Updated February 1st, 2018
How do you train a dog who can’t hear what you are saying? Most dog training regimens use clickers and verbal cues to direct a dog where to go and what to do. How can you teach a dog when they can’t hear what you’re saying?
Here are just some of the techniques that can be used to train a deaf dog to be just as obedient and attentive as any other dog:
1. Keep in mind that patience and commitment is required.
Any dog training regimen requires quite a bit of patience and commitment, but it goes double for a deaf dog. Even dogs who have grown up deaf can get easily confused and frustrated when they don’t understand what you want from them.
Try not to get frustrated when your dog is distracted. Unlike a dog that can refocus any time you say his name, your deaf dog will probably need to be patted or lightly tugged in order to be refocused. He’ll only get more frustrated and anxious if you get frustrated, too.
2. Keep the dog on a leash.
One of the biggest benefits of training any dog is to be able to quickly recall your dog from a dangerous situation.
This might not be possible with a deaf dog, who would have to be looking at you in order to receive the command you’re trying to give him. It’s also valuable to put a special tag on your dog that indicates that he is deaf and who to call if he’s lost. You might also want to consider putting a bell on your dog, so you can hear him as he moves around.
3. Use alternative methods of getting their attention.
If you stomp your foot on the floor during a normal training session, this will probably indicate to your dog that you are upset or frustrated. To a deaf dog, this simply means, “Hey, look over here.”
4. Rethink training methods.
You might teach a normal dog commands like “Come.” With a deaf dog, we might, instead, teach your dog to respond to a light turning on and off.
For example, if your dog is outside at night and it’s time to come inside, you might flick the outdoor light on and off and on and off. Instead of verbal commands, we might use sign language to tell your dog to come, sit, stand, and stay. A deaf dog is going to be just as eager to learn, but the type of training they receive will need to be adjusted for their ability level.
5. Use food rewards.
While we may use food rewards for many of our dogs, we use them especially for deaf dogs, who cannot hear that they are being praised. It’s important to pair these food treats with the same physical reward like petting that you would reward any other dog with.
Training a deaf dog is totally different that training a hearing dog.
Their eagerness to learn is unparalleled and it’s a myth that deaf dogs are more aggressive. They are more prone to anxiety, which is why it is so important for these dogs to be paired with the right owner.
Here are some of the things that we’ve observed about deaf dogs that can be helpful for owners who have these types of animals:
Deaf dogs are more prone to separation anxiety.
How would you feel if you woke up and your caretaker was just gone?
Deaf dogs cannot hear you getting ready to leave, so they are more likely to just stay asleep and then later wake up and realize they are alone.
If you want to prevent your dog from dealing with this type of anxiety, get into the habit of gently waking your dog up and letting him see that you are leaving.
Get into the habit of waking your dog the same way.
It’s easy to wake a dog who can hear.
Just say their name or the word “walk,” and they’re on their feet and ready to go. It’s much more difficult to wake a dog that can’t hear, and waking them with a start can frighten even the most even-tempered dog. The shoulder is the best place to touch your dog to wake him, and be sure to give him lots of love and praise as you do so.
Use facial expressions with your dog.
Dogs already read our facial expressions and take cues from them. This is doubly true for deaf dogs—just like it is doubly true for hearing-impaired people. Using exaggerated facial expressions can be a great way to signal to your dog that he’s doing a great job or, rather, is doing something you don’t want him to do. Giving a thumbs up and a big smile is a universal way to show your dog that he is doing something good, even if you’re not patting his head.
Keep your dog inside a fence.
No matter how loyal your dog is, if he cannot hear you calling him, he might wander off. Deaf dogs do better on leashes when out in public and behind fences when they are at home.
Some owners don’t want to give their dogs these types of restrictions, but they are actually just safety measures to keep your dog from running off and getting into a situation you cannot easily extract him from.
