Any advice for a deaf puppy? (link to her pic added)

[BorderKelpie]

Thank you all for you replies. I do plan on being careful with the kids with her. My kids are in their teens, too, so they understand. Also, I already have a dog with a seizure disorder. My kids have been around that and other 'odd' behaviour. They go with me to my other job as a vet tech, so they have pretty much seen/experienced quite a bit. I have already been taking the baby to the feed store and for trips around town with my most stable (alpha) male dog to get her used to different things. I totally understand socializing. The feedback thing makes a world of sense. I never considered that.
On the bright side, my hearing dogs know some 'sign language.' I dislike noise and I have a habit of whispering and signing to them all anyway. Besides, my alpha responds better to whispers than yelling. (I guess we all do lol)
I am waking her up and touching her all over to avoid the 'startle bite' I learned that years ago with a deaf Dal I fostered a while.
I am looking forward to the challenge of giving her the best life possible, I just want to get all the ideas I can to make that happen.
I really like the little lugnut already.

 

[geepy]

Ihave an old hound that went blind, and I just love the smile he gives me when he is loving life. Have fun with the pup, even handicapped they try to please so much.

 

[Cetawin]

BorderKelpie She is absolutely adorable! What a beautiful baby she is, I would have scooped her up and brought her home too!

A fitting name...hmmmmm I will think on this...

I like Echo that is cute. I shall keep thinking on it.

 

[BorderKelpie]

Thanks! I think she's beautiful, too. When I first saw the pics of the litter, there was another I thought I wanted. When this one showed up at my door (long story, she was a surprise that I wasn't really surprised about - makes no sense, huh lol), I got to singing in my head that I got the pretty one. lol
I am thinking of calling her 'Willow'. I knew a collie with that name years ago, always thought it was pretty. I also like 'Whisper' IDK, Echo is a great name, too.
edited: Forget teaching her sign language, I'm going to teach her to spell and let her post for me.....

 

[Cetawin]

There ya go, give her my number and she can call me and get my posts and put them up for me too!

Willow is a beautiful name...it suits her.

 

[BattleChickens]

I don't have any deaf dog advice, but I HAD to see the pic.

She is absolutely BEAUTIFUL and I think Willow is a perfect name for her . . . I would have scooped her up in a heartbeat, too!

Congratulations on your new addition!!!

 

[verity]

Willow will turn out to be 'the dog of your heart' ---
Love her lots!
The 'special needs' ones really ARE 'special' in every way --

 

[BorderKelpie]

Cetawin,
Thank you so very much for that amazing link to the Deaf Dog Education Action Fund. Awesome site. I printed almost the entire website so I can read it anytime. I will have my kids read it also and then we will work out hand signals together for Willow. That way, we will be more consistant. Hmmm, first time I actually wrote her name out and used it for her - I think I like it.

Thank you again everyone!
Willow thanks you, too.

(yep, I do like that name....)

 

[Haviris]

I think Willow is a very nice name for her! One of my goats is named Willow, and her coloring is actually pretty similar to your baby's!

So is the screaming/crying getting any better?

Here is my deaf dog, she'll be 7 in November. She's not easily startled, and actually better w/ kids then either of my other dogs (she perfers kids to adults).

It definately pays to do your research, there are so many "myths" out there. And I'd say my best advice is to talk to people that have them!

There is a very good forum on yahoo for deaf dogs, you might want to check it out!

 

[BorderKelpie]

Haviris,
She's beautiful.

The screaming/crying is getting better, I think. That or I'm getting used to it. She doesn't seem to go on as long as she did. I've been cheating, though. I put her in a small wire crate inside an X-pen with one of my other dogs in the pen so she's not all by herself. That seems to help a bit.
Yes, she's getting spoiled fast!
I do love her to pieces, though. She travels in the car like an old pro, too. And, the tellers in the bank love her to come in and visit. hehehe