Hi All

Did you know that deaf dogs are not allowed to compete in companion sports under the AKC?? Did you also know that the Dalmatian Club of America advocates killing all deaf pups (right on the website)?? And that the AKC board of directors is made up of several DCA folks?? Hum... Wonder if they are afraid our deaf dogs will actually do well... And perhaps all those wonderful pups should be neutered/spayed instead of killed... The big decision as to whether they should be allowed to compete is up on the discussion block again and a final decision should be given mid-July!

This article is a good one for people who are considering adopting a deaf dog (or those who think it's crazy). I LOVE living, training and trialling my deafie and she made Modern Dog Magazine I was pleased at the outcome of the article and the overall information was perfect for the average pet owner. The actual magazine article includes a picture of Whisper with a Q ribbon in agility. She was forced to retire due to elbow dysplasia shortly after that Q at age 2 but still loves the game and enjoys running jumpers at 6" for exhibition.

http://www.moderndogmagazine.com/articles/training-deaf-dogs/10727

I we don't get a YES from the AKC this time around, keep it in mind next year when the issue comes up again. It's only by being many who fight this that we can change it.

Elise and Whisper

Congrats to Whisper (great name, btw!)
I love deaf dogs, I'm on my third. I love a dog that watches me so closely and that I can have ride in the car with the stereo turned up all the way and it doesn't bother them. lol
My current one is due to start tracking training (as soon as I can get a little time off work to get going). Tracking seems like a good thing to try - works on a long line so I can still communicate with her. Wish us luck.
AKC should be ashamed of themselves (again). There are good homes and great jobs for deaf dogs. They don't have all the 'aggression' issues I was always warned about. Misinformation is deadly.
Give your deafie a heartfelt hug from my deafie!

 Quote: Elise Bonder

Did you know that deaf dogs are not allowed to compete in companion sports under the AKC??

I had no idea at all! The wonderful AKC strikes again, eh?

Congratulations on your success with your Whisper!

I hope the vote for rescinding this stupid rule is successful. Let us know.

leih

Elise, that was a great article. Well written...

Did you know anything about training a deaf dog before you got her? It's amazing what she (and you!) have accomplished.

I had no idea. That is very surprising. What has been your biggest challenge with her?

 Quote: spencer martin

I had no idea.

I had no idea either.

I have had one completely deaf dog (who came to me deaf after repeated ear infections secondary to allergies) and one going deaf. The AKC might be better engaged in getting basic information out about training deaf dogs than excluding them. JMO.

That article is excellent, Elise. Also, I found good stuff on DeafDogs.org and WagnTrain.com.

The one I have now, who is losing his hearing, is not often off leash outside the yard, but when he is, the page (vibrating) function of this collar* is just great. I think it was just a year or so ago that I asked on this board for suggestions about using it, and now I think of it as a trusty "look at me" tool.

Thank you for that terrific article, Elise!



*
http://leerburg.com/280ncp.htm

Yeah, I am not surprised about the Dalmatian Club of America encourages culling deaf pups, but I didn't know that they were not allowed in AKC trials.

 Quote: Lisa skinner

My current one is due to start tracking training (as soon as I can get a little time off work to get going). Tracking seems like a good thing to try - works on a long line so I can still communicate with her. Wish us luck.

Whisper really likes to track actually. We started as a retirement sport after her elbow dysplasia came out and she was a natural! Have fun with yours!!!

And big hug and deaf-dog-noises back (always so loud those deaf dog noises!)

Elise

So the deal is that the DCA (Dal Club of America) has multiple members on the board of directors for the AKC. Could you imagine a deaf dog doing well!!! *GASP*
I hear the top Dal in the Agility Association of Canada is deaf!!!

Whisper was a natural at agility. She loved it. She got her first Q on the same day as my Malinois. Whisper was 2 and had been training for 4-6 months. Emmy was 3.5-4 and had been training for 2 yrs! It was so easy for her...

Biggest challenge with Whisper was other dogs picking on her and the herding behaviour. Dogs often pick on deaf dogs because the deafies don't respond to verbal play signals. And Whisper being a Cattle Dog would herd anything in sight) including cars, dogs, people, cats... Stopping that for flyball was hard but we managed to fix it with a lot of feedback. For agility it was a nothing issue. Obedience and tracking has been a breeze with her. She LOVED disc like nothing else

I'd get another deafie in a heartbeat!!! I did a little research on the deafies before adopting Whisper but it wasn't brain surgery. Everything we do is sign and body language.

Deaf dogs might not be for everyone but get the word out on the AKC so we can allow people with deaf dogs to compete (or at least stop lying about the fact that the dog can hear!!!)

 Quote: Elise Bonder

 Quote: Lisa skinner

My current one is due to start tracking training (as soon as I can get a little time off work to get going). Tracking seems like a good thing to try - works on a long line so I can still communicate with her. Wish us luck.

Whisper really likes to track actually. We started as a retirement sport after her elbow dysplasia came out and she was a natural! Have fun with yours!!!

And big hug and deaf-dog-noises back (always so loud those deaf dog noises!)

Elise

Thank you, yeah, those deaf dog noises are something else, aren't they? I loke her 'crooked' howl lol
I am really looking forward for another excuse to bond even more with her, she's such a sweet dog. And so very smart. (except when she doesn't want to do something - then it's 'oh, look at that bird over there! Oh, I'm sorry, were you giving me a signal? I wasn't looking....')May be time for a vibrating collar.