Pet News & Pet Tips
Pet News & Pet Tips
Tips on training a deaf dog
The Dalmatian is at risk for being born deaf.
Deaf dogs can – and do – make excellent pets. Even though they can’t hear your words, they can be quite adept at understanding you. In the past, far too many good dogs were euthanized simply because they were deaf, whether due to a genetic disorder or injury.
Dalmatians, Samoyeds, West Highland terriers and white German shepherds are breeds most at risk for bilateral deafness, which is hearing loss that affects both ears.
When it comes to training deaf dogs, first realize that no dog speaks English and that most dogs get distracted outdoors by squirrels and cats. Dogs "talk" to each other primarily with nonverbal body language cues. Any noise they make, be it barking yipping, whining or growling, is secondary to their unspoken communication through sniffing, facial expression and posturing.
Second, recognize that all dogs learn through consistency and patience.
Instead of giving spoken cues to a deaf dog, you need to use sign language. Some people have learned American Sign Language to "speak" to their dogs. The added bonus is that you can communicate with people with hearing loss as well.
You can also create your own hand signals to communicate with your dog. You need to choose gestures that are distinctly individualized to avoid confusion. You don't want your hand signal for sit to be too similar to your gesture for come.
You need your deaf dog’s full attention to teach her any cue. I recommend that you conduct your training sessions in a place with few distractions, such as your living room, and at an optimum time, like right before mealtime when she is hungry. Catch her eye by thumping on the floor.
One of the first cues you need to teach her is the “watch me” signal. While standing in front of her, take a small treat, bring it up to her nose, then move the treat up to your eye. When your dog follows the movement of the treat, clap or give a thumbs-up approval sign and then hand her the treat. When she responds to watch me consistently, you are ready to introduce other signs.
Each time she masters a cue, dole out a treat and give her a thumbs-up sign. Smile. Your dog is looking for visual signs as approval from you. Build on each success and be patient. Even deaf dogs are capable of learning dozens of signs and recognizing the difference in your request for a ball or the leash.
Hand signals work wonders for hearing dogs, too. I jokingly tell people that my dog, Chipper is trilingual because I have trained her to heed sit, stay, watch me, down, come and roll over in English, Spanish and sign language. Your dog can be a master “linguist” as well.
For more info: To learn more about training deaf dogs and to get specific step-by-step instructions on hand signals, visit the Deaf Dog Education Action Fund's Web site: www.deafdogs.org.
Bring well-mannered dogs to
Yappy Hours & hotel events
Don't let your dog display poor manners at eateries.
Lacking thumbs makes it tricky for dogs to use utensils, but that shouldn’t stop them from displaying good manners when dining out with their people.
In fact, inviting dogs to eateries is proving to be a smart strategy in these lean economic times. Case in point: the Saba Sushi Bar and Lounge in Boca Raton, Fla. Every night from 4-7 p.m., well-mannered dogs (on leashes) are welcomed to participate in Yappy Hour. Canine guests lap up bowls of water while their two-legged pals dine on sushi and/or Thai food.
“In Boca Raton, it seems there are a lot of toy dogs and their owners want to take them when they are out and about,” says Zack Gardner, Saba owner/manager. “I have two Labrador retrievers and can understand people wanting their dogs to be with them.”
On the other coast, the new Hotel Indigo in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter, stages Canine Cocktail events every Tuesday night. Dogs get to mingle off-leash on the ninth floor terrace and enjoy complimentary healthy treats and bottled water while their people sip on specialty cocktails like the signature Blue Indigo Phi Martini. One dollar of every drink is donated to the San Diego Humane Society.
And, should you desire to stay overnight, the hotel does not charge extra for your dog – no matter the size. That’s guaranteed, says Chris Jones, general manager and proud pet parent of Sandie, a former shelter Lab mix.
Ensuring that the number of pet-welcoming eateries – and pet-attended events -- stays steady – or increases – depends on those at the other end of the leash – the owners.
Here are six “petiquette” pointers for you and your pooch the next time you head for a pet-accepting eatery locally or nationally:
Discover the top 10 pet-friendly American colleges
Cats make great roomates for college students.
Princeton and Harvard may duel each year for top college honors, but when in comes to being the most pet-friendly campus, tiny Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida ranks as top dog.
Petside.com recently unleashed its top 10 picks for the most pet-welcoming colleges in the country. Factors taken into consideration include the quantity and quality of pet-friendly housing as well as the types of pets allowed.
“At Petside, we know how much the companionship of a pet can benefit a college student, particularly in the form of stress-relief and as a remedy for homesickness,” said Joshua Fried, Director, Petside.com. “We are pleased to know that so many of America's colleges are welcoming responsible students and their pets.”
Eckerd College soared to the head of the class with its four pet-friendly, air-conditioned dorm "clusters." Students are allowed to have cats and dogs – as long as they weigh less than 40 pounds – as well as snakes and fish.
A sampling of other colleges cracking into the top 10 include:
Explaining why dogs sniff to meet & greet
"Ah, yes, I know what you ate for breakfast. Sniff, sniff."
It’s jokingly referred to as the doggy handshake. You know, when one dog “greets” another by sticking her nose in the back end of the other dog. But in the world of canines, this “handshake” is much more telling and revealing that a simple “hi ya” gesture performed by people.
When dogs meet and greet each other, it is very common for them to sniff each other thoroughly from head to tail. The canine nose gives the “sniffer” a lot of details about the “sniffee” such as the dog’s age, health condition, what he ate for breakfast, and yes, even his mood.
Dogs purposely aim for the rear end because the scents are more intense there than other places on the body.
So, enter your embarrassing problem: How do you get your otherwise lovable dog not to use this technique when greeting your houseguest? First, don’t be too embarrassed. Plenty of dogs are guilty of this “crime” and people shouldn’t get too huffy and offended.
Second, teach your dog to be a more acceptable greeter. Hopefully, your dog is an ace at heeding the "sit" and "stay" commands. Reinforce those commands when the house is quite and then have your dog sit and stay when a guest comes in the door.
Third, recognize that dogs are social creatures. They want to greet – in some way. Practice with a dog-savvy friend first. Ask this person to enter the house armed with a tasty treat. The goal is to teach your dog to swap sniffing crotches for sitting politely and paw shaking with guests. Have your friend hold out a treat in his hand positioned just below your dog’s nose. Most dogs will naturally paw at the treat. When your dog does, have your friend grab his raised paw, shake it in a friendly way, say "good shake" and then hand over the treat. Dole out some happy praise, too.
Once your dog is shaking paws like a politician on a campaign trail, test his new greeting talents with others. If he slips back to his old crotch-sniffing routine, ask the guest to simply turn around and walk a few paces away and ignore your dog. He will soon learn that sniffing doesn’t yield him the goodies that sitting politely to shake paws does.
This is win-win advice for your company and your dog. Let the introductions begin!
Meet Baxter, the world's oldest therapy dog
At 19, Baxter still works as a therapy dog at hospitals
Want to know the secret to living a great life? Live in the moment. If you need a good example, just spend a moment or two with Baxter.
Baxter is a 19-year-old Golden retriever/Chow mix who is still on the job as a certified therapy dog. You read right – 19 years old. That’s the equivalent of a 101-year-old person.
With his owner, Melissa Joseph, of San Diego, Baxter makes the rounds a few times a week at the San Diego Hospice center. Although he can no longer walk – he enters the center aboard a red wagon dubbed the “Baxtermobile” – he reaches out to people who only have hours, days or weeks to live.
“With fuzzy ears, a cold, wet nose, and black eyeliner around his deep, brown eyes, Baxter wants nothing more than to cuddle with those who need it most,” declares Joseph.
She and her husband, Dennis Bussey, teamed up to publish a must-read book called Moments with Baxter, a collection of 36 touching, true stories about this amazing bond between this aging dog and hospice patients and their families and friends. Proceeds from this book ($24.95) are donated to the hospice center as well as to the ASPCA and The Humane Society of the United States.
Baxter, nicknamed Dr. Love by the hospice staff, reaches out to people from all backgrounds and ages. One special connection involved a 75-year-old woman named Muriel Thorne whose dying wish was to go to the movie theater to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – with Baxter by her side. Her wish came true and she died shortly afterward.
“In the end, she was in a lot of pain and she wanted to finish the latest Harry Potter book before she died,” recalls Joseph. “She posted a sign on her door to her hospice room that read: ‘No one enters this room except Baxter. I’m reading.’ ”
Baxter’s work as a therapy dog has been recognized by the city of San Diego who proclaimed July 21 as Baxter Day. And, many celebrities have marveled at this dog’s persistent determination to unleash love to those who need it most.
Cesar Millan, known as the Dog Whisperer, writes: “Baxter’s inspirational story reminds us how dogs can teach us to live fully in each moment; even if that moment may be our last.”
To learn more about Baxter, please visit the website: www.momentswithbaxter.com
