Positive reinforcement training for Deaf dogs
As we age, we find it more difficult to do what we used to be able to do without any problems when we were young. We may find some mobility loss, or maybe start noticing eye sight is getting worse, or maybe start noticing hard hearing, or loosing some sense of taste.
Our furry friends age like us and, go through the similar changes. However, unlike we notice our grandparents start showing any sign of being old age problems, it is sometimes hard to recognize the sign of old age for our furry friends. Especially it would be difficult to notice hearing loss or hard hearing with furry friends.
If hearing loss or hard hearing was not recognized with furry friends, you may consider that your furry friends are just not listening to you.
If puppy was born with deaf, and if you did not recognized that she/he has hearing problems, the puppy may be labeled as "puppy with behavior problems".
How you can test if your dog is deaf dog at home..
According to DDEAF (The deaf dog education and action fund) website, you can test your dogs at home by..
** Jangle keys..
** Squeak the toys
** call your dogs
** Being away from your dogs,and clap your hands
** Whistle
** Turn on vacuum cleaner
** Being away from your dog, bang the two pots together
** ring doorbell or let someone ring the phones or door bells
Bear Test for deaf dogs..
Bear Testing is the method to determine whether dogs are deaf via computer to record the electric activity of the brain in respond to sound stimulation.
DDEAF websites writes that Bear testing is for dogs over 6 months old.
You can read more on testing you can do at home and bear testing at DDEAF website. Please click here.
Imagine, you are a deaf,and you see nobody around you but suddenly, someone touch you from behind. You sure would get startled and,if you were a deaf dog, you would probably respond with your mouth and might nip the person that startled you unless you were taught that touch on your back means to give attention to the people who touches you. That incident could potentially label you as "dog with behavior problem".
You may think that if dogs have no hearing ability,it is hard to train them, but think again. Dogs are pretty good observer and, they still can understand you even through your small gesture or facial expression etc. They can see things, and you can use the visual to teach them good manners,fun tricks and more.
Silent game for hearing dogs..
Our dog "Palette" is clicker trained, and now and then, without any verbal cue, I just show the hand signal cue and as soon as she sees it, she does what I asked her to. Then, if she was correct, I usually toss a small tiny treats to her and she goes get it.
I started doing this silent game now and then when I read that doing silent game is good preparation since the dogs age and might start getting hard to hear you. I just thought that that is good idea,and started playing the game since.
This silent game for hearing dogs are good one to play to let them be focus on you more and pay more attention to you also, since they never know when they see the hand signal cue.
I just love the huge grin on Palette face when she knew she was right,and come collecting her reward when I toss the treats to her for this game.
What is Clicker training?
As I have written in the previous entry titled "Clicker training:Clicker is your friend", clicker training is the positive reinforcement training using the tool called "clicker".
Clicker is a small training tool that has metal that makes unique sound. This sound is so unique that dogs would probably not hear the same sound in their daily life other than in clicker training session. This makes training more effective.
How clicker training works is that, first, you would teach dogs to associate clicker sound and yummy treats by click and treats,click and treats.
Then, after you would start noticing dogs would look for the treats when they hear the clicker sound, you would move on to lure them with treats, for example let the dogs sniff at the treats and move the treats above their head so dogs would sit.
If dogs stood up with 2 hind legs,that means, your hand with treats is too high for them.So,try lower your hand and try again.
As soon as their butt touches the ground, you would click the clicker and give the treats. In this scenario,clicker sound becomes the communication sound that telling them that they did "Good job!".
Good thing about clicker is that you can mark your dogs exact behavior you like without delaying split seconds. If you teach "Sit" with clicker,as soon as your dog's butt touch the floor with paws all on floor,click and treat. So,they know sit means 4 paws on floor with butt on floor.If you use "Good boy" as way to tell him he did good.Sometimes,he may perceive it as you rewarded him the behavior of "sit and then jump up".
Clicker training does not use the force such as alpha roll,jerking leash,or aversive method such as water spray to teach the behavior.If you watch how dogs do with each training method, it would be clear to you that dogs trained with clicker is more eager to learn new stuff from you and, always showing they are having fun learning the new skills.
That being said, how you can train deaf dogs,and how clicker training method is related to the way to teach the deaf dog,you may wonder.
Even though deaf dogs cannot hear the clicker sound, but, you can adapt the positive reinforcement method into something they can communicate with you; use the visual instead of clicker sound (audio) to tell them they did great job.
Training deaf dogs..
With clicker training, clicker training starts with association with clicker sound. This is to build communication bridge that tell the dogs "good job!".
With clicker training method using the visual, you would want to find the visual tool that can tell the dogs they did great job.
With Palette's silent game, after showing the hand signal to her and if she did what I have asked her to, I put both arms straight up with big smile (no verbal), and toss the treats to her. I just thought that positioning both arms straight up is big sign and, it would be easier for her to tell she did great job without my verbal praise. She responds very well to that.
The deaf dog education and action fund (DDEAF) website has great training tips for deaf dogs.
According to DDEAF, for clicker training the deaf dogs, you can use hand signals, flash light, and vibration collar in substitute for the clicker sound.
Using hand signals; DDEAF write, with hand signals, some people use 'thumbs up",and some people "hand- flash" (hand closed-open-closed). With clicker sound,you can mark your dogs exact behavior you like without delaying split second.However, just like using the verbal marker such as "good boy!", hand signal could mark the varied behavior since just like verbal praise, they have to be processed.
I came across the youtube video of deaf dog clicker training with hand flash sign for "good boy".
Deaf dog clicker training; Marking the behavior
If you are a blog subscriber or reading from facebook,please click here to watch the video.
Using flash light; DDEAF writes flash light is most closely approximates to clicker. The light will be always same and you can quickly mark the behavior just like the clicker can.
DDEAF recommends to use the flash light that you can push button or squeeze for quick marking for the behavior.
They also warns that some dogs may perceive the light to chase or some may feel scared of the light.
Using the vibration collar; DDEAF writes you cannot use the collar to get your dogs' attention and also use as substitution for clicker sound "Job well done!". This is because if you use the collar for both situations, dogs would have hard time differentiating one from the other, and very confusing for them.
They also warns that if the elasping time from when you push the button to the time dogs feel the vibration were long it could potentially mark the wrong behavior just like verbal praise being late to mark the exact behavior you like.
Once you find the visual tool of your choice to train your deaf dogs, you can then adapt the same method used for the clicker training for hearing dogs.
With clicker training, first thing to do is to let the dogs associate the clicker sound and yummy treats by click and treats,click and treats. This is to build communication bridge that tell the dogs "good job!"
So, swap the sound with visual tool of your choice and you can build the communication bridge that tell your dogs "good jobs". That means, if you would use the flash light, you can flash light,give treats,flash light,give treats.
Once dogs start looking for the treats with flash light on,you would know that now they know flash light means yummy treats.
Then, with clicker training, next step is to move on to marking the good behavior to tell the dogs they did good job. This means, if you were teaching to sit, you would click the clicker right on the moment 4 paws on the floor,butt on the ground to tell them they did good "sit".
So, just like you could with clicker for hearing dogs, you can lure them into "sit" position with treats,and flash the light to tell them they did great "sit",and give treats.
Next, with clicker training for hearing dogs, next step is to label the behavior,which means teaching the hand signal to dogs for the behavior you have taught them.
DDEAF states that you can use any hand signals to give deaf dogs a cue as long as they are being consistent. They write that some people use American sign language to give their dogs a cue.
To read training on deaf dog at DDEAF website,please click here.
Training is not over-night fix,and it require patient,practice,and consistency whether dogs you would train are hearing dogs or deaf dogs.
I think that training should be fun for both of you,and enjoy the progress the dogs would make each time. Once your dogs know clicker/flash light etc means "good job", you can teach many kinds of things using the same technique.
Our furry friends age like us and, go through the similar changes. However, unlike we notice our grandparents start showing any sign of being old age problems, it is sometimes hard to recognize the sign of old age for our furry friends. Especially it would be difficult to notice hearing loss or hard hearing with furry friends.
If hearing loss or hard hearing was not recognized with furry friends, you may consider that your furry friends are just not listening to you.
If puppy was born with deaf, and if you did not recognized that she/he has hearing problems, the puppy may be labeled as "puppy with behavior problems".
How you can test if your dog is deaf dog at home..
According to DDEAF (The deaf dog education and action fund) website, you can test your dogs at home by..
** Jangle keys..
** Squeak the toys
** call your dogs
** Being away from your dogs,and clap your hands
** Whistle
** Turn on vacuum cleaner
** Being away from your dog, bang the two pots together
** ring doorbell or let someone ring the phones or door bells
Bear Test for deaf dogs..
Bear Testing is the method to determine whether dogs are deaf via computer to record the electric activity of the brain in respond to sound stimulation.
DDEAF websites writes that Bear testing is for dogs over 6 months old.
You can read more on testing you can do at home and bear testing at DDEAF website. Please click here.
Imagine, you are a deaf,and you see nobody around you but suddenly, someone touch you from behind. You sure would get startled and,if you were a deaf dog, you would probably respond with your mouth and might nip the person that startled you unless you were taught that touch on your back means to give attention to the people who touches you. That incident could potentially label you as "dog with behavior problem".
You may think that if dogs have no hearing ability,it is hard to train them, but think again. Dogs are pretty good observer and, they still can understand you even through your small gesture or facial expression etc. They can see things, and you can use the visual to teach them good manners,fun tricks and more.
Silent game for hearing dogs..
Our dog "Palette" is clicker trained, and now and then, without any verbal cue, I just show the hand signal cue and as soon as she sees it, she does what I asked her to. Then, if she was correct, I usually toss a small tiny treats to her and she goes get it.
I started doing this silent game now and then when I read that doing silent game is good preparation since the dogs age and might start getting hard to hear you. I just thought that that is good idea,and started playing the game since.
This silent game for hearing dogs are good one to play to let them be focus on you more and pay more attention to you also, since they never know when they see the hand signal cue.
I just love the huge grin on Palette face when she knew she was right,and come collecting her reward when I toss the treats to her for this game.
What is Clicker training?
As I have written in the previous entry titled "Clicker training:Clicker is your friend", clicker training is the positive reinforcement training using the tool called "clicker".
Clicker is a small training tool that has metal that makes unique sound. This sound is so unique that dogs would probably not hear the same sound in their daily life other than in clicker training session. This makes training more effective.
How clicker training works is that, first, you would teach dogs to associate clicker sound and yummy treats by click and treats,click and treats.
Then, after you would start noticing dogs would look for the treats when they hear the clicker sound, you would move on to lure them with treats, for example let the dogs sniff at the treats and move the treats above their head so dogs would sit.
If dogs stood up with 2 hind legs,that means, your hand with treats is too high for them.So,try lower your hand and try again.
As soon as their butt touches the ground, you would click the clicker and give the treats. In this scenario,clicker sound becomes the communication sound that telling them that they did "Good job!".
Good thing about clicker is that you can mark your dogs exact behavior you like without delaying split seconds. If you teach "Sit" with clicker,as soon as your dog's butt touch the floor with paws all on floor,click and treat. So,they know sit means 4 paws on floor with butt on floor.If you use "Good boy" as way to tell him he did good.Sometimes,he may perceive it as you rewarded him the behavior of "sit and then jump up".
Clicker training does not use the force such as alpha roll,jerking leash,or aversive method such as water spray to teach the behavior.If you watch how dogs do with each training method, it would be clear to you that dogs trained with clicker is more eager to learn new stuff from you and, always showing they are having fun learning the new skills.
That being said, how you can train deaf dogs,and how clicker training method is related to the way to teach the deaf dog,you may wonder.
Even though deaf dogs cannot hear the clicker sound, but, you can adapt the positive reinforcement method into something they can communicate with you; use the visual instead of clicker sound (audio) to tell them they did great job.
Training deaf dogs..
With clicker training, clicker training starts with association with clicker sound. This is to build communication bridge that tell the dogs "good job!".
With clicker training method using the visual, you would want to find the visual tool that can tell the dogs they did great job.
With Palette's silent game, after showing the hand signal to her and if she did what I have asked her to, I put both arms straight up with big smile (no verbal), and toss the treats to her. I just thought that positioning both arms straight up is big sign and, it would be easier for her to tell she did great job without my verbal praise. She responds very well to that.
The deaf dog education and action fund (DDEAF) website has great training tips for deaf dogs.
According to DDEAF, for clicker training the deaf dogs, you can use hand signals, flash light, and vibration collar in substitute for the clicker sound.
Using hand signals; DDEAF write, with hand signals, some people use 'thumbs up",and some people "hand- flash" (hand closed-open-closed). With clicker sound,you can mark your dogs exact behavior you like without delaying split second.However, just like using the verbal marker such as "good boy!", hand signal could mark the varied behavior since just like verbal praise, they have to be processed.
I came across the youtube video of deaf dog clicker training with hand flash sign for "good boy".
Deaf dog clicker training; Marking the behavior
If you are a blog subscriber or reading from facebook,please click here to watch the video.
Using flash light; DDEAF writes flash light is most closely approximates to clicker. The light will be always same and you can quickly mark the behavior just like the clicker can.
DDEAF recommends to use the flash light that you can push button or squeeze for quick marking for the behavior.
They also warns that some dogs may perceive the light to chase or some may feel scared of the light.
Using the vibration collar; DDEAF writes you cannot use the collar to get your dogs' attention and also use as substitution for clicker sound "Job well done!". This is because if you use the collar for both situations, dogs would have hard time differentiating one from the other, and very confusing for them.
They also warns that if the elasping time from when you push the button to the time dogs feel the vibration were long it could potentially mark the wrong behavior just like verbal praise being late to mark the exact behavior you like.
Once you find the visual tool of your choice to train your deaf dogs, you can then adapt the same method used for the clicker training for hearing dogs.
With clicker training, first thing to do is to let the dogs associate the clicker sound and yummy treats by click and treats,click and treats. This is to build communication bridge that tell the dogs "good job!"
So, swap the sound with visual tool of your choice and you can build the communication bridge that tell your dogs "good jobs". That means, if you would use the flash light, you can flash light,give treats,flash light,give treats.
Once dogs start looking for the treats with flash light on,you would know that now they know flash light means yummy treats.
Then, with clicker training, next step is to move on to marking the good behavior to tell the dogs they did good job. This means, if you were teaching to sit, you would click the clicker right on the moment 4 paws on the floor,butt on the ground to tell them they did good "sit".
So, just like you could with clicker for hearing dogs, you can lure them into "sit" position with treats,and flash the light to tell them they did great "sit",and give treats.
Next, with clicker training for hearing dogs, next step is to label the behavior,which means teaching the hand signal to dogs for the behavior you have taught them.
DDEAF states that you can use any hand signals to give deaf dogs a cue as long as they are being consistent. They write that some people use American sign language to give their dogs a cue.
To read training on deaf dog at DDEAF website,please click here.
Training is not over-night fix,and it require patient,practice,and consistency whether dogs you would train are hearing dogs or deaf dogs.
I think that training should be fun for both of you,and enjoy the progress the dogs would make each time. Once your dogs know clicker/flash light etc means "good job", you can teach many kinds of things using the same technique.
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