment", which means they take away something the dog wants to reduce behavior that the trainer doesn't want (for example turning away from a dog who is jumping up for attention).
      • Negative reinforcement - works by rewarding the dog by removing something aversive (like stopping shock, or loosening a tightened choke chain).
  2. Know that the most important part of the training is consistency.
  3. With your deaf animal, using operant conditioning, you will need to decide on a signal to signify 'success' or 'yes'. This is a hard one...think it over. Different animals need different types of reward/acknowledgment. Some ways that you can consider:
    • Hand signals
    • Small flashlight (not a laser light, this is potentially damaging to your animal's eyes).
      • For the purposes of this article, hand signals will be used, but whatever method you select can be used in its place.

Beginning Training

  1. Using your 'yes' signal, (thumb up, or whatever you choose), make the signal and give the dog a treat.
    • Some dogs like food, others like a quick scratch or stroke off the head.
  2. Do this repeatedly, until you feel that your dog recognizes the connection.
  3. Have a plan. Know, ahead of time, at least the first few things that you will be teaching your dog. 'Yes', 'Come', 'Stay', 'Sit', 'Leave it', are a few that you can start off with.
  4. Once the connection has been made, teach your dog to watch you or focus on you. This can be done by tapping the area near your eye or pointing at your eye so it catches his attention. Once the dog has made eye contact, signal 'yes' and reward.
    • You might need to 'grab' their attention by waving a treat in front of them and then bringing it to your face. Whatever you do...be consistent.
    • Another idea for grabbing your pet's attention is to thump your foot or hand so that they can feel the vibrations.
  5. Another way to train a particular behavior is to 'catch them in the act', and reward them. For example, when your pet sits, give the 'yes' signal and reward. The signal and reward let your animal know that they did something good.

Tips

  • Even though your pet can't hear you, it will probably help you to say the word that you are signing. You are giving off visual clues when you say something, and your pet will pick up on that, not the word.
  • Your deaf pet will be very visual. Never forget that. Touch and vibrations will be very important as well. Use any, or all of these, to get your message across.
  • If a desired action is too complicated, break it down into 'pieces'.
  • Always be consistent.
  • The American Sign Language (ASL) is a good place to begin in your search for hand signals to use.

Warnings

  • Never punish a dog for coming to you, even if your dog was misbehaving. All your dog will learn then is not to come to you.
  • There are 64 purebred types of dogs that have a genetic predisposition to deafness. For the genetic explanation of why this is.

Things You'll Need

  • Knowledge (or plan) of what hand signals you will be using
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