Training a dog or other animal isn't that different from raising
a child: you have to communicate, and you have to offer lots of praise. It doesn't hurt to always be ready with a small piece
of your pet's favorite treat, either.
*Disclaimer I am NOT a dog trainer, these are just the things and ways I used
to train my dog*
Training a Deaf dog is no different then training a hearing dog. Treats, Treats and more treats!!
The way I found best to train Cody was to make sure Zoey was out of the room , and there were
no distractions. I had lots of treats ( it may take a few times to see what treat your dog will respond to best. I've heard
Hot Dogs are a favorite ). You first want to make your first command an "Watch Me" command, as if they
don't watch you, they can't do the command. To do this I had a treat in my hand, put it by cody's nose and brought it up to
my nose and pointed to my nose when he looked at me, he got a treat. I repeated this many times and now he's a
star of the "watch me" command.
Sit: I use the ASL sign for Sit, which is your pinter and middle finger on
each hand out ( so it looks like an H in sing ) Take your right hand that has just the pointer and middle finger extend
and hit it on top of the left hand, so the extended fingers hit.
To get Cody to Sit I touched his butt and helped him in to a Sit
possiton gave him the sign for Sit, and gave a treat. Repeat this many times. Make sure to do a watch me
also so he will watch you then do the command.
Come: For this command I use the pointer finger point to Cody, and use the
pointer finger for luring him in. I also will point to him and then point to the ground next to me, which he will then run
and sit at my side. Get your dog in a sit, have some one hold him if they don't know they Stay
command yet and use the come sign get excited and smile and the dog should come running, give lots of treats and keep at it!
Stay: Do the Watch Me sign First, and stay
is an open palm, open hand like your telling someone to stop.
Watch me, Treat, Sit, Treat, Stay treat.
Start out with little steps at a time get your dog in a sit possition and give the Stay
command take a few steps backwards give the Stay command and then give the com command and treat.
No: is your pointer and middle finger and thumb extended other fingersin a
closed fist and bring the pointer and middle finger down to the thumb, this is No. when your dog is
doing something it should not Use this Sign and correct them, give them treats.
**Body Language is everything also, your dog reads your face, if he did something
good have a big smile on your face when you do the command, if it was a bad thing, frown and do the No, or
Bad Sign
