{"id":35805,"date":"2023-06-17T10:34:02","date_gmt":"2023-06-17T17:34:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/puppyintraining.com\/?p=35805"},"modified":"2023-06-17T10:34:03","modified_gmt":"2023-06-17T17:34:03","slug":"how-to-train-a-deaf-dog-with-hand-signals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/puppyintraining.com\/how-to-train-a-deaf-dog-with-hand-signals\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Train a Deaf Dog with Hand Signals"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Training a deaf dog presents its own set of challenges. But with patience and consistency, your deaf pup can learn to perform behavior cues with hand signals<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I believe that all dogs should know hand signals. It helps dogs pay attention. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And, later in life, some dogs lose their hearing. Knowing hand signals makes the transition to going deaf easier.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Down<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

My sheltie Amber became totally deaf in her senior years. Fortunately, she knew hand signals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So when she had to go to the bathroom at night, I could call her with a hand signal to return. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After all, neighbors wouldn\u2019t appreciate me verbally calling her at midnight!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How To Train a Deaf Dog with Hand Signals<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It’s important for all dog’s to learn hand signals as older dogs can lose they’re hearing later in life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Todays article is going to cover how to train a deaf dog with hand signals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even if you\u2019re reading this and your dog isn\u2019t deaf, training him with both verbal cues and hand signals can be beneficial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How To Get a Deaf Dog\u2019s Attention<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Because deaf dogs can\u2019t hear us and other sounds we can use for attention, you have to use other methods to get their attention.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Later in the blog, I\u2019ll discuss how to teach and use an attention cue when your dog is looking at you. But what if he isn\u2019t looking at you? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are ways to get his attention even if he\u2019s at a distance from you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t forget to have small, pea-sized yummy treats ready to reward him for desired behaviors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How To Get Your Deaf Dog\u2019s Attention When He Isn\u2019t Looking at You<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are methods to get your deaf dog\u2019s attention even if he looks away. Or when he\u2019s not within reach.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I recommend having him on a six-foot leash<\/a> to begin, so that you can be close enough to reward him.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Use A Light<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Turn a flashlight <\/a>on and off when your pup is near you. Just do this a few times during each training session. Reward him with a treat when he looks at you.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also do the same thing with a laser pointer<\/a>. Flash the light a few times away from the dog, being sure that it\u2019s not pointed at your deaf dog\u2019s eyes. Give your pup a treat when he looks at you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just do each training exercise a few times, then move on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These methods can work well. But just be aware that some dogs start to compulsively chase light when using these techniques. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve seen it happen more with laser pointers than with flashlights. I was called in to help the owners of a Jack Russell terrier that had become light-obsessed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The owners had used a light pointer to exercise him. Unfortunately, he became obsessed with other lights too: the sunlight beaming through the window, the light on the floor from the table lamp, car lights that reflected into his fenced yard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course I instructed the owners to immediately stop using the laser pointer and to exercise the terrier other ways.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I know how high-energy the breed can be. So they took him on long walks, played fetch, did obedience training, and gave him puzzle toys<\/a>\u2013all of which exercised his body and his mind.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These activities also redirected him to fun, acceptable behaviors and away from his compulsive light chasing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Outside lights such as a porch light can also help get your dog\u2019s attention. This is usually effective at night when you need to get your deaf dog\u2019s attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make vibrations<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Deaf dogs are especially attuned to their other senses.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So if you stomp on the floor with your foot or hand as you approach him, he will probably turn towards you to see what\u2019s happening. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Immediately reward him with a treat when he looks at you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Use a vibrating collar<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

This can be used to get your dog\u2019s attention. Make sure that you put the collar\u2019s vibration<\/a> on the lowest setting to begin with.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To teach a dog that the collar is something to be desired, give treats when you put it on. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then give treats while it vibrates for a few seconds. Then turn off the vibrations. Do this just three times. Then teach it again during your next training session. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But be aware that some dogs may be sensitive to the vibrations and become distressed. If this is true, just stop using the collar. Use another method to get his attention. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The point is to communicate, not punish. Do not use a shock collar.<\/em><\/strong> Shock collars are aversives and can have many negative behavioral consequences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Use gentle touch<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Touching your dog gently on his shoulder or on his back can be used to get his attention.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You first need to teach him that this sudden touch is something to be desired. I discuss in detail below how to condition your dog to accept\u2013and enjoy\u2013this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Caveat: when startled, some dogs may become aggressive. If there\u2019s any risk that this may happen, don\u2019t use this technique.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How To Teach Your Dog To Look at You<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

All dogs need to learn to pay attention so that they can follow our obedience cues. Of course dogs who still have their hearing can pay attention by listening to you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since a deaf dog can\u2019t hear, he needs to actually look at you. <\/em>Personally, I train all dogs to look at me to ensure that I have their attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Capturing the Behavior<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Whenever your dog looks at you, immediately reward that behavior. Give him a small treat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Capturing and rewarding a desired behavior also can teach other behaviors because the dog understands what he\u2019s being rewarded for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also help this process along by having your dog on a six-foot loose leash when you are attempting to capture his behavior. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When he looks at you, give him a yummy treat. Do this five times, then end the session.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Luring Your Dog and Adding a Hand Signal<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Have your pup on a six-foot leash with a treat in your hand. Lure him to look at you by moving the treat from his nose to your face. Treat and reward the instant he looks at you. Do this five times. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Start adding a hand signal, such as pointing to your face after you lure. Treat immediately after he looks at you. Do this exercise five times. Then end the session.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eventually, your dog will understand that looking at you is the desired behavior. Then just give the hand signal without luring and reward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How To Teach Other Obedience Cues with Hand Signals<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Dogs are experts at reading our body language. And deaf dogs often get in the habit of looking at their pet parents. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So hand signals are a great way to teach obedience cues<\/a> to your deaf dog. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can choose to use traditional hand signals, make up your own, or use American Sign Language<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whatever you choose, it\u2019s crucial that everyone who\u2019s working with your dog is consistent in using the exact same cue with the same hand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each hand signal must be distinctive from the others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You should also speak the word for the behavior cue when using the hand signal. You\u2019ll probably be more natural if you do since we\u2019re used to speaking the dog\u2019s cue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m going to discuss below how to lure your dog with a treat into performing certain obedience cues. Your dog will naturally follow the lure.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But don\u2019t forget that you can also help the process along by capturing and rewarding any desired behavior. So if your dog sits, reward him with a treat. Same is true if he lies down. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just like us, if we\u2019re rewarded when we do something, we\u2019ll do it again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Try to do two or three short training sessions a day. You need not do every cue during each session. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, many dogs will become bored if you do too much during each session. And they\u2019ll zone out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just make sure that you work on each behavior every day so that you and your canine partner will progress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Always start without distractions, adding them as your dog is able to handle them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How To Mark that Your Dog Performed the Correct Behavior<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

For dogs who can hear, we usually inform them that they correctly performed a behavior by saying \u201cYes!\u201d or clicking<\/a>, followed by a treat.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, this won\u2019t work with deaf dogs. So we need to become creative regarding how to let them know we were pleased with their performance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, a treat lets a dog know we\u2019re pleased  But eventually you\u2019ll be phasing treat rewards down. But you still need to inform him that he was right. So teach him a signal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n