12 Quick Facts About Deaf Dogs by Heather Pate, 2002
1Deaf dogs don’t know they are deaf.
2) Deaf dogs don’t care that they are deaf.
3) Deaf dogs are not suffering by being deaf.
4) Deaf dogs are dogs first.
5) Deaf dogs are representatives of their breed or combination of breeds second.
6) Deaf dogs are individual dogs with their own quirks and personalities.
7) Deaf dogs are not more likely to become aggressive than any other dog in the same circumstances.
8) Deaf dogs may startle when awoken suddenly but can easily be conditioned to awake to a calm but alert state.
9) Deaf dogs are no less healthy than most hearing dogs.
10) Deaf dogs can be easier to train than hearing dogs.
11) Deaf dogs are very attentive to visual signals, including facial expression, body language and hand signals.
12) Deaf dogs get along just fine with other dogs and people as long as they are socialized from puppyhood on – just like hearing dogs.
If anyone has ever thought about including a deaf dog in their family, whether the dog comes from a breeder, a rescue group or a shelter……give it some serious thought.
One great resource is the Deaf Dog Education Action Fund (DDEAF). www.deafdogs.org
Image of “Veronica” a Pitbull taken by Whitney Blake
iS THIS ORGANIZATION STILL ACTIVE? i KEEP GETTING ERROR MESSAGES =(
WOULD LOVE TO JOIN AS I HAVE HAD A FEW DEAF DOGS, ADVOCATE FOR DEAF DOGS AND TRAIN DEAF DOGS.
PLEASE ADVISE?
Apologies, Vikki, we just now saw this. Yes, when we click on the link, it comes up. Try using a different search engine? If you still have trouble, let us know.