Deaf sheepie foster (more pics added)
I have not had to housetrain a puppy before. How soon after a 4 month old puppy eats should I be taking him outside to do his business? 10 minutes? 30 minutes? Just keep him out until he goes? Because he is deaf, I am planning on keeping him on a lead when he is not in a crate and I think the first thing he needs to learn is to look at me. Does that sound right? I use hand signals with Maggie so I am hoping he will catch on by learning from her. . . Any suggestions on dealing with a deaf dog would be very welcome. I will post pictures after he gets here. . . |
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Thats so exciting Val!  How old is he? I cant wait for pics!  |
ravenmoonart wrote: How old is he?
4 months |
| You are indeed special Valerie! I'm sure by now you've checked out the deaf dog training spots on the web. Pee and pooh can come pretty quickly after eating, but he's been caged so no idea....if I'd have to guess I'd say....SOON after eating. I hope Mags takes to this new job with great vigor and Chum just ignores the whole thing, being the stately queen that she is. Beware, the pup won't be able to hear warning growls.
Housetraining takes forever.....hopefully Maggie can help with that. Richie, the NEOESR cross country pup a few years ago took months and months to house train. Once again, thank you for caring. susan |
| Great that you are fostering, Val! I'm sure he'll be great company for Maggie.
Regarding housebreaking, hopefully you should be able to teach him quickly at that age. Rule of thumb is they can hold it for an hour for each month they age with exception to evenings. In the beginning, I would let him out 15 minutes to half hour after he eats, until you get an idea how he is digesting. If he doesn't go, make sure you take him out again soon thereafter. If he has accidents, don't scold him, just bring him outside. This especially helps if you catch him in the act. When he goes outside reward him. I guess it will be hard praising him verbally so I would opt for treats and other signals, like a favorite toy or something. My favorite tip is to limit water in the evening. This should help him sleep through the night. I think I started picking up the bowl for Frank around 7pm as a 2 month old and kept working my way later until he was housebroken. |
| OMG, Val!!! I am SOOOOOOOO envious!
No experience with deaf dogs, but, yes, hand signals are key. At 4 months old he should be able to get house-trained fairly quickly. Crate, potty, play then crate again....Throw a couple meals in that schedule, and lots of treats when he does his job outside.... Have a glance through the House-training thread.... 
Yeah for "Foster Mom Val" ! I am thrilled for you! |
| When I have had puppies in the past, I would always bring them out right after eating and would usually get a bowel movement every time.
Good luck! I am looking forward to pics of the little guy. |
| Val---------
I have always wanted to adopt of deaf pup. In fact before Heart I was very close to getting one. I think that will be a very special, rewarding "job"...you will be the one responsible for showing this puppy the whole world!!! Training with hand signals, both learning together. I am soooo jealous!!!! Please keep us posted on your progress. I will be checking your threads for updates and pictures. Chumley and Maggie will just love him..... CONGRATS TO ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  |
| I have signals for Look at me, come, sit, stay, and quiet.
Can someone tell me hand signals to use for Off, Leave it and Good boy? (being optimistic there) What else do I need? |
| Hey Val GL
I use the palm of the hand as a stop/off sign. zach |
| Congratulations on getting the new addition!
We adopted a deaf sheepie girl about three months ago. Some suggestions if I may: 1) Your first purchase should be a vibrating collar. Then train your little boy that every time the collar vibrates, he is to "COME" to you. This will be a great help if he gets away from his leash. Also, it teaches the puppy to concentrate on you. 2) Second addition should be a knotted cord about 24 inches long with one end attached to his training collar. This will help a bunch in getting hold of the smaller, faster puppy. 3) Get a "name" tag that reads "I AM DEAF" and attach it to his collar (just in case) Just my 2 cents worth. But these ideas have helped us train our little deaf girl very quickly. |
| Some signs we trained Molly to react to:
"SIT" : Palm up vertical motion of the hand. (Not the standard but easier for training purposes). While training, you can pull up on the cord attached to the training collar prompting him to sit. "NO" : Horizontal shaking of (index) finger. "FREE" : Palms together in front of chest then hands open horizontally. Our little girl learned eight different signs very quickly but we still practice in the back yard every day. Good luck to you. |
| This sounds like fun, Val.
I have a student in my classes with a deaf (and blind in 1 eye) great dane. They are great! Luckily Angee (the human) works with special needs kids and already knew how to sign. Angee uses a hard to describe sign for 'good boy". She puts both hands up (tall dog!) at her face height and has her palms facing Triton. Then she moves at the wrist - from side to side - kind of waggles them? That is her release (exercise finished) sign also. I love her stand command - left palm horizontal, palm up. Right hand with 1st two fingers (like legs) stand on the palm. It looks like a stick figure! As far as potty training, take into account that he will probably not be as tolerant to food switches like the girls. Even if you are lucky enough to not have to switch foods, the environment switch and stress will probably cause some GI upset. For poop, ours usually go pretty quick. One exception was our Riley. Even as a little puppy, he never would poop until at least an hour after he ate. Of course he was a winter puppy too, so I FROZE standing ouside with him a lot before I figured out it really took him that long to poop! |
| Wow Val! Good luck and have fun! |
| I see Grannie Annie got ya! Congratulations................
and Congrats to the little pup for getting you for a home too! Ready for some sleepless nights??? You'll have to get the pup over to meet Buttons too!!! Ali (thinking about making a trip down to Boulder now) |
| Val, bet you and the girls do a great job of training the little one |
| You really are a special person Val.
These wise friends here will help make this a great experience. Congrats! |
| you are my hero !1 wish the luck and take some pics!! |
| That's fantastic, Val!! You're a foster Mom!! I haven't had any experience with deaf puppies, so I've got no words of wisdom. But, I do know from experience that the little ones learn a lot from the older dogs. So, I think you're right that having him follow Maggie's lead will help you tremendously.
Congrats & Good Luck!! |
Ali wrote: Congrats to the little pup for getting you for a home too!
I'm just fostering!! I've been very clear that I cannot take on a 3rd dog permanently. They have several people that are interested. I am just supposed to check him out, see what he's like, and help start the progress towards being trained and socialized. Want to come to Boulder this weekend? I have not seen Buttons.  |
| Oh Val you will be wonderful! What a lucky dog to have someone as great as you helping him. I cannot wait for the pictures. |
| Val, this is the free website we use to get specific signs for our autistic kids.
www.aslpro.com I really like the fact that the dictionary has a video of the motion. And congrats! |
I can't offer any help, but just wanted to say how great it is that you and the girls are helping this special sheepie....Thanks, Kathy & Chauncey
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| Thanks SO much of helping him Val!
I toyed with the idea of adopting but then came to my senses 
I'm not sure if anyone's mentioned this site but I recommend it as a starting point for anyone with a deaf dog. http://www.deafdogs.org For training tips, visit this address- http://www.deafdogs.org/training/ For vibrating collars, you can checkout this link- http://www.deafdogs.org/resources/vibramakers.php I went through the "training" for a deaf dog but we didn't get him due to a pro-trainer's misinformation but my dogs all know signs for commands (except for Kaytee who's blind ) so it wasn't for nothing.
"Living With A Deaf Dog" by Susan Cope-Becker is also a good book to start with. I think a lot of us with special needs dogs simply learn as we go and THEN come to find they're like any other dog in just about every way If you can't find the book locally, G/A might be able to send you a copy if she has any left... you can then pass it along to his new owner.
There is another website that has pictures of how to sign commands like see, no, night-night, stop, etc. It's the ASL University website at http://www.lifeprint.com/ . It shows an actual person doing the sign. Best wishes to you and this special pup Val! I hope you'll post pictures and share him with us |
| congrats val! good luck and when do we get to meet the little tiger?? |
| Our late Pandora was deaf, and these dogs find a very special place in your heart. Good luck with the fostering assignment. She, too, was four months old when we got her and had spent those four months in a pet store. She trained quickly, and she was much like any other puppy. It took us awhile to realize that she was deaf!!! The biggest drawback was not being able to shout "NO!!!" from across the room.
Our sign for "good dog" was clapping the top of the right hand into the palm of the left. Karen & The Q |
| I'm not sure if you've seen this YouTube video before but it's
of a deaf sheepie-boy playing with a ball in a very muddy pool. Sheepie bliss!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riHuWkHKfHY |
| How fantastic, Val! I bet the pup will learn really quickly like Foz did from Annie. Oh how fun! Looking forward to hearing all about him and pictures, of course |
The puppy is so cute!!
He is a very brave and sweet little boy. At the Vet's office, he did the cutest play bows to the other dogs in the waiting room. The Vet says he has received far too many vaccinations -- 7 for distemper when 3 is normal and several for bordatella too. He has a tendency to circle, which could be a bad brain thing but is more likely an obsessive behavior stemming from too much time in the crate. He has large "hydromas" over each of his hip joints -- large fluid filled sacs that his body created to protect his joints from sleeping on a hard surface. He has very low muscle tone but the Vet thinks that will improve quickly. He is a very sweet little guy. A bit of a worried expression but very tolerant of being petted and picked up. He did fine in the car. He was thrilled to meet Maggie and followed her around, even romping and running a bit. Maggie was kind to share her many colorful balls with him and even would push them towards him to encourage him to play. He tried and tried to bury one of the balls but he couldn't do it so he flopped down on top of it instead. After an exciting day, he is snoozing peacefully. |
He's precious!!  |
| Oh Val he is so sweet.
You are so great to foster him. I had a deaf great Dane I rescued years ago and she followed my oldest Dane around all the time. He would lead her to go potty at night and give her toys to play with also.
It is amazing how animals know when something is not right with another and then they try and help them. My Boy passed a few years ago from Bloat and even though she was only 3 years old she followed him to the rainbow bridge with in a few weeks.  She needed him more then we ever knew.
Good luck with the pup you are doing a very special thing by taking him in. Antoinette |
| He is absolutely adorable.It is so heartwarming how so many people have come forward to help this baby and Val.Wonderful,just wonderful! |
| What a little sweetie.
I'm glad Maggie likes him, I bet they will have fun. Oh, the puppy snuggles you can have! |
| He is a beauty and isn't Maggie a great girl for helping him |
| What a cutie |
Aw, he is adorable Val  No advice about the deafness but can tell you about puppy energy level...which I'm sure you're already experiencing |
| Val, as one foster mom to another....
You will love him and teach him and grow very attached to him. And when the time comes and you pass him off to his furever family and you see their faces and how happy they are with their pup you will feel so good that you were a part of making his life so much better. Thank you so very much for fostering. It is the best feeling in the world. |
| Denver is such a cutie pie! He has been such a good boy, romping around and playing with toys. He is thrilled to be outdoors chasing leaves too.
Maggie is being so lovely with him. He was just barking/grumbling (rare for him) and Maggie came to investigate to see what was the matter. She hovered a bit then concluded he was fine and walked away. She gets a bit tired of him sometimes but she is so good about telling him enough. Chumley is alot more direct but Denver seems to understand and backs off immediately. It is hard to take pictures of him because he keeps zooming around but here are a few: 
 |
| Oh my... he's beautiful.
Quote: 7 for distemper when 3 is normal and several for bordatella too
OMG... as if this breeder doesn't have enough issues with immune system. You might email Dr. Dodds to see if anything might be done to help his body recover from all those unnecessary shots. That makes sense about the circling. If he's a mill/pet shop pup and had always been confined to a small cage, all he was able to do was go in circles to expend that puppy energy. Kind of like caged animals in a zoo. Fingers are crossed that this is the cause!
Thanks for sharing his picture and story with us! |
| Oh my goodness,he is just a DOLL!Stephanie has to see him,she will fall in love immediately. |
| Oh Val, he is just too precious...I am in love....thanks Val... |
| oh so cute keep posting how he is doing i am in love to |
| Denver is adorable. It is good that Maggie still has a lot of puppy energy. She will at least have a playmate for a while. Good luck with this little sheepie boy. |
| Denver is adorable! You must be spending a lot of time laughing with puppy antics. Enjoy him. |
| He is jsut tooo precious.....What a doll.....I just want to squeeze that little face!!!!!
I smiled to read that Maggie sometimes gets tired of him..... She may have met her match.... |
| His markings are just tooooooooo cute. I understand not being able to manage too many dogs at once, but jeez.... he looks irresistible! |
| Aw, Val, he's so sweet! Snuggle snuggle |
| Oh gosh Val.......Denver is such a sweet looking boy!! I hope he finds a wonderful furever home once he is ready. I'm sure he will learn alot from his foster mom. |
| Denver is adorable! Sounds like he is adjusting very well to his new foster family. You'll have to post some pics of Maggie and Denver playing. |
Ali came over with gorgeous pups Checkers and Calypso. They were so sweet to wee little Denver! He is exactly half their size and weight, which made us wonder if he is only 4 months old instead of nearly 5 or whether he is just runty from being deprived. The pups all got along great. Calypso made a special effort to draw Denver out to play. NEOESR is still looking for the perfect home for this darling boy. He is listed on their website and on Petfinder. If anyone is interested, I hope you will follow up. I can't emphasize enough what a little sweetie he is.
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| Oh my gosh he is so sweet. Checkers and Calypso do look huge next to him. That was nice of Ali to come over and give Maggie a break. |
| ^^ I agree on their size!
The pics are too cute. I'm glad the dogs all had fun. |
| So sweet I can hardly stand it. All of them.
Has anyone shown any iinterest Val?? |
| What a doll, he just grabs at the heart strings , if I was 20 years younger I would love to have him |
| What darling pics of the puppies all together...
That Denver just looks like a snuggle-bunny.... I am betting that in a few weeks we will see pictures of him and no one will recognize him.....with all the love and care you will give him... |
| Val, Denver is just WAY too cute!! Look at that sweet face - just irresistible!! Thank you so much for agreeing to foster him. It's about time he knows there's more to the world than just the inside of a pet store. |
| Calypso and Checkers are Double his size! i'm not convinced he is 5 mo old........even his teeth are not at the point of my 2 ......
But oh what a sweetie pie he is!! My 2 wore him out and he had to go in and take a nap. Calypso was enthralled with him........... she will make a good mommie someday........she sure did big sister him. |
Ohhhhh no I am so in LOVE! (writes on the blackboard 100 times: "I do NOT need another puppy..."  ) |
| Val, Denver is adorable and you are such a wonderful and strong person! I don't think I am strong enough to foster...I would keep all my foster dogs!
If you are still worrying about house training, you can go to my website and download/print of the 'Housetraining Chart', which can be very useful to track his potty schedule. http://cavecanis.com/information.aspx Even though I'm sure you have read a million things about deaf dogs, I think you should read about Cricket too. Here is her website. http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Plai ... ainer.html On my internship I had to work on a Grate Dane, Jazmine, who was 100% deaf and 60% blind - Boni's first love - and she was a doll! The only hard thing was to get her attention. I used the same hand signals as some of the other members has already mentioned and you can see it on Cricket's website too. Having a deaf dog is wonderful and even though it can get really hard with them, they teach you sooooo much!!! I love your pictures, Denver is such a lucky boy!  |
| Val that is wonderful that you have taken in the sweet sheepie boy he is soooo cute!
Deaf dogs are really wonderful----I love to have a silent dog when there is a knock at the door! Kissy is the best thing ever! She was rescued from Indianna by a few hands in Kentucky and Massachussets (Thank you Annie and Jim) My deaf gal went to obedince class and was actually the best "listener" She watched me the whole time....It was so funny to have the instructor ask "Does anybody have a dog that comes when called?" I raised my hand as Kissy comes flying with a wave! The classed laughed but, she did it! Our hand signals are different as the rest as we use our own...fostering I am sure it is best to use universal so, you can share with the new family! You are wonderful for sharing your home with that baby! Good Luck and please let me know if you have any questions Kathy (sorry I am a guest I only drop by....sorry Ron yes, I forgot my password AGAIN!) |
| Try this username: 1oeslover
http://forum.oes.org/profile.php?mode=v ... ile&u=1809 and ask for a password reset. If you have another ID that has posts, I'd need a bigger clue. |
| Wow I can see I've missed alot as I've been busy with lots of foster kittens! Is Denver ever adorable!!!!! I'm so envious Val and kudos to you for helping the little tyke out!
Marianne |
| Valarie and I both are wondering if this sweetiepie is 100% deaf........
I have found her a clinic to have a BAER testing done on him...... I hope for his sake he isnt and it is just a part of sensory depravation........ i know this little boy will make someone a wonderful companion he is just as sweet as they come.......... now to get my 2 worn out ones to go to bed and sleep allnight! |
Ali wrote: Valarie and I both are wondering if this sweetiepie is 100% deaf........
I have found her a clinic to have a BAER testing done on him...... I hope for his sake he isnt and it is just a part of sensory depravation........ True! I was going to wait for the testing to determine whether this is just wishful thinking before getting everyone's hopes up, but I was really happy today that Ali shared my suspicion that he can hear at least a little. Since the visit, I have been experimenting and I think he may only be partially deaf. He seems to hear certain sounds but has to look all around to see where they are coming from. For example, he seems to hear a whistle sound just fine. I've snuck on quietly on him while sleeping, not too close, wait to see that he hasn't noticed me, then whistle and his little head pops up and looks around. I've whistled from behind him and from another room and he always turns and looks for the sound. In fact, it gets him circling if he can't figure out where it came from. As for the housebreaking, he has been a dream. He has a habit of doing laps in circles and then he quickens into a spin before he potties. It is very easy to hear his stompy feet so I have been able to let him outside everytime. I actually am up right now because he was just doing that so I woke up and I took him outside. He seems to like to go outside. Now he has just settled back down to snooze. He is a very good boy and he will make a great pet for some lucky person. . . |
Valerie wrote: He is a very good boy and he will make a great pet for some lucky person. . . I want him sooooooo badly!!!!!!
I have to put this thread on "ignore" because I just can't stand the cuteness......I have absolutely no willpower.....Val, you are KILLING me.....  |
| Grannie Annie says she might have a home for Denver!!
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| wouldn't that be great if he got a home near you so you could visit with Maggie and keep us updated with pictures as he grows??
He really has one of the sweetest faces I've ever seen, he reminds me of Walter when we first got him. I love the speckled ears too.... I want a puppy |
| I'm so glad that he found a great foster home with you, Val. I'll bet you'll have a tough time letting him go! |
Lil Walty wrote: wouldn't that be great if he got a home near you so you could visit with Maggie and keep us updated with pictures as he grows??
It would be. . . but the potential home is in Massachusetts. |
Valerie wrote: Lil Walty wrote: wouldn't that be great if he got a home near you so you could visit with Maggie and keep us updated with pictures as he grows?? It would be. . . but the potential home is in Massachusetts. Humm--- Massachusetts ------Ron??? |
| Nope! But it sounds like a very nice home. . . |
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| After going on a nice leashed walk around the block, Denver and Maggie spent the rest of the morning doing the sheepie 500! It was adorable. Thanks to Maggie, the tired puppy is now napping peacefully. . .
When it is done uploading in a few minutes, you can see a video here. 
 |
| It looks like Maggie and Denver are having a great time. The last shot is funny when they are both standing and their tongues are out trying to cool down. Thank you for sharing. |
Val....the vet may already have checked this, but.....when we got Bert, I was really worried about his hearing. He obviously wasn't deaf, but he only seemed to hear high-pitched noises really well. Turned out that he has an unusually large amount of hair DEEP down in his ears, and it had matted up, obscuring his eardrums. This was really deep in there...way further than you could see or pluck. He will have to have a yearly sedated ear-hair removal now.  |
| Val-- Just got done watching the video.......Maggie was too cute, like she was showing off for the camera.... and little Denver...you just want to pick him up and cuddle the heck out of him.
(I love your house...I've always wanted a RED DOOR!!! and a see-through fire place.) |
| Oh, I want a puppy!!!! He is sooooooooooo cute! I just love the video and it reminded me of Boni....funny how quickly I forget how much work puppies are!
You have a beautiful home! If Denver is going to be in Boston (or around Salem) then when we move back we can check on him for you! |
| wonderful to see them playing and a beautiful home Val and I think Maggie just won the babysitting doggy award |
| <sigh>
Just adorable---and your house is lovely! |
| Awwwww! The foster puppy is so pretty. I want him! Good luck Val! |
| That video is great. They really seem to get along. How nice they play and tire each other out. Chum must be thrilled - if they leave her alone!
When Denver was running, it sounded like he was trying to make big paw sounds just like Maggie. |
| What a great video and so glad to hear there may be a great furever home soon for him. He will miss Maggie though. |
| Wow val wonderfull news, what a little darling, keeping fingers crossed for the furever home.
Maggie sounds like she is a fantastic surrogate mommie to the little man, he is so cute and will make an adorable addition to any family. Maggie makes a wonderfull fussy momma too, what a darling she has been.
Gorgeous photos too of all the puppers playing He sounds like an absolute sweetie. |
got sheep wrote: When Denver was running, it sounded like he was trying to make big paw sounds just like Maggie.
That's so funny because I have been thinking he has the stompiest feet for such a wee little guy. I mean he weighs only 25 pounds (at 5 months they say!) and he is an itty bitty little baby but he runs so loud! It is great for housebreaking because I always hear him doing his laps when he needs to go outside. He really is the most darling little boy I could imagine. I am so happy to be involved in his rescue. And I am starting to wonder if he is even deaf at all. As time passes and he is happy, he seems to hear more and more. . . I agree that Maggie has earned major praise for sharing her toys, her balls, getting him tired out, and just generally looking out for him. I am not surprised at all but it is wonderful to see her in this capacity. Her instincts are so good and sweet. I am really lucky to have my house full with all this sheepie goodness. |
| Can't wait to know the results of his Baer test.Can you share when it will be?
Aren't sheepies just the greatest!You're babies are going to miss him. |
| Great video!
We need to set Val up with a webcam!
Where's Chummie hiding? |
| That video was so adorable bouncing flopping sheepies. Maggie is so special. He is such a cute puppy! I loved ALL the pictures so much. Calypso and Checkers are beautiful. Val, your home is lovely! I bet everybody will want him he is just so cute. |
| Maggie is such a sweetie! She's doing a great job of showing him the ropes. He is really an adorable boy. Great job, Foster Mom!! |
| Val, I had to laugh when you talked about how noisy Denver can be. Oscar is the LOUDEST dog, no matter what he is doing. His bark is LOUD. His yawn is LOUD. When he sleeps upside down, he bike pedals on the wall ----LOUDLY!
Lucky for him, he doesn't have to hear himself! Laurie and Oscar the LOUD |
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