The thought of raising and training a deaf dog may sound intimidating to some people, but the reality is that a deaf dog can provide just as much love and happiness in one’s life and home as a dog that is able to hear. Deafness in dogs can be a congenital condition, or it can also occur as a result of another disease. or as a side-effect from the usage of pharmaceutical products meant to treat something else. Whatever the cause of deafness may be, the important thing to remember is that owners can do a lot to make lives easier for their dogs by learning how to train a deaf dog, learning deaf dog hand signals, rearranging their home and habits, and investing in products like a deaf dog collar and CBD oils, CBD treats and edibles.
In this blog, King Kanine will teach you the ins and outs of having a deaf dog. We’ll give you a number of tips and tricks that will make living easier for both you and your hard-of-hearing pooch. Keep reading to find out more!
Training a deaf dog may sound difficult or impossible, but the truth is most trainers already make use of hand signals when training dogs that are not deaf. While being able to communicate words alongside hand signals is helpful in training dogs to retain certain behaviors, it is not necessary, and hand signals alone can be just as effective in helping your dog adapt to your home. Deaf dog training just takes patience on your part; in all likelihood, your dog is ready to do the rest. More than anything, a dog wants to spend time with its family, and being taught deaf dog hand signals as a method of communication is one way to make that happen.
Experts recommend that deaf dog hand signals be firm, recognizable gestures that a dog will recognize at once and not confuse with another gesture. You can use the universal ‘stop’ gesture to indicate that a dog stops doing something, and you can make an upright fist gesture if you want your dog to sit down. Professional trainers will often make use of specific, somewhat universal signals when training a deaf dog, but if you cannot afford to hire a trainer, just be sure to stay consistent with the signals you choose to use.
Besides hand signals, another great tool to get a deaf dog’s attention is using light. Because they lack one of their senses, the others are heightened, and this is especially so with the visual sense. Training your dog to associate a light being on with a certain command and a light being off with another is a sure way to communicate with your disabled dog. Likewise, if your dog is outside and you want to make them come inside, obviously they will not be able to hear you if you shout for them, so consider using a flashlight to get their attention. The more you utilize these tools, the more the dog will come to understand your behavior with them as language.
A deaf dog collar is another great tool dog owners can utilize for getting their dog’s attention. With remote control, dog owners can make the collar vibrate, making them aware that either something they’re doing is wrong or you want their attention. Remember, too, that when your deaf dog behaves appropriately and respond to your commands via hand signals, lights, or vibrating collars, it is important to reward them with a treat or toy, that way they know to continue these positive behaviors in the future. It is extremely helpful for dog owners to keep in mind when living with and training a dog with a disability.
Beyond learning the proper methods of training your hard-of-hearing pooch, it is also a great idea to include specific nutrients and supplements in their diet that can potentially decrease the likelihood of deafness occurring in cases when it has not already, as well as mitigating the stress and anxiety that disabled dogs often experience as a result of their condition. It should come as no surprise that deaf dogs may feel especially frightened or nervous when they cannot understand what is going on around them. When they can’t communicate or recognize a language established via proper training, they tend to feel very alone, and then stressed. Including natural products like CBD oil for dogs, edibles, or topicals in a dog’s diet and lifestyle is one way of potentially limiting the stress disabled dogs experience. Researchers are discovering that by interacting with the body’s endocannabinoid system and nervous system, CBD, a non-psychoactive cannabis-derived compound, can potentially decrease stress and anxiety when taken over an extended period of time.
If you are interested in learning more about these natural products, reach out to King Kanine today. We’re the pet CBD experts, and we can explain why so many people are turning to the organic product to treat symptoms and limit stress in dogs.
Don’t let your deaf dog suffer any longer! Contact us today.
