hearing impaired basenji rescue

[sharronhurlbut]

Does anyone have any suggestions for training for a hearing impaired basenji?:(
This girl is in a foster home, only 16 months old and sweet as can be.
She is a rescue sponsored by the EBC basenji club.
We are starting with hand signals to get her to come, sit, etc.
Just looking for any tips anyone might have.

[WBL]

Here's some links for training deaf/hearing impaired dogs

http://www.deafdogs.org/
http://www.deafdogs.com/
http://www.deafk9.com/

[sharronhurlbut]

Thank you so much.
We are committed to find her the best forever home ever.

[sharronhurlbut]

A nice friend sent me some sites re deaf dogs and the foster home read them and sent me this report.
I wanted to share it with you.
Andrea wrote..........

Excellent! I read quite a bit through the first site and decided to give some of it a try. Melody now recognizes 2 stomps on the floor with my heel to mean "pay attention!" and she knows a thumbs up means a treat is coming. This was in just 10 minutes or under - I KNEW this girl was smart and trainable it was all a matter of knowing her handicap and knowing how to get through to her!

I'm excited!
~Andrea
Vancouver, WA
"I'm a Mog, half man, half dog. I'm my own best friend."

[dmcarty]

I didn't go an look at the sites provided but certainly will save them for future use - I would suggest that to get attention how about a laser pointer? YOu know they sell those now as cat toys - wonder if it would be useful in this situation.

[sharronhurlbut]

I will also share this with the foster home mom who isn't on this site.
Thanks for the tip.

[MacPack]

I have had several older dogs go deaf, and they all learned hand signals, I used a flashlight (before lasers) to get attention at night. I never thought to stamp my foot, but it was before the 'net so I was figuring it all out myself. One had some hearing, so would look up at me if I used a whistle. Old Ginger would look over at me often at the dogpark, and if I raised my arm or waved, she would come back to me. Like humans, a bright dog will learn quickly, and probably thrilled to have you actually communicate with her.

Anne

[hdolbow]

wow i wish them all the best. i couldnt imagine how difficult it would be to deal with something like that.. :(

[tanza]

I have 3 of my 4 elders that are deaf... they do quite well.... and they do react to "stamping" of feet or pounding on walls... And the stick closer to us it seems... with no hearing.. but they understand body movements... very well, never did any hand signals per say...

[WBL]

A nice friend sent me some sites re deaf dogs and the foster home read them and sent me this report.
I wanted to share it with you.
Andrea wrote..........

Excellent! I read quite a bit through the first site and decided to give some of it a try. Melody now recognizes 2 stomps on the floor with my heel to mean "pay attention!" and she knows a thumbs up means a treat is coming. This was in just 10 minutes or under - I KNEW this girl was smart and trainable it was all a matter of knowing her handicap and knowing how to get through to her!
That is just excellent to read!! Just makes you smile with the knowledge that someone can help provide an answer to help a dog. It is too often that people just don't want to go that little extra step to help an animal with a disability.

[ChristyRutherford]

Sure she is deaf, right:rolleyes: Aren't they all???

Really, just kidding. You might be able to find a "yahoo group" for owner of deaf dogs. best wishes!!:)

[Ninabeana26]

Sure she is deaf, right:rolleyes: Aren't they all???

I like to call it "selective hearing". My mom said my sisters & I were that way growing up, with using selective hearing, so it's only fair that now I have a stubborn Basenji who does the same to me that I did to her. Haha. I think she'll be in for a treat when she meets him in April.

[sharronhurlbut]

Laugh, sure, my 2 b's have selective hearing...but this little girl Melody, has none.
She is doing great...she is so happy to have found a foster home mom who can "talk" to her now.
She is learning hand signals within 10-15 minutes.

I think I have found her forever home, crossed fingers, so will let you all know.
Thanks again for all the wonderful info this group has shared with me.
YOU ALL ROCK!

[renaultf1]

Sure she is deaf, right:rolleyes: Aren't they all???

Really, just kidding.

LOL...I'm glad someone posted this, because that's what I've been thinking everytime I've seen the header to this thread. :D ...so what's different about this basenji than the one in my house. :)

[renaultf1]

Laugh, sure, my 2 b's have selective hearing...but this little girl Melody, has none.
She is doing great...she is so happy to have found a foster home mom who can "talk" to her now.
She is learning hand signals within 10-15 minutes.

I think I have found her forever home, crossed fingers, so will let you all know.
Thanks again for all the wonderful info this group has shared with me.
YOU ALL ROCK!

Wow! That is fantastic Sharron!!!! Great job!:D :D :D

[WBL]

I think I have found her forever home, crossed fingers, so will let you all know.
Thanks again for all the wonderful info this group has shared with me.
YOU ALL ROCK!
Thats wonderful news Sharron, please let the new owner know about the forum also. Would love to see pictures of this girl.

Different note, do you know how she became deaf? Was it from injury or birth?

[sharronhurlbut]

I really have no idea what caused her hearing issues.
I was talking to her foster mom about this today.
We have NO idea where she came from re breeder or lines, but she is so pretty the EBC breed club took her under their wing to help spay her and
pay her expenses.
I don't think there is much deafness in basenji lines is there.
Not like white boxer and such, but then, not being a breeder, I don't know.
She had no dew claws and is very show "typy" so right now its just a mystery.

[Tegs]

I am Melody's foster Mommy - she really is a dear. Not so aloof like most of our B's she is very sweet and personable with everyone. Lucky us we hit the jackpot on this girl, even though she's deaf and she does sometimes jump when caught unawares her reaction is not negative at all! Yipee!

Here is a shot of our lovely girl. She came into rescue with some liver problems and was very thin, she's slowly putting on weight though.

http://us.a2.yahoofs.com/groups/g_111590/9f9c/__sr_/a650.jpg?grAtPzHBVwMiBsgT

I can't figure out how to imbed the image so here goes =)

~Andrea
Vancouver, WA
"I'm a Mog, half man, half dog. I'm my own best friend!"

[Ninabeana26]

She is beautiful! I wish you all the best with her :)

[sharronhurlbut]

Andrea, I couldn't open the site, but I do know what she looks like. grin.
Wish we could find out why/how this happened to her.
Maybe someone will recognize her.
A Christmas basenji you said???

[Tegs]

Let me try attaching the picture instead, I *think* I have a copy here at work ..... ~goes picture diving~

Ah ha! Let's give this a try :D

[WBL]

wow she sure is a pretty girl! Andrea its great you are able to foster melody. She is striking

[ChristyRutherford]

Beautiful girl! Congrats on your new baby!

[renaultf1]

She is sooo sweet looking...congrats on your new girl! :)

[sharronhurlbut]

I was able to open this.
I hope some of the breeders who read this site will look at her and maybe recognize the line she come from...
Andea, can you send more photos when you get time???
Oh, she will be at the EBC rescue booth sun at the Seattle Kennel Club show.
Wearing her adopt me cape!
Come give her a pet and a treat.

[sharronhurlbut]

Do any of the folks who bred know of b's who have hearing issues?

[Tegs]

I'm Melody's foster not permanent Mommy *lol* She is a real sweetie though.

I uploaded some other photos of her to Flickr:

Melody EBC Rescue (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14362288@N08/sets/72157604046309794/)

[sharronhurlbut]

These are nice photos...I so hope we can report that she has her forever home soon.
She is so darn smart...