So i've been working with my 2 problem children- and they are both improving. The new one (senta) needs to learn to watch me because she is about 85% deaf. I'd like to teach her to heel, but need to figure out how to keep her attention on me. How do you start with the 'eye contact game'? Am I wrong in thinking she'll be able to learn it? How to get her to watch me all the time?

I recently ordered the Flinks DVD-Building Drive and Focus, and it is a game utilizing the prey drive of your dog via a ball or tug. At the end of this training the dogs are very attentive and focused on the ball which is what they get after they do what you want. The only problem is the commands are verbal, with the ball held up and very still to cause the dog to focus, so the dog is actually focusing on the ball, not you. With the ball needing to be still, I am not sure how you could use hand signals with this approach. Perhaps someone could fill the void there. That said, I have read, or heard somewhere that you can get the dog to look at you once the initial steps of the game are solid. Good luck!!

BTW, maybe not everyone will agree, but I never had the deaf dog outside without a leash.

Sometimes she was just dragging it, if we were in a pretty safe place, far from a road, but I always wanted that "handle," just in case. It's SO much easier to grab a trailing leash than a dog's collar.

And the recall was our first and most important project.

We havnt been to the vet yet- going on friday (change of plans)... My mom works with little kids with down/autism/deafness... not that it relates to dogs or anything. She came over and did kind of an eval on her (hearing)... She said about 85% is where she is now, but we dont know about an ear infection. They dont smell, she isnt scratching at them and they are always up and dont seem to bother her. So, friday will be the day to find out.

She has stopped liming, but doesnt have good depth perception. My mom said that i could possibly be due to her hear loss, as in people you lose a little of it if you lose your hearing. Again, she isnt a vet, but I figured i'd ask.

Im going to work with a ball that she likes for now... But she can hear a dog wistle, so should I work with that instead? I'm walking her on a long line right now-- as im trying to get an idea of how much she is paying attention to me without me getting hers. In the house she is a hawk watching her prey- but outside with all the smells its a different story.
The day needs to have 36hrs instead of just 24...
and I need another project like I need a hole in the head but hey- life doesnt give you more then you can take, right?

Here's how I learned. All my dogs do this now. There's another one out there that uses the clicker but I don't know if your dog will hear it.

http://www.leespets.com/TheEyeContactGame.html

Howard

Please correct me if I am wrong, but couldn't she use an E-Collar on vibe or low level stim to help marker train a deaf dog?

Just an idea, hope it helps.

Sure. I wouldn't use the stim though. Not for the eye contact game at least.

Howard

Hey Howard, that is a nice link. Good to learn as many ways as possible. Thanks!

Agreed! Nice link Howard!