Training and Communicating with a Deaf Dog
Dogs and humans share a variety of similar illnesses, like diabetes and Deafness. With every sickness comes its own difficulties. Deafness brings along communication issues that worsen the language barrier that already exists. However, that doesn’t mean that communicating with a Deaf dog is impossible. There are many ways that you can maintain that relationship through training.
Types, Causes, and Signs of Deafness
Identifying Deafness can be complex, but it’s not impossible. As long as you’re informed, then it can be a breeze. Firstly, it’s essential to understand the types of Deafness: Congenital Deafness and Acquired Deafness.
Congenital Deafness is there from birth and is caused by congenital disabilities in the development of the hearing system. While there isn’t a cure, there are ways to cope through learned communication skills.
Acquired Deafness is developed through trauma, infection, blockage, or old age. Trauma-based Deafness occurs through injury to the head or can be caused by repeated exposure to loud noises. Both can cause damage to the eardrum, resulting in a loss of hearing. Infection-based Deafness occurs when infection penetrates travels through the ear canal towards the eardrum. This type of damage is reversible through treatment but must first be diagnosed by your vet. Geriatric Deafness develops as nervous connections in the ear canal degenerate because of old age; this is irreversible.
Before your vet can diagnose Deafness, you must watch for the signs that indicate they have it in the first place. Some common symptoms include:
- Excessive or Prolonged Barking
- Difficulty waking or started when woken
- Head shaking or tilting in the direction of the affected ear.
- Change in obedience or difficulty in following commands.
Communication and Training
As you maneuver through the hardships of communicating with a Deaf dog, make sure you consider the following: be patient. Training is going to be more difficult, but it’s not impossible. You and your pet should aim to develop a hand signal language to ease the struggle of training. Consider starting with basic commands like sit, stay, and come before moving on to things like bathtime or grandma’s house.
If your dog has congenital Deafness, then teaching them hand signals will be easier since it will be their first language. If you’re their first owner, try teaching them American Sign Language (ASL). Doing so can make communicating more manageable for you since each signal is more established than a made-up language you developed on your own.
If you and your vet have established that your dog has just begun acquiring Deafness, then start training immediately. Start by teaching them a signal for their name by combining verbal and physical repetition. Then you can move on to other commands. The same rules apply to dogs who are further in their hearing-loss journey. Training these dogs just requires more time and patience.