Understanding deaf dogs

Recently I had been asked to contribute an article to the AKC delegates regarding my experience and research working with deaf dogs. The following is that article. At the present time, they do not allow deaf dogs to compete in AKC sporting events. For all my deaf dog owners out there, this one is for you! My only hope is to one-day see the AKC award a ribbon to a deaf dog for a sporting event! Keep your paws crossed!

Understanding Deaf Dogs

My work rehabilitating and training dogs for shelters, rescues and clients has given me the pleasure of working with quite a few deaf dogs and their owners and puts me in a unique position to address the ability of deaf dogs to participate in competitive sports. Even though my training and research specialty is aggressive behavior, most of these owners came to me to learn how to communicate successfully with their dogs, rather than for problems with aggression.

Training a deaf dog is no more difficult than training a hearing one. All dogs take approximately two weeks to learn a command solidly; then, another two weeks to learn the command with distractions. In my experience, disabilities do not change this. Many clients with deaf dogs have helped their dogs learn 30 or more commands.

Dogs do not communicate with each other as we do. They use body language and subtle movements rather than “talk” and “praise.” To demonstrate happiness or disapproval, they simply move their bodies. If they are happy, they become soft bodied and wiggle all over, maybe throwing in a play bow. If they are angry they display stiffness, a good hard stare, and, sometimes, a corrective “bite”. Hearing or deaf, all dogs understand these signals. Deaf dogs are usually so tuned-in to their owners that they not only learn hand signals but also take notice of subtle body/facial changes and movement to go along with their commands, making them more forgiving of human error.

In our obedience and agility classes, deaf and hearing dogs learn the same commands. A deaf dog will follow the owner’s eye movements, body shifts, and hand signals; whereas, the hearing dogs generally focus on voices. Obedience competition allows handlers to use hand signals, and the advanced levels require it, so I really see no difference between deaf or hearing dogs in the ring.

The majority of my clients that own a deaf dog, have more than one dog in their household. One of my clients has a deaf Boxer and a hearing Boxer in her residence and takes in fosters for a local rescue group as well. I see no difference in the everyday behavior of hearing and deaf dogs living together. Deaf dogs in a pack are conditioned to be more tuned-in to the other members. They do not “startle” and attack when a pack member approaches. The hearing dogs do not “soft” step around the deaf ones; they do not pamper them; they simply ignore the “disability”.

One of the most commonly expressed reservations about deaf dogs, especially in competition, is their “startle” response, but this is not just an issue with deaf dogs. Personally, I believe saying that only deaf dogs are dangerous because of startle response is naive at best. All dogs have the tendency to show aggression if not given the proper training and boundaries.