Hi My Staffy is nearly five months old he was with me a day when i came to realise that he is deaf,it was confirmed by the vet. Looking for tips and avice from any other owners with a deaf staffy

Aww-really sorry to hear your sad news butI know someone who had a  deaf dog an dhe did really well.Will try and find some info for you but you will basically have to teach your boy commands via sign language and using treats as you would a hearing dog to teach correct behaviour. Many dogs manage really full happy lives with some modifications. I will try and find some tips for you.x

Training a deaf dog is very much similar to training a hearing dog.  Most people use hand signals as well as voice when training a hearing dog and the same goes with the deaf dog - as well as using good strong hand signals, you need to speak as well because the dog will be able to pick up on your mood by how your face looks when you're speaking - happy, stern, etc.

 

You need to decide on which hand signals you're going to use and make sure that everybody knows what the signals are.

 

This site has some really useful information and basic hand signals you can use:

 

http://www.dfordog.com/deafdogs.htm

 

Letting a deaf dog off lead could be a bit risky and I wouldn't do it unless I was 110% positive that his recall was perfect.  You do get vibrating collars (completely different to e-collars or electric shock collars) - they just give a gentle vibration so that you can get the dog's attention when you're not close.  Something like this might be worth looking into - but I would use it loads with the dog on a long line so that the dog knows what is required of him.

 

You might find it useful to source out a trainer who has experience with deaf dogs - sometimes it's worth actually SEEING how someone does something as opposed to trying to work it out by reading.  Depending on where you live, I might be able to help out with a good trainer if you want to go that way.

 

Hope some of this has been of use to you - if you want any more information, just shout.

 

Oh, forgot to ask - are you crate training him?

Thanx so much for your supportive reply, we are using hand signals with him and slowly its starting to work. I have a crate that i use only if i have to leave him for a short time. We do a thumbs up signal as praise for toilet training and follow it with a treat , it was great he was house trained in two weeks.

Great info from Alison there hun-saved me a job-if you need anything else just shout. xxx

If it's any help, my sister had a deaf Dalmatian which she bought a pulse collar for. It's not one that hurts or shocks them in any way, it just feels like someone tapping gently, but it allowed her to safely let the dog off the lead and act as a recall when she needed her back. You must use it to start with with a long training lead and treats, in the same way you'd train recall to a hearing dog.

I'm sure what his ears fail him in, he makes up for in many other ways!

thanx all for the replies im looking into the vibrating pulse collar

Thanx  Lisa & charlie

Jez and I sometimes meet a deaf dog on our walks (well, when we used to be able to go for walks we did).  He coped just fine.  The trick is getting the dogs attention so that you can signal him (remember, hand signals are better for hearing dogs too!).  This particular dog's owner used to wait to catch his eye, but vibrating collars are apparently the best for this: when they vibrate the dog looks at you and you can signal him (or her in your case).

Good luck!  I'm tempted to say 'poor little soul' but if she's been deaf from birth (which it sounds like) then she won't know any different.  And her other senses will take over. 

i have a deaf staff too. his name is logan and he is 2.
i was very worried when i first found out he was deaf and wondered if i would ever be able to train him. but we did. its not much different to a hearing dog really . we just use signs instead of words. i also thought i might try a vibrating collar as i was worried about recall. but i didnt bother in the end as he doesnt need it his recall is very good . just be patient . there are positives as well . he is very focused on me he isnt distracted so training is easier in some ways. he isnt bothered by fireworks or barking dogs or anything like that. logan is a lovely dog and i wouldnt change anything about him even if i could . just try to keep it simple and clear and be consistant and treat him like any other dog and im sure he will be fine .

Hi,
my staffy is also deaf.learning him hand signals was not a problem,he can do everything my hearing dog can do. i am more than willing to help you,so please ask.if you like i could do short video,showing you how i did it.

thats 3 of us then up to now.
 3 little deaf white staffies.
 we could have a club of our own. i wonder if there are anymore ?