CANINE Other deaf dog owners have reported being able to condition a great positive response to vibrating collars but emphasize the importance of having a check-in to fall back on in case of flat batteries or malfunctioning units.
Management
As with any training, management is key in the early stages and in distracting situations. A well-fitting harness plus a long line is essential (minimum of 10 ft, preferably 30+ ft). Do not allow the dog off leash until training is complete and always graduate by allowing the line to trail, then reduce the length before finally removing it. Much of the advice I could give here is standard to all dogs who might be distracted or unwilling to come back – use a long line at all times, including in the garden. Use food rations as rewards on walks, play scentwork games (see photo of Bronte bottom left) to encourage interaction with handler on walks, make attention to handler a condition of getting to explore good smells and so on. Thinking back to the first two articles in this series, if the handler has taught their deaf dog to reliably hand-target, then the actual recall becomes fairly easy. Start with a basic hand target and then have the handler offer the target from further away or having the dog follow the hand for longer. Do make sure the handler is prepped to give the obvious “click” or good dog signal Bronte practices scentwork during her walk
as the nose plants onto their hand, then get that tasty food or favorite toy out as soon as possible (see photo of Fearn bottom right). Once you have a dog who reliably runs towards you when offered an obvious hand-target, you can start to build in a clear “attention getting” signal. This often involves arm waving and needs to be visible from a distance no matter how silly it feels. Active signals are often better as the deaf dog may catch the movement out of the corner of their eye even if not directly looking at you (see image of Bonnie, the three-year-old Jack Russell terrier recalling to her foster mom on page 37, BARKS from the Guild, July 2014).
Lights and Flashlights
Teaching the deaf dog to orient to or recall to a flashing torch can be invaluable when you want to call them back from a wet dark garden or if you are out on a winter walk. This can be taught by pairing the light signal with treats/toys, although my dogs appear to pick it up on their own. I am cautious with this exercise with dogs who may be light-focused or chase shadows. I would also note that, much to my surprise, my dogs do not orient to other walkers with head torches in the dark. They seem able to distinguish who it is quite easily. Remember that shining the head-torch (essential for deaf dog Fearn recalls to a hand target
BARKS from the Guild/October 2014
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