Talking to Deaf Dogs

28/03/2024

One of the 2 canvases Kennie and Ralphie are working on... one will be donated to the upcoming benefit auction. This is the bigger canvas.

Someone was raring to go, grabbing her brush before I had time to put the cup on her easel. Deaf dogs will be watchful of our hands to SEE what we're saying to them.

16/10/2023

pareidolia... (pronounced "par-i-DOH-lee-a")
The phenomenon in which people see faces or other patterns in ambiguous images.

I finally now know the proper term thanks to Ralphie's friend, Daniel. This is the "What do you see?" game we play with Ralphie's art. 😄

I think this is one of my favorite pieces that Ralphie has painted because there are so many things I see in it...

* A lady in black with a black umbrella and her toothy pet behind her.

*The bitey creatures going after the spider along with a flying creature.

* The witch flying backwards on her broom.

It's fun to pick out these random things that happen simply by chance. He's created a lot of paintings like this.

I remember once someone asked if Ralphie could paint them a horse. 😄Sorry, but no, I can't ask him to paint something in particular. While there are some animal artists who do or have done this, I don't have much control over what or where Ralphie paints. I prefer this approach since we are doing this just for fun and to share smiles.

I ask him to "carry" his brush so he'll pick it up. I point to the canvas. I sometimes sign to him to "touch" or a stroking motion. Then I cheer him on. We often reflect each others excitement. 🩷

How can I tell if he wants to paint? He will bring me random things, one right after the other. Tonight he brought me a shoe, a muzzle, Kennie's sunglasses, a bandana, and a toy. When I didn't get up, he climbed up in the chair with me and stood there waiting. He's not subtle. 😆

10/07/2023

Last month, Ralphie earned his Master's Champion Trick title with DMWYD. We took 6 days and repeated, relearned or learned all 101 tricks required for the 5 masters series titles that make up the champion masters title. He is the highest titled deaf trick dog of all breeds. We can communicate with deaf dogs. 🩷

Novice Masters: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuOmoWpGgS3A2psoEncTukHDZijhhVzRu

Intermediate Masters: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuOmoWpGgS3A5bfgOGXZGa13lfsvLtFXk

Advanced Masters: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuOmoWpGgS3ArcSKyqa_qQqlV2EvcW1se

Expert Masters: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuOmoWpGgS3Cvk9MzS2NZCQTSbVQpXRN6

Champion Masters: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuOmoWpGgS3AySNCIn4A1bthUESyZUH1q

_____________________________

Novice Masters Tricks:
1. Back-Up Chute
2. Come
3. Down
4. Fetch (bring it near me)
5. Front
6. Hand Signals (3 Behaviors)
7. Sit
8. Spin Circles
9. Stand
10. Stay
11. Take It
12. Tug a Toy And… #13
13. Drop it
14. Which Hand Holds the Treat
15. Tunnel
16. Biscuit under Sofa Easel
17. Kennel Up
18. Leave It/ Food Refusal
19. Paws in Box
20. Paws on Object
21. Peekaboo/Center Position
22. Loose Leash Walking
23. Ride in a Wagon
24. Focus
25. Kisses
26. Touch My Hand
27. Send to Pedestal
28. Balance Cookie on Nose (it’s on a paper towel because it’s frozen)
29. Bar Jump
30. Hide and Seek
_____________________________

Intermediate Masters Tricks-
1. Carry My Purse
2. ­­­Fetch to Hand
3. Figure 8 Through My Legs
4. Go Around an Object
5. Heart Nose Boop
6. Hold Object for 5 Seconds
7. Peekaboo While Walking
8. Roll Over
9. Shake Hands
10. Side Step Drill
11. Target Mark Foot Touch
12. Hand Signals, 6 Behaviors
13. Put Litter in Trash
14. Emergency Stop
15. Out of Sight Stay
16. Mail Carrier
17. Selfie
18. Pull on a Rope (attached to a door)
19. Directional Cues
20. Balance on a Cube

________________________

Advanced Masters Tricks-
1. Wave
2. Side- Swing to my left side
3. Back Up
4. Tidy Up Toys into Toy Box, No Lid
5. Head Down
6. Triangle
7. Food Retrieval- Raw Egg
8. Paintbrush Painting, brush is handed to the dog
9. Skateboard, Front 2 paws on the board
10. Pull a Wagon, pull with mouth

________________________

Expert Masters Tricks-
1. Paint with a Brush, pick up from bucket
2. Back up the steps
3. Barrel Roll with 2 Feet
4. Basketball
5. Suitcase, Get in a Closed Suitcase (in this case a box with a lid)
6. Cross paws
7. Skateboard
8. Balance Beam, Double Rail
9. Achoo, Bring Me a Tissue
10. Orbit

________________________

Champion Masters Tricks-
1. Half Reverse Scoot
2. Ring Bell With a Handle
3. Ring Service Bell with Paw
4. Mimic Spin
5. Mirrored Kicks
6. Get a Drink from Cooler and put in Wastebasket
7. Where’s My Mitten, open lid on box and retrieve
8. Pickup Flat Item, give to handler
9. Around/Place
10. Pickpocket
11. Spin While Holding a Hula Hoop
12. Bring Me Your Leash
13. Take Object, Place on a Table, Return, then Retrieve
14. The Christmas Wreath Trick
15. Candy Canes on the Christmas Tree
16. Walk the Dog
17. Card in a 2” Wall Pocket
18. Drop on Recall
19. Balance Beam
20. Fishing With a Rope
21. Automatic Sit
22. Open a Door (or drawer)
23. Close the Door
24. Touch Stick (Nose Touch)
25. Remove Socks/Slippers
26. Retrieve Over High Jump with Formal Hand Delivery
27. Cue Cards- Sit, Down, Hug
28. Six Behaviors at 12- Sit, down, head down, stand, back up, spin
29. Balance on Top of a Ball (Stand on a Peanut)
30. Find Hidden Treasures
31. Push Ups

06/05/2023

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=692701792863651&id=100063715081596&sfnsn=mo&mibextid=RUbZ1f

23/01/2023

DEAF DOGS | COMMUNICATION

best-kept secret. noun. : something very good that not many people know about.

When the intelligence of a deaf dog is first discovered by someone new to them, it feels like a best-kept secret. But it's something they want the whole world to know, too. This is how I still feel about deaf puppies and dogs after 10 years.

A missing sense is usually viewed by most people as disabling, there is often that aww-of-pity when you share a dog is deaf. The deficit is viewed through human eyes. But the real secret is that deaf dogs can be fun, loving companions that are highly intelligent because one less sense is also one less distraction. Such wise words from local dog training instructor Pam Johnson more than 20 years ago.

It's about connecting with a deaf dog, opening that door to communication so learning can begin. Communication with a deaf dog requires precise timing when marking a desired behavior so, with repetition, we can request specific behaviors again.

To mark a behavior...

#1 Select a sign, a visual cue you will use every time for that one behavior.

Visual cues can be ASL or a cue you make up for yourself. It must be uniquely different so that it won't be confused with another sign and it must be consistently used.

#2 Lure. When possible, lure using tiny treats to create the behavior or capture it as it naturally occurs. Side Note: I also build behaviors through "shaping"... break down a behavior into smaller parts and teach each one individually, then put them all together to create one behavior.

Luring is a training method many puppies/dogs (including those with all senses) naturally follow. Take "sit" as an example...

Method: Hold the tiny treat in your hand or between 2 fingers. Starting at the dog's nose, bring the treat up over the top of the dog's head. Keep the treat close to the dog's head as you bring it from nose to top of head. If the dog backs up instead of sitting, start with the dog in a corner... if the dog jumps up, you may be holding the treat too far from the dog's head. Many dogs will naturally sit in order to follow the treat. For dogs less food motivated, you can also use a toy.

3. Capture the behavior the moment it happens. As the dog starts sitting, add your unique visual cue, give a thumbs-up, happy face, and a tiny treat. Repeat, repeat, repeat.

Frequency: I find brief training sessions of new behaviors, sprinkled throughout the day, help with learning and retention rather than longer sessions. As understanding of a behavior occurs more consistently, you will fade the lure and only use your sign + thumbs-up + happy face + a tiny treat at the end. Later on, I ask for more behaviors for that treat. Don't eliminate the treat entirely or too soon though because it takes the fun out of learning. And end a training session before the dog loses interest so he/she will look forward to training again with you.

A Note About Watchfullness: This is also called checking in. Teaching a deaf puppy/dog to be watchful is important because vision is our pathway to communication with our deaf dogs from a distance. We can encourage watchfullness by capturing eye contact as it naturally occurs. When we see our puppy freely offering to look at us, give a thumbs-up (even jazz hands!) + happy face + tiny treats so this behavior will happen more often. It really is a big deal because if our deaf dog isn't looking at us, we can't communicate with them.

I will never say that deaf dogs are for everyone. It does require someone who will not pity or undervalue the dog, someone that will celebrate their individual uniqueness and is willing to learn a new language.

Deaf dogs, like all other dogs with all senses, are first and foremost their breed's and line's genetic tendencies plus life's experiences. People who choose a deaf dog learn a different way to communicate. Many of these people who have adopted a deaf dog with a good temperament in the past would again adopt another.

There is beauty and wonder when you know to look beyond a deficit and truly see the dog and their potential to be a loving and fun companion. ❤️

- Jaclin Dunne
I play with champion and grand champion trick dogs that happen to be born-deaf or born-blind.

23/01/2023

I'm very sorry for not keeping this page updated because deaf dogs, and also blind dogs, are my passion.

A quick update...
Kennie earned some trick titles and now stands at a champion trick dog level as a December. If you visit Just Plain Ralphie you can find all kinds of videos and pictures... just silly stuff that we do together from their perspective. 😄 Work keeps me from devoting more time to what I love most.

* Kennie was BAER tested while in the UK and failed testing in both ears. This doesn't stop puppies from learning and enjoying life.

Ralphie recently completed a new project. I'll share a picture of that below in the comments. It's kind of a funny but will actually be donated to help kids have the opportunity to learn and enjoy music. So what comes across as lighthearted humor is actually beneficial and educational. His art is now on display at a local brewery again through March. 😄 The proceeds from his original paintings, there are only four on display now, we'll go toward purchasing another electric guitar for him to paint and donate to a non-profit.

I'll try to pop in more often to keep this updated. What I share is from my perspective, based on my individual dogs. It's what has worked for me. I try to show that we can communicate with deaf dogs and that they can be lovely and fun companions. ❤️

14/10/2022

"Wait"...

Continued work on "wait". It's simply a raised index finger. It means hold the last behavior and watch for the next instruction. She's progressed nicely in learning some self control. She was so impatient when she arrived!

She and Ralphie stand beside me while I'm preparing meals. I point to the dog that's going to get the treat or meal and the other dog has to wait. It's a behavior that's been slowly and carefully built over the past couple months. She no longer tries to take Ralphie's treat and will wait her turn. She sits and waits on my left as I put Ralphie's bowl on the floor on my right. Then I point to her and say "night-night" which means to go to her crate. She'll run into the shop, open her crate door and shut it behind her, then sit and wait. 😄

07/10/2022

Continued conditioning to grooming...

Dogs with coat need to learn to tolerate grooming and handling because it's a lifetime necessity. We either have to brush out all of that hair and scissor to maintain the coat or shave the dog down to a more manageable length. Making it fun, or at least tolerable, should be the goal so the dog will willingly comply. No one wants to have a wrestling match every time we groom.

McKenna had her first foot trim to round up the hair this morning. Puppies often need to be conditioned to grooming and handling so we started day one when she arrived. Because puppies squirm and want to bite grooming tools, I started out with a toy smeared inside with food. She could occupy herself while I brushed, trimmed nails and shaved foot pads. Tolerating grooming has come along nicely.

Practicing "hold" with the slicker brush.

07/10/2022

All dogs should have hair pulled back or trimmed if it's obstructing their vision. It's for safety reasons but also so the dog is conditioned to life in general, the movement and activity happening around them. Hair can block so much of what's going on around a dog. This is even more important with deaf dogs.

I trimmed McKenna's hair the other day, just the inside corners but it opened up her view of the world. The tiny pigtails weren't staying up and hair gel just wasn't enough. She MUST to be able to see so we can communicate and to keep everyone safer when there's high speed play.

03/10/2022

Back-back is progressing nicely. ❤️

03/10/2022

Learning head-down and laughing when a dog sometimes colors outside the line. 😄

18/09/2022

She Talks To Deaf Dogs... Carry & Hold

Kennie is learning to "carry" like Ralphie. It's a behavior that can make for fun photos and can also be useful.

Visual Signs or Cues
We can use ASL or we can make up any visual cue that works best for us but...
1. It must be uniquely different.
2. It must be consistently used.

*Note that I sometimes add motion to my cues to gain focus. For instance, my thumbs-up may wiggle or bounce! I may even share a double thumbs-up.

Thumbs-Up
A closed fist with my thumb up. This is my marker to tell my dogs that they have gotten it right, that they're offering the behavior I'm hoping for.

Carry
1 or 2 clenched fists, like holding the top of a bag with 2 hands, and bouncing them up and down. It's later transitioned to a single fist bounce. One-handed cues are often more convenient because it leaves the other hand free for other uses.

Drop-it
A closed fist that quickly opens toward the floor, fingers spread apart.

Hold
I repeat the carry-cue and add a raised index finger. This is also my "wait" cue. I also use my thumbs-up to indicate that the dog is doing it!

BASICS OF TEACHING CARRY...
- One hand is used to offer the toy.
- The other hand is used to communicate... to sign the carry-cue, mark the desired behavior when it occurs with a thumbs-up and offer a treat.

*Good timing of the thumbs-up and treat will best communicate precisely when a desired behavior happens so it might happen again. I try to be consistent and well-timed with my cues so I won't confuse my dogs.

A couple of ways to start...
- Simply hand a puppy a toy and see if they will take it.
- Play fetch, toss a toy a short distance and see if the puppy will pick it up.

I hand a toy to the puppy and ask her/him to carry. Rewarding just short durations of a puppy gripping the item, even just mouthing it at start. As the puppy instinctively takes or picks up the toy, I share my "carry" cue to identify the behavior and thumbs-up as encouragement. I often get a voluntary release by offering a treat and I pair that with my "drop-it" sign".

In my opinion, puppies don't always need to understand a sign when we first use it. I used to think that I should only teach one behavior at a time. This time around, I found that I can simply use signs as behaviors happen and in time, I can begin to convey their meaning through repetition. I love to incorporate training into everything life and this includes simply adding a sign to a behavior.

If a puppy won't readily take an offered toy, I'll try to play tug with them. Wiggle the toy around to gain interest. I mark any grasping/holding/carrying behaviors with the carry-cue and a treat. And if a puppy is suddenly getting it right, I'll flood the puppy with multiple treats, one right after another. This is often referred to as a jackpot.

We then work on building duration, asking the puppy to hold an object longer. This is where my wait-cue comes in. I hold up an index finger asking the puppy to hold the object just a little bit longer.

Later, I work on more finesse in holding an item. I call it my tiny/hold little cue. I offer just a tiny piece of the object between two thumbs so the dog will take just that small area probably item... at first anyway. Sometimes it will start as "tiny" and end as a mouthful, like the picture of Kennie with the Biggby coffee cup. 😄

Just a side note but it's important...
There are some dogs that just don't really enjoy carrying things. I have one! She did become the first blind champion trick dog with an international training group (DMWYD)but carrying isn't really her thing. If that becomes obvious, we will work on other behaviors the dog enjoys and excels at. She needed one more trick for her champion title but refused to carry... so we waited several months and later tried it again. She was then ready to do it. If we can't make it fun for the dog though, there's no sense doing it.

Side note-
This is just the way I train my deaf dogs. There are surely different approaches, possibly even better. I'll likely proof this later and revise it as needed. I'll also later include some links to videos showing the carry and hold behaviors mentioned above.

17/09/2022

Deaf Dog Awareness Week starts Sunday, September 18-24, 2022...

Kennie, earned her Expert Trick Dog title last night! She's now 17 weeks old, she arrived in the USA 5 weeks ago. She'll be the 7th OES to join the international list, my 4th OES expert level... 2 deaf, 1 blind and 1 senior with all senses.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuOmoWpGgS3BZlcE7PXNoAc-mhearGULc

It's interesting to build a behavior... breaking something down into easier/smaller parts. Later, putting them all together and using just one sign to request it.

And out to socialize last evening. This lady hugging McKenna thoroughly gave her a great experience with a stranger. We are still avoiding areas where a lot of dogs visit because she just had her last parvo vaccine the other day. But getting puppies out is so important. The kind strangers in my town have helped socialize my deaf dogs. ❤️

28/08/2022

The official title... she's going to quickly out grow that little skateboard! 😄 Serious hair gel tomorrow to flatten that hair...

27/08/2022

Carolina Jardim shares powerful words in just two paragraphs. The passion many of us share about our deaf dogs.

An IAABC Foundation Publication

27/08/2022

McKenna, Simply Kennie NTD (novice trick dog)
14 weeks old

She just kept learning so fast. Her title will be added to the DMWYD registry to include "DEAF".

25/08/2022

Deaf Puppy Kennel-Up aka Night-Night...

We have the communicated the desired behavior for requests to "kennel up", also known as night-night".

The desired result is for Kenna is to go in her kennel, sit down and wait. This is a behavior that has been built over the past couple of days... we repeat it each time she eats, adding the visual cues. We also had 2 training sessions.

25/08/2022

Socialization With Kind People...

So much goes on the first few weeks after bringing a new puppy home. Socializing in a controlled environment is one of those very important things, giving puppies a good experience.

Lyn from across the street came over the other night with home baked doggy treats! I asked her If she would do some handling. Her help was also enlisted when Ralphie was a puppy.

25/08/2022

Practicing Recall...

Unless a deaf dog is looking at us, we can't communicate with them using sign language. I would either have to go up to Kenna in this situation and tap her or simply wait for her to turn around. In this case I waited for her to turn, I waved big and requested that she come to me.

25/08/2022

Deaf Dogs- Learning to Take Turns...

At treat time, I don't want dogs in each other's faces when I'm handing out treats so I teach limits. Kenna is learning to take turns. I point to the dog that's going to get the treat and I also say a name. In this case, both dogs are deaf so I'm just using the word"doggie". But if my blind dog was in the group, I would use HER name when it was her turn.

25/08/2022

Applied some hair products so the hair by her eyes isn't blocking her vision. Well, that was fun! 😄

24/08/2022

And like that, communication and understanding of a routine has been established. Food bowl means go in crate and sit. Though her night-night cue was used before she comprehended the meaning, it will now help say...

Night-night = Crate
Food Bowl = Crate

Ha! I was debating whether to leave the crate open or closed... left open.

Also, working on not jumping on my. I turned my back when she jumped. It's also why I teach up and off on an object like a step stool or that yoga peanut... so she will understand the meaning of "off".

23/08/2022

She's 13 weeks. Lure... lure... lure... and of course mark desired behaviors with tiny treats.

23/08/2022

Asking a Deaf Dog to "Wait"...

When talking visually to deaf dogs, we can use any visual cue we'd like... we just need to use the same one consistently and it must be uniquely different.

I choose to use this one to signal "wait", it's just a raised index finger. I try to convey to the dog to give me a second, I'll be right back. You can see how she's beginning to understand what it means. As I was walking back to her, I held a raised index finger so she could see it.

We are working on not bolting out the crate door. When she first arrived, she was snaking through any little opening of any door or gate. So we do a brief lesson each time she eats. Mini training sessions sprinkled throughout the day.

And yes, deaf dogs DO bark!

23/08/2022

This breed requires grooming... A LOT OF GROOMING. It's going to be a lifelong necessity so I begin to condition puppies to grooming soon after they arrive. I try to do nightly grooming with new puppies to get them used to being handled.

With Kenna, I have done...

- Ear checks and gentle wiping out of the ears.
- Pad shaves and a sani clip.
- Brushing with a wide tooth comb and also a gentle slicker brush.
- I've checker her mouth, looking inside.
- Filed her nails using a cardboard nail file... it started with just a quick swipe across each nail. It's now some actual filing of each nail including her dewclaws. I hold the individual toe steady and file the nail.
- Exposure to an electric clipper. My husband has done this with every puppy we brought in. While he was shaving, he would take his electric razor, turn it on and go over the puppy so they could feel the vibration. I've done this with a cordless clipper... being sure the blade end is cupped in my hand to prevent any bald spots. LOL
- I check feet, f***y, ears, head, get the eye gunk out from the corners of eyes and run my hands over the entire puppy.

Phew! This puppy is into everything and everything goes into her mouth! And it's normal for a puppy to want to chew on the grooming tools. I like to keep a chew thing to be used only at grooming time. In this case, it's the "MAGIC CARROT" because it has a little canned food smeared inside. The puppy gets the special chew/food toy while grooming and as soon as grooming is done, the toy is put away until next time. My hope is that it will keep the chew/toy special and that the puppy will look forward to grooming the NEXT time.

This pup is a hoot. I didn't know she was going to willingly lie on her side and lick the food out of that toy. :)

More to come...

23/08/2022

Deaf Puppies With Hair...

Hair must not obstruct a deaf dog's vision. If hair gets in front of the eyes of deaf dogs, they can be not only deaf but blind.

Deaf dogs MUST be able to see...
** So we can communicate with them.
** For safety reasons, to prevent falls or collisions.

McKenna's hair is starting to grow in front of her eyes and I have a few choices...

* Trim the hair near her eyes.
* Apply a hair product to help flatten the hair.
* Put her hair up in the top knot.

Her hair is too short right now for top knot. When her hair gets long enough, she'll have a tiny top knot and later, a few little rubber bands in her hair to help keep her view unobstructed.

All dogs must be able to see... again, this is very important for deaf dogs.

21/08/2022

Introducing an itty bitty baby size skateboard as a unique surface. The wood staff prevents it from rolling too far/fast so she first builds confidence. I'll just put it on the grass so it doesn't roll and have her repeat toe, meaning front feet on, and off.

She met 2 neighbors today and my son again. She was unsure at first as she watched them approach from across the street, then super excited, then calmed. I kept removing the weeds from her mouth as we talked. 😄

Still in her separation time from Ralphie due to the long international flight. About one more week to go...

# deafpuppytraining

20/08/2022

Awakening This Deaf Puppy...

This is the first time waking her up with touch in her crate. I wanted to see how she did, the amount of conditioning I might need to do to lessen the natural starter effect. She did fine, benefits of littermates to jostle her around and a good breeder. I will in the future use treats at her nose along with touch so being awakened is associated with something good.

She is being crate trained... it's a good skill for all dogs to have and to keep a puppy safe. Being in the crate makes it more difficult to touch her on the shoulder like I do to wake up Ralphie. Ralphie didn't particularly enjoy his crate though we did use one his first year.

And also sleeping on the floor with her last night... just because. She is still separated from the others due to a long international plane flight.