deaf dog

by **vetjul** » September 28th, 2009, 10:33 pm

I had posted this in introductions only because I couldn't post anywhere else at the time.
I have a 4 year old pitty girl I rescued when she was 10 months old. She is very good but can be a tiny bit leash aggressive mostly barking at the other dogs. She does enjoy the dog park and daycare where she can run off leash. Recently we are considering adopting a deaf pitty. I am familiar with working with dogs and know many hand signals already. y girl is a therapy dog and I thought it was good to be able to communicate with her using more then verbal cues. Today we had our first dog to dog meeting with the deaf pit and we introduced them by allowing them to receive treats but they were both in two different rooms that are divided by a gate. This way we could avoid physical altercations. WE brought them close to the fence and reinforced with treats. My girl did really well even though she can be put off by some dogs. The deaf dog tried to gate fight twice but one time walked over to like my dogs face through the fence. We did this for about an hour 1/2 removing the other dog for 5 minutes when ever she tried to gate fight. The foster mom (owns a doggie daycare) says the deaf dog is defensive around other dogs but not all. I realize being deaf she may be more defensive perhaps out of fear but is this something that will subside. I guess I'm concerned about having a dog that will (lack of a better word) attack when ever it sees another dog. I know my girl can be a bit crazier on leash but we have worked around it but is the other dogs lashing out more from just being possible a more aggressive dog OR more because she is deaf. Deaf dog is 1 year and the foster has had her for 1 year.. she is not socialized within the doggie daycare but does interact with one or two of staff dogs. She understand signs and does great with people but is it common for deaf dogs to be this way with other dogs? Just trying to see what I'm up-against and if it i the right fit for our family....
UPDATE I got in touch with a DEaf dog forum and they said its a dog issues and not a deaf issue. I called the foster mom and told her I don't think we would be a good fit. However it did put my in touch with a women who has a deaf pit/mix she is fostering that does get along with other dogs! I'll let you know how that goes.

by **mnp13** » September 28th, 2009, 11:33 pm

I generally do not recommend introducing dogs with a gate or other barrier between them, as that can cause/increase "barrier frustration" - the same thing that contributes to dogs barking at people from crates, cars and behind fences.

Many dogs also have difficulty meeting other dogs when leashed because they know they only have 6 feet of space - "flight" has been removed, so "fight" is all that is left to them if a problem arises. A dog with confidence issues may give a threat display as another dog approaches so that that dog will say back, thereby avoiding the problem all together.

When I need to introduce two dog that have difficulties like the ones you are describing, I try to take them for a walk in a neutral place so that they can just get used to each other without direct contact and without being on anyone's "home turf." It's non-confrontational and after a while you'll get a sense of how the dogs may react to each other when they actually meet.

Outside of that, I don't know anything about deaf dogs. :wink:

by **TheRedQueen** » September 29th, 2009, 7:09 am

Agree with Michelle...no barriers when doing meetings.

No, it's not a deaf issue...there are many deaf Aussies in the rescue I work with...and we don't tolerate aggression.

If I may ask, what is the reasoning for getting a second dog? It doesn't sound like your dog is particuarly well-socialized and it doesn't sound like she enjoys dogs 100% of the time. Would you be willing to crate/rotate if they don't get along in the long run? Also...why are you thinking female-female? I'm not crazy about that dynamic...though I'm sure you'll hear from people who have more than one female together, it's not the preferred pairing usually.

by **vetjul** » September 30th, 2009, 5:06 pm

My dog just barks at other dogs on leash and it spooks people cause she is a pit but if she went over to them she sniffs and walks away ... she is social and has lived with other dogs most of her life but they have all left (they didn't belong to me roommates) I got married and she's it. She was fine at the meet and great with the deaf dog .. it was the other dog. After further discussion and taking to some behaviorist and deaf dog owners they all agree its a dog thing and this dog might do better with as an only dog. As for my girl she does doggie daycare, I go to friends that have dogs and she gets along well and she has lived with all types of dogs. She has lived with a female and later my roommate got a male so we had three dogs in the house... she was fine with both sexes. I have recently talk to an animal control specialist at the SPCA and she has a deaf dog up for adoption that is well socialized so we are going to meet. The other deaf dog was not socialized enough in foster care. I also talked to her about fostering a dog on the urgent list. He is hearing but way underweight and not well. So I have a few doggie meet and greets coming up and we will do a home visit to see how that goes. Both of the dogs I'm looking at are better socialized so I'm not expecting the same problems (as severe) it will just be a matter of our dogs getting along.(but I can't take both) I have already discussed the female female issue and I haven't had a problem before and the deaf dog in foster is with a another female and no problems but the foster mom said she will take her back if it is an issue. BUT thats also why we agreed to a weekend sleep over cause that would really help to see the dogs in the house over a period of time.

by **Marinepits** » September 30th, 2009, 5:12 pm

vetjul wrote: So I have a few doggie meet and greets coming up and we will do a home visit to see how that goes. Both of the dogs I'm looking at are better socialized so I'm not expecting the same problems (as severe) it will just be a matter of our dogs getting along.

I'm glad you're taking the time to do introductions and trial visits. Please let us know how it goes!

by **vetjul** » October 5th, 2009, 5:42 pm

after going and meeting and so and so we now have a foster doggie! This guy was going to be put down .. he was on his second set of kennel meds and the rescue just doesn't have the money to keep putting meds into the same dogs over and over... its a sad situation. This guy got along really well with my girl and has got to be the best dog ever ... in fact he makes her look really bad LOL He is a shepherd/terrier mix 3-5 years old and well trained .. the previous owners couldn't take care of him anymore.

by **Marinepits** » October 5th, 2009, 5:55 pm

And when do we get to see pics?

What are "kennel meds"? Are they for his anxiety or.....? :confused:

by **vetjul** » October 6th, 2009, 7:36 am

kennel cough sorry about that Most of the dogs get it at some point and some get it more then once .. the dogs that have been there a while and get it more then once are then put on the MORE URGENT list because they are considering putting them down .. very sad. THey had about four dogs in the rescue on this list and most got fostered out to families !!!!!! They had to have had over 65 dogs in all. As soon as one goes out another takes their spot though its an awful cycle ... People need to start adopting ..

by **pitbullmamaliz** » October 6th, 2009, 7:56 am

What a fantastic picture! :heartbeat:

by **Marinepits** » October 6th, 2009, 5:41 pm

vetjul wrote:kennel cough sorry about that

Ah, gotcha! Thanks for clarifying.

That is a GREAT picture!

deaf dog

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