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Date Posted: 10:08:31 06/05/04 Sat
Author: Jan
Author Host/IP: 24.84.13.177
Subject: Re: Deaf puppy-Barking
In reply to: Kristin 's message, "Re: Deaf puppy-Barking" on 15:43:38 06/03/04 Thu

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on 'object permanence'. I have a deaf adult dogo named Dakota. Dakota can be very loud, especially when I first brought him home. Gentle is the key here! I usually gently tap Dakota which means turn around and look at Mom. Then I put my finger to my lips in the classic Shhh position which means please be quiet. We worked up to this by doing the Shh signal and then the C over the muzzle to help Dakota sort out what I wanted. We don't need the C very often now. If Dakota is in the yard and being too noisy I can sign from the house and he will respond. Lots of patience and repetition bring excellent results.

>I have to admit, barking was an issue with my deaf pup
>as well. I think, at that young age, they don't have
>object permanence yet. In otherwords, when you leave
>their sight (and they can't hear you in the other
>room), as far as their baby minds know, you've fallen
>off the face of the earth. And the earth is only as
>big as what they can see. They don't know that when
>an object isn't in view, it still exists.
>
>I think it took my deaf boy longer to learn this
>because he couldn't "hear" things - like the fridge,
>washing machine, me, etc. - in the other room. So, if
>he couldn't see them, they maybe ceased to exist.
>
>He seemed to develop object permanence at about 12
>weeks of age. Until that time, I think he got very
>frightened everytime I left his sight. This caused
>crate issues, and I'm still dealing with the remains
>of that today (he's 15 mths old).
>
>As far as the barking goes, first, don't give into it,
>or you've rewarded the bad behavior (which I think you
>already are aware of). I taught quite by first making
>a C with my hand when my dog would bark to tell him
>"quite." Then, if he didn't quite, I would gently
>(and gently is the key here) put that C hand around
>his muzzle and hold it there - gently - until the
>barking stopped. Then, you can, if you're used to
>clicker training, use a small flashlight as the click
>and then treat.
>
>A word on the flashlight as a clicker substitute for
>deaf dogs. It does work. I purchased a blue
>flashlight from Radio Shack because it gave a
>different hue light, and dogs can see some colors,
>blue being one of them. As Noofie, one of the posters
>here, has pointed out, flashlights can become a
>probelm for some dogs who become obsessed with them.
>If your Aussie starts to chase the light, you'll need
>to come up with another clicker substitute. Any
>visual cue will do.
>
>Also, a word on the gentle part of holding the nose.
>If you grab the nose quickly and harshly, you will get
>the baggage of the dog ducking everytime you reach to
>pet its head. So, make sure you move slowly to hold
>the muzzle, and that you are being very gentle. If
>the dog starts to avoid having you pet its head in
>normal situations, you will need to go another route
>to stop the barking.
>
>I hope others post with other ways of dealing with the
>issue. I personally feel you will need more than the
>average amount of patience to teach a deaf dog not to
>bark. I think it's harder for them to know they are
>barking, and that that is the behavior you are trying
>to stop.
>
>Good luck.
>
>-Kristin
>
>
>
>
>I just yesterday took in a foster puppy, a completly
>>deaf Australian Sheperd. Six and a half weeks old,
>>poor thing was to be put to sleep by the breeder.
>>
>>Anyway,
>>
>>I wonder what is a good way to correct her for
>>barking? She barks her head off, very very loud, for
>>long periods of time, especially when confined or when
>>I am not giving in to her demands (like not picking
>>her up). She is a bossy little thing! Normally with
>>hearing dogs I would give a stern "No bark!" which
>>usually startles the dog into being quiet for a few
>>seconds, then click and treat for the brief quiet, but
>>I don't know how to approach this with a deaf pup.
>>
>>If anyone has any advice on this matter I would
>>appreciate it. I just want to start working on this
>>asap because I forsee it is going to be a problem.
>>
>>Laura Dallas

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