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Deaf pet? - try sign language
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My husband pointed out to me over the week-end that I’ve actually taught my old deaf dog, and to some extent our 2 year old dog, sign language. At first I just laughed, but then realized it is actually true. I did, without knowing I was doing it.
I tend to talk with my hands, and over the years, my signals for things have stayed the same. Dugan slipped into old age and deafness without many problems because he knows my signals, I know his; and I am convinced he reads my lips to some degree. Don’t write me off quite yet. It is true. He watches my mouth whenever I, or he, wants something.
Now this dog is deaf, not just hard of hearing. To get his attention you must be in line of sight, a fact he uses to his advantage when trying to slowly edge closer to the neighbor’s home when I take him out with me. Just slowly meanders away, and of course, he can’t hear me…so we try to race around and get in his line of vision.
I know that dogs have been companion animals for the deaf very successfully,and indeed can be trained to understand signing. Plus we MUST be open to their body language, it is 90% of how they communicate with us. But those companion dogs are professionals, not my dog. I even have read extensively of the research going on with apes; successfully teaching them sign language. But I guess what surprised me is that I didn’t set out to teach these things….they just happened. Now, don’t misunderstand me, my hand signs are, I suspect, much different from those used by those trained in American Sign Language(ASL), the most widely accepted sign language in the world. But over the years I have indeed come up with my own.
All of his life, when Dugan wants another piece of treat I put both hands palm out in front of me, while saying out loud “all gone”. I put my finger across my lips with the shushing sound when I want him to stop barking. He will look at my face and I will ask the question “do you have to go out”, and if he doesn’t there is no response, if he does he barks. But he has to be looking directly at me to respond. And ask him anytime of the day or night, if he is hungry….he barks. Ask if he need
s his pills, he barks and goes to the counter. My husband takes Dugan and Bogie to the barn every night to check on the horse, Dugan knows the follow signal, bent finger beckoning. Bogart, his 2 year old “brother” learned that when I make a circular motion with my hands, he needs to go to the rug by the door and he then walks around in circles until his feet are dried off from being outside. I know Bogart can hear, but I tried the signal over the week-end out of the blue without speaking, and off he went to wipe his feet. When I have music on while cleaning the house, I put my hand and arm out and up he comes up on his back paws to “dance” with me. This is confusing for anyone visiting us; if for some reason they stick their arm and hand out straight-he goes into dance mode. Whoops! And I have found myself over the last couple of years putting my hand to my mouth when it is time for dinner. All I have to do to get either one to get down is point at them with a stern look. Not a word spoken.
I guess my point in all of this is that dogs, and cats, are very adaptable. Without trying to, Dugan and I communicate in a dance of language and signing. Having a pet go deaf certainly doesn’t mean that life for you and for them can’t still be sweet. Sometimes people give up on an animal with a disability, or don’t even try. Animals tend to be a lot more flexible in accepting these life experiences, far better than we humans. I am now going to actually “try” to sign along with commands, to all of my pets. I’ll keep you posted on the results. Enjoy your pets. Thanks for reading! keepsake16@yahoo.com
One last thing- a local veterinary clinic has two kittens that were dumped, taped inside a box. The vet has spayed the female, neutered the male, declawed both, micro chipped both, have given all of the tests and shots needed and even t.JPG)
ested for feline leukemia. They are ready for a forever home. And best of all, they are FREE. That is about $800 worth of veterinary costs, that are being donated for a good, responsible inside home. They want to keep them together. Interested? Call 217-787-1084, the Animal Medical Center here in Springfield, IL. For more info on deaf dogs/cats and sign language:
http://www.deafdogs.org/training/signs.php
http://www.paw-rescue.org/PAW/PETTIPS/DogTip_DeafDogs.html
http://deafness.about.com/cs/deafpets/a/deafpets.htm
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