First time owners - deaf puppy

hi there!

My husband and i purchased our first dog a month ago. A lovely little white Staffy bitch that we named Nancy. It soon became apparent that she's deaf. Obviously we adore her and it doesn't make a difference really as she's our first dog we have nothing to compare her with if you know what I mean. She's doing really well, we regularly let her out in the garden for her business and only have a couple of accidents during the week to clean up.. Usually in the morning first thing if we're not quick enough on opening the back door. She has no problems using a crate.. The first couple of nights were bad she cried and cried so we put the crate in our room (where it remains at night) and she's never had a problem since.. She goes in when we come to bed and we don't hear a peep until morning when she's desperate to go out bless her. She goes in her crate when we go out and can't take her.. She's usually asleep before we go and still asleep when we get back (only 4 hours or so a couple of times a week) and she will go to her crate on her own for a sleep (when she's not on the sofa or somewhere else). I wondered if anyone had any advice on the best way to go about training her with hand signals. Particularly when out for walks and stuff.. I doubt she will be able to come off a lead.. Good job we've got a huge garden! We've managed to get her to sit using hand signals and when I point my finger at her and furrow my brows she stops barking. Obviously she's very excitable and with us having 8 kids there's plenty of attention for her to have. So far she's ok with other dogs, a friend brought his 3 dogs over (an old Staffy and 2 jack Russell's) for a play and she loved it.. They were a little perplexed as to why she wasn't barking back at them lol but I don't know if her over friendliness will become a problem as she gets older or will she be calmer..

Just wondered if anyone with a deaf dog could throw any suggestions out there. (Sorry, just realised this is quite long!)

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Hi & Welcome from Flo and me

I guess I'm probably the best one to answer your queries as my Flo is deaf too. The only problem I've found is getting her attention in the first place but once that is established hand signals work well.

A Deaf Staff is no different to any other Staff really, they are still intelligent dogs and will learn well if you keep consistent. Sit and stay are the easy commands to master first. Most hearing dogs use visual commands as much as hearing them so it's pretty much the same. Now the heal command is a touch more difficult. My Flo always walks on my right and will keep me in her periferal vision. If I put two fingers pointing down, she will walk slightly behind me (her version of heal). To achieve this I used to gently pull her back on the lead and then do the signal. All very reward based.

The really difficult one is recall. We rescued our girl and had no idea if we would ever let her off lead. It took nearly two years but she is off lead on every walk now so it can be done. We started with a long lead, not a retractable one. This allowed her the freedom to go in and out the trees and to run and chase sticks etc without going too far. When she went to the far extent of her long line we would call her back by using open arms to signal to come back. Eventually this started to work more and more.

Another trick is to use a Buzz collar, this is simply a device that attaches to her collar and by remote control you can get it to vibrate to get attention. This does not cause pain at all & should never be confused with a shock collar which Is just barbaric.

You can get there with all your training, it just might take a little longer

Welcome from Iza and me She is yummy

Hi and welcome to the forum from Rocky and me

Sorry I don't have any personal experience of dealing with deafness in dogs but the thread below may be of use to you:

https://staffy-bull-terrier.niceboard.com/t47178-deafness?highlight=deafness#top

hia from me and sasha aww Nancy looks a gorgeous pup

Hi and welcome from us and Suki

Nothing useful to add re the deafness, but just wanted to say hi and wow, what a cute pupster!

Hi and welcome to the forum from me and the zoo xx

Hiya from me and Vinnie

hi and welcome to the board Danielle.

Sorry to hear Nancy is deaf but im sure you will love her all the more but im sure you will find the best help and support from the people on this bored

Hi and welcome fromOz and me she is adorable, so pleased that Ian has a lot of experience to help you out, hope it helps, let us know your progress

Hi and welcome from me and my two