On Sat, 27 Nov 2010 13:59:15 -0500, Jo Wolf wrote:

There is a good deaf dogs yahoogroup.... and the basic reference book
for a goodly number of years has been _Living With a Deaf Dog_ by Susan
Cope-Becker. Probably available on Amazon, definitely available from
www.dogwise.com where the stock number is DTB 552. The book has a lot
of great information about the little things around home, as well as
teaching commands.

Jo Wolf
Martinez, Georgia

and

http://www.dogwise.com/ItemDetails.c...eader1=WSR0297

Update, we've been spoiled by fast learners here.

Mabel Anne is not really getting 'down' (or a sit at the same hand signal)
reliably yet. It's kinda funny as Cash got it within 2 days. She's about
75% reliable. (she sits or lays down and we aren't worried at the variation
just now). Yes, we only work on this when she is 'looking' at us and she's
not playing the 'ignore game' at all.

LOL, wish me well as I try to teach an old dog a new trick.

The books and web sites seem to agree, you have to get a basic command like
this in their head *first* before trying to tie it to a vibration collar.
It's apparently too confusing to do both at once. Made sense to me.

We are working with her about 15 mins a day, in 3-5 min increments on a
simple 'down' in ASL. It looked promising at first but isn't as reliable
yet as it seemed at first. I am pretty sure it's not anything stubborn on
her end, but a more average curve on training.

Oh, she flips her ears when she wants out to pee, but does it so softly, you
have be watching as there is no sound. I'm looking at adding bells to her
collar. They won't bother *her* and we can learn her 'ringtone' easy I bet!
Meantime, she 'flips' and if not taken out right away, finds Cash and flips
ears at him then he comes and finds us (flipping along the way with her in
tow).

Anyways, that is where I am on learning how to train a deaf dog. I am sure
there are others who have done it before and can do better but everyone
starts with 'that first one'.

On Wed, 15 Dec 2010 21:32:50 -0500, cshenk wrote:

Gratulations !

Update, we've been spoiled by fast learners here.

Mabel Anne is not really getting 'down' (or a sit at the same hand
signal) reliably yet. It's kinda funny as Cash got it within 2 days.
She's about 75% reliable. (she sits or lays down and we aren't worried
at the variation just now).

are you sure your signal is (from her point of view looks) always the
same ? unconsciously you may be adding some body/face movements and
confuse her a bit so she is guessing what you want

also do you teach one command at the time ? if so just try one command a
day (either sit or down not both given day)

Yes, we only work on this when she is
'looking' at us and she's not playing the 'ignore game' at all.


that is a very good sign, she is bonding with you

LOL, wish me well as I try to teach an old dog a new trick.

The books and web sites seem to agree, you have to get a basic command
like this in their head *first* before trying to tie it to a vibration
collar. It's apparently too confusing to do both at once. Made sense to
me.


when you manage to teach her a command you will not need a vibration
collar, but it maybe used to bring her attention to you while she is
looking in different direction (do not forget to keep reinforcing her
attention with a treat)

We are working with her about 15 mins a day, in 3-5 min increments on a
simple 'down' in ASL. It looked promising at first but isn't as
reliable yet as it seemed at first. I am pretty sure it's not anything
stubborn on her end, but a more average curve on training.

Oh, she flips her ears when she wants out to pee, but does it so softly,
you have be watching as there is no sound. I'm looking at adding bells
to her collar.

you may install a door bell on the floor and teach her to step on it
before going out, soon she will ring that bell when in need


They won't bother *her* and we can learn her 'ringtone'
easy I bet! Meantime, she 'flips' and if not taken out right away, finds
Cash and flips ears at him then he comes and finds us (flipping along
the way with her in tow).

Anyways, that is where I am on learning how to train a deaf dog. I am
sure there are others who have done it before and can do better but
everyone starts with 'that first one'.

take care
--
thedalpal

"sonofdog" wrote
cshenk wrote:

Update, we've been spoiled by fast learners here.
Mabel Anne is not really getting 'down' (or a sit at the same hand
signal) reliably yet. It's kinda funny as Cash got it within 2 days.
She's about 75% reliable. (she sits or lays down and we aren't worried
at the variation just now).

are you sure your signal is (from her point of view looks) always the
same ? unconsciously you may be adding some body/face movements and
confuse her a bit so she is guessing what you want

Best we can tell it seems the same but this is a case where she's partly got
it. She's not 'stupid' by any means but she's not as swift as Cash is or
Sammy was.

also do you teach one command at the time ? if so just try one command a
day (either sit or down not both given day)

Just this one command. No attempt to teach sit as a different command.
I've always started small, as in one teaching point first before progressing
to the next.

Yes, we only work on this when she is
'looking' at us and she's not playing the 'ignore game' at all.

that is a very good sign, she is bonding with you

Oh she has definately done that! Charlotte calls her 'the stalker-pup'. She
likes to follow us about the house. Sleeps alot though as you can guess
from her age. Preliminary (pre-real appointment) vet check, he says she's
gotta be at least 10. (She's underweight by about 4 lbs and since she's
pretty close to normal beagle size, thats fairly significant.)

LOL, wish me well as I try to teach an old dog a new trick.

The books and web sites seem to agree, you have to get a basic command
like this in their head *first* before trying to tie it to a vibration
collar. It's apparently too confusing to do both at once. Made sense to
me.

when you manage to teach her a command you will not need a vibration
collar, but it maybe used to bring her attention to you while she is
looking in different direction (do not forget to keep reinforcing her
attention with a treat)

Sorry but disagree this time. She's deaf. We need to teach her to look for
us when the collar vibrates then follow a command in ASL for her safety. If
she ever gets out the door, there is no way to 'recall her' before she gets
to the street.

We are working with her about 15 mins a day, in 3-5 min increments on a
simple 'down' in ASL. It looked promising at first but isn't as
reliable yet as it seemed at first. I am pretty sure it's not anything
stubborn on her end, but a more average curve on training.

Oh, she flips her ears when she wants out to pee, but does it so softly,
you have be watching as there is no sound. I'm looking at adding bells
to her collar.

you may install a door bell on the floor and teach her to step on it
before going out, soon she will ring that bell when in need

Thats a possible too but what she does now is working.

They won't bother *her* and we can learn her 'ringtone'
easy I bet! Meantime, she 'flips' and if not taken out right away, finds
Cash and flips ears at him then he comes and finds us (flipping along
the way with her in tow).

Hehe Cash got me up at 2am with her in tow, him flipping loud and her just
quietly flapping. He didn't wanna go out but she did.

Anyways, that is where I am on learning how to train a deaf dog. I am
sure there are others who have done it before and can do better but
everyone starts with 'that first one'.

take care

Will do! Watching the snow fall here. Mabel is snoozing with Cash and I
have the day off.

On Thu, 16 Dec 2010 10:46:02 -0500, cshenk wrote:


when you manage to teach her a command you will not need a vibration
collar, but it maybe used to bring her attention to you while she is
looking in different direction (do not forget to keep reinforcing her
attention with a treat)

Sorry but disagree this time. She's deaf. We need to teach her to look
for us when the collar vibrates then follow a command in ASL for her
safety. If she ever gets out the door, there is no way to 'recall her'
before she gets to the street.

I was not clear ;-)

I did not mean to remove that collar, and you will be able to teach her
more commands without it while she is watching you, as you said she gives
you a lots of attention and this will help but no need to use vibration
collar as a 'correction' tool like many people do.
Again, my point is that you should avoid any action that would make her
associate collar vibration with something bad coz she could start to avoid
you when you need her attention (eg,recall situation).

--
thedalpal

"sonofdog" wrote
cshenk wrote:

Sorry but disagree this time. She's deaf. We need to teach her to look
for us when the collar vibrates then follow a command in ASL for her
safety. If she ever gets out the door, there is no way to 'recall her'
before she gets to the street.

I was not clear ;-)

I did not mean to remove that collar, and you will be able to teach her
more commands without it while she is watching you, as you said she gives
you a lots of attention and this will help but no need to use vibration
collar as a 'correction' tool like many people do.

Ah, I see. No, we have no intention of a shock collar or to use as a
punishment in any way. Just a recall method in an emergency.

Again, my point is that you should avoid any action that would make her
associate collar vibration with something bad coz she could start to avoid
you when you need her attention (eg,recall situation).

Yup. I havent picked one out yet to order, but want a smallish one with a
long lasting battery she can wear all the time in comfort. For now, when
she goes out it's the fully fenced backyard or on a leash out the front.
She's not a big dog so we need a fairly small unit.

The ones i looked at mostly just vibrate a bit, but not enough to cause
harm. You have to teach the dog that this means 'stop what you are doing
and come to me or look at me and follow commands'. It's not a replacement
for proper training, but an assist that in the case of a deaf dog can save
her life.

We did find a 'whistle' that kinda works, but you have to be within 5 feet
or less. In that range, she still has a little hearing but it is too close
to use as a recall if she's running down the street after escaping while you
carted the groceries in or something.