Lovie: Many different Talents

"How To" Teaching by Sign Language To A Deaf Dog

First, a deaf dog is a dog first, breed second, and deaf a far third. That means that Sir Loverly is nothing more, and nothing less, than a Pointer whose ears do not work. Second, living with and training a deaf dog is just like living with a hearing dog, only you talk with your hands, and not your voice. Actually, you should talk with your voice, too. Hearing people give out all sorts of clues as to what they are saying and what they really mean by the facial expressions and body language that go along with what they say. Hearing dogs get those clues, so deaf dogs are entitled to them, too. Remember that no dog is born knowing English (or Spanish or Japanese) but they are all trained to signs by their mother -- tail up, tail down, teeth barred, hackles up, all that stuff. What signs should you use with a deaf dog. Well, you can use ASL (American Sign Language). You can go to http://www.deafdogs.org/, then resources, then websites and scroll down the page and you will find websites that have videos that show you just how to do the signs. You don't have to be perfect. It's the general idea that counts. My deaf friends who watch me sign to my dogs tell me I have a funny "accent." LOLOLOL

You can also use regular obedience signs. You can find these if you go to http://www.deafdogs.org/, training and then signs. No videos, but illustrations.If you want, you can use obedience signs for commands like Come, Sit, Stay...and ASL for words like No, Potty, Off (the furniture). There is no one right way to sign to a deaf dog. Just be consistent.

Lovie

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Many different Talents

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"How To" Teaching by Sign Language To A Deaf Dog

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