Deaf dog adopted by deaf kids after learning sign language
People may be reluctant to adopt a deaf dog, but what if they were deaf themselves?
DEAF DOGS: Training drain deaf dogs for deaf owners began at a Missouri prison. Inmates trained a deaf dachshund in sign language and then asked the Missouri School for the Deaf to take him in. (Photo: jupiterimages)
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This reminds me of the Puppies Behind Bars program featured on Oprah. The program trains inmates to raise puppies to become service dogs for the disabled and explosive detection canines
for law enforcement. I was extremely moved by the show and how this program positively affects inmates.
This program of inmates training deaf dogs and providing them homes in the end is a win win for all. Great idea!
IM GLAD THE DEAF CHILDREN WILL E NJOY THE DEAF DOGS IN DORM AND KEEP THEM LIKE A HOME SO THE DEAF KIDS WONT BE HOMESICK ,,THEY CAN TEACHDEAF DOGS HOW TO USE SIGN LANGUAGE ..IMDEAF AND ANIMAL LOVER BECAUSE GOD CREATE THEM ,,U KNOW DEAF DOGS GAVE THEM HEALING ,,,I BELEIVE IT ,,,
love this story! my dog responds to hand signals also, lot easier than yelling across the yard (:
Aw, what a sweet idea!
IM GLAD THAT DEAF KIDS ENJOY TO HAVE DEAF DOGS TO LEARN SIGN LANGUAGE AND IT IS WORTH TO HAVE THIS,,, PUT ALARM SO THE DOGS CAN SEE THE FLASHER WHEN SOMEONE TURN THE LIGHTS BACK AND FORTH AND USE SIGN LANGUAGE ,, I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE DEAF DOGS AND I HAVE TWO DASCHUND IS HEARING BUT THEY KNOWS SIGN LANGUAGE BECAUSE MY HUSBAND IS DEAF AND CANT TALK SO THEY UNDERSTAND HIM WHAT HE SAID TO T HEM ,,,IM DEAF BUT I CAN TALK WITH THEM ,,,PRAISE THIS ,,
I have trained three deaf dogs; two Jack Russell Terriers and an Aussie to run flyball and agility. With hand signals, dogs adapt amazingly well and can learn as well as any hearing dog. The only important care needed for deaf dogs is to protect them from the road - be sure to have a good solid fenced in yard and then anyone can adopt a deaf dog and make a super pet out of them!
like all things that have a brain they can adopt to most things and people seem to forget this. they are not stupid no animal is and more care should be taken with these.
One of the best programs instituted is the one that allows prisoners to rescue, train and and place shelter dogs. There has never been one less than positive comment about any of the programs which benefit both man and dog. It should be instituted in all of the prisons. Rather than warehousing prisoners and shelter dogs, this is a perfect match. To the people who are making life possible for these two deaf dogs, sincere thanks!!
Amen to that! A positive win-win program for all involved and for society at large. There is much to be said about the healing power of loyalty and devotion. PBS did a special on prison programs some time back and the overwhelming and powerful effect this program had on the inmates involved, many of whom had never known love or respect in the past; it was both moving and humbling to witness. An awesome program, that indeed should be implemented throughout all the state prisons.
I love disabled dogs! Like three legged pit bulls, i want one! I love pit bulls! Save the Pit bulls!
This is one of the best stories I've read in a long time. Just wonderful!
aaawh this is such a sweet artical, and all of the entires are so heart warming, you make me want to go out and adopt a deaf dog! :)
and he is one of the most loving, attentive dogs I've ever had. When I brought him home as a puppy I didn't know he was deaf, but not responding to the vacuum, etc. clued me in very quickly. The first day he followed my other two kids (dogs) outside to do their duty and required no housebreaking. He has never chewed on anything other than his numerous toys and it's nearly impossible to keep him out of the pool. Every time he encounters a new pool, he runs around it to make sure he knows.... More
Hello - We just adopted our first deaf dog last year and she is wonderful! Very smart, very intuitive, and she learned her signs quickly and taught us a few of her signs as well - lol! Great program. Great job to all involved! :)
As Mom to two deaf Dalmatians (Hi Pat!), I can tell you that they are the best kids ever, and bar none! Attentive, smart, and just wonderful pets. Mine aren't therapy dogs, but the world of deaf dog parenthood is a world you'll never stray from. Visit www.d2care.org for some great articles and information if you're interested in learning more. Love this program and kudos for everyone involved!
As Mom to two deaf Dalmatians (Hi Pat!), I can tell you that they are the best kids ever, and bar none! Attentive, smart, and just wonderful pets. Mine aren't therapy dogs, but the world of deaf dog parenthood is a world you'll never stray from. Visit www.d2care.org for some great articles and information if you're interested in learning more. Love this program and kudos for everyone involved!
As Mom to two deaf Dalmatians (Hi Pat!), I can tell you that they are the best kids ever, and bar none! Attentive, smart, and just wonderful pets. Mine aren't therapy dogs, but the world of deaf dog parenthood is a world you'll never stray from. Visit www.d2care.org for some great articles and information if you're interested in learning more. Love this program and kudos for everyone involved!
Deaf Dogs are awesome pets. I know someone who trains them for therapy animals.
As an owner of two deaf Dalmatians, I can easily say that they make wonderful companion animals. Lottie Dot and Dora are therapy dogs. Deaf dogs make wonderful therapy animals. They are very good at reading body language and facial expressions. What a wonderful article. Thanks for sharing!
This was a very heartwarming story. However, I was chagrined to read that the dog was taught to "lay down." Lay is past tense. They taught it to "lie down." It is disappointing, as a retired fifth grade teacher, to see that among an author and two editors this error was not caught. Our dog trainer was educated in New Zealand. I think she and I were the only two people in dog class who told our dogs to lie down.
Like the dog knows the dif between, lay/lie down........
I have a deaf dog & she can do both. :)
rufff.....
when people have to be all high and mighty about proper grammar. Let it go already especially when it comes to an internet article its not the end of the world because they said lay instead of lie. You can always count on there being a member of the grammar patrol on every comment section of every internet news story everywhere. I loved the story and I loved most of the comments they were all very nice and heartwarming. Then you come along and give us a whole paragraph about the difference.... More
I can't believe, that after reading this wonderful and heartwarming story, You're worried about the grammar used! I also used to teach school. However, I was enjoying the story and never noticed the grammar mistake until you pointed it out! Are you seriously more worried about that than helping deaf dogs???
Haha, I teach English, too, and I caught the same error! Unfortunately, it's all too common. However, it's an easy mistake to make, once you look at the conjugation of "lie" (lie, lying, lay, has lain) and "lay" (lay, laying, laid, has laid). No wonder people are confused!
Jeanne, you are missing the wonderful storyline for a few grammical errors??Shame on you!
Jeanne, you are missing the wonderful storyline for a few grammical errors??Shame on you!
Why do you even feel compelled to point this grammatical error out? Read the story for what it is, and be thankful that there are people trying to help out all of these animals. So many people, like you, feel like they need to try to push their agendas in inappropriate ways. Start your own blog, write your own articles, and get over yourself.
I was shocked and dismayed to read that the majority of your comments regarding this remarkable story had to do with grammar, for a deaf dog, nonetheless! What is important in this story? That this homeless dog, deemed un-adoptable by most standards, was considered worthy enough to be taught sign language by prison inmates, which in and of itself is remarkable, and then to have found his forever home among deaf children is truly inspirational! The number of lives that this little dog has.... More
I agree this is a great story I didn't know that dachunds like dalmations are sometimes born deaf. I taught in a school for the deaf for about 10 years and am fluent in sign language. Just to let the person who is concerned about grammar, in sign language there is no past tense, and most deaf people write things the same way they sign it, hense lay and lie are signed the same way.
This bought tears to my eyes.Such a loving act!! Good for the prisoners,the sweet dog and the little kids.Everyone is a winner in this loving story.
I agree that this program is a win, win situation! Thanks to everyone who makes this happen. My dog is epileptic due to head trauma and has extreme siezures. She is often blind after a siezure for a day or two, and is now almos totally blind due to age. She also lost her hearing from a siezure several years ago. Using hand signals is not foreign to any dog because we train them using pulls on the leash, hand signals, etc. I am fortunate that when I found my dog in Mexico (I now live in.... More
Great program, ALL states should do this!!! Thank you to all animal lovers like myself who take in these wonderful, lovable babies and give them homes. I miss my Lil Man Rusty every day. He was truly my best friend!
What a wonderful program!
I received a call from my vet's office about a blind Yorkie, who at the age of 9, was about to be put down. All because his owners were moving out of state and they didn't think he would adapt to his new surroundings. The real reason was because they had a new puppy and did not want to be inconvenienced with Blue. I couldn't take him since I had 6 dogs and 2 cats. I called my brother who had 2 dogs and without hesitation he said yes. Blue lived for 7 more years and we miss him to this.... More
So kind of you and your brother to help this little kid, I'll bet he paid you back tenfold in love and trust.
Good on you, all!! I'm so happy Blue had you and your brother for family! I took in a funny, furry little fellow, a Peke/Doxie mix who's elderly person had passed away. Her daughter wanted nothing to do with a 14 yr. old, blind and deaf "old man," so she took Fonzie to the pound, where he was utterly lost and confused, and sure to be put to death. A friend appealed to me to find him a home, and I did...with me and the rest of MY pack...all 6 of them. He has been with me almost 2 years now,.... More
This is a wonderful program, and I applaud the prisoners for making it possible for these adorable animals to live. One note, however: if Missouri wasn't the Puppy Mill Capital of America, there wouldn't be so many animals put down.
I think this is wonderful. I would like to hear that more prisons had thid type of thing
going on. It's a win-win situation for everyone involved!
This is a wonderful program, but unfortunately all states/prisons do not have it. It helps prisoners, helps the dogs, and is a win-win situation, but apparently wardens can pull the program or choose not to have it. You have to wonder why that is.
What a awonderful program. Animals help to bring the best out of people so has to be a win win situation for the inmates and the dogs.
Good for all those involved!!
I'm so glad these inmates have a program like this! What a wonderful way for them to help those sweet animals :)
I can't believe anyone would put an animal down for a disability. My dog recently went blind. It is a disease called Sudden Acquired Retinal Degeneration. She went blind instantly. It was so terrifying at first but I never even considered putting her down. I had a girl tell me that she had her poodle put down because it went blind! Some people get animals for their pleasure and when they require extra work, they kill them. It has been three months now and she is almost completely adjusted to.... More
I also had a deaf cat, male. I didn't know he was deaf when I first got him as a kitten, but realized it after a few days when he didn't react to noises. Since I had other cats that were able to go out, I wanted him to be able to do that also - to have as "normal" of a cat life as he could. I had to train him to stay away from certain areas ("no zones" like the road). I taught him hand signs for "no", "come" "time to eat", etc. And I always spoke to him when using the signs. He also had a very.... More
I adopted 2 white cats - brothers.
Jake could hear but Elwood was totally deaf. Jake learned to wake Elwood to come eat, play and "nappy time" on a lazy afternoon.
A knock on the wall or stomp on the floor got his attention away from any mischief.
Great buddies...lived to 18 and 16. I still miss them.
I just want to say thank you on behalf of that poor cat! I sure he lived a very happy life with you and it warms my heart to know people will go to such lengths to help an animal rather than put it down!
I have a deaf cat I adopted from the Humane Society. She is somewhat more nervous than other cats, and I try to not sneak up on her when she's sleeping. But she has learned to use the reflections in mirrors and off of windows to see anyone coming near her. She howls quite loudly sometimes, but has learned to shush when I put one of my fingers to my mouth (like a librarian would do). There are advantages to a deaf cat - she doesn't freak out over the hair dryer or garbage disposal!
