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My name is Leah!

Posted over 8 years ago | Updated over 8 years ago

My basic info

Breed
American Staffordshire Terrier
Color
White - with Brown or Chocolate
Age
Puppy
Size
Med. 26-60 lbs (12-27 kg) (when grown)
Weight
Sex
Female
Pet ID

My details

Checkmark in teal circle Good with kids
Checkmark in teal circle Good with dogs
Checkmark in teal circle Good with cats
Checkmark in teal circle Shots current
Checkmark in teal circle Has special needs

My story

Here's what the humans have to say about me:

Meet Leah!

Leah's birthday is ~6/15/2015. Her big green eyes just want to snuggle, play and repeat.. She does well with both dogs and cats. We've learned this green-eyed super lovebug pup is deaf AND super smart. Her foster family is helping her learn hand signals. Deaf pups and dogs really only have an off-leash limitation since they cannot hear your recall. Leah will win your HEART!! We are currently accepting foster to adopt applications. You can download the application at www.CherishedK-9.com. Once we receive it we can schedule a Meet N Greet and a home visit.

Leah has not been spayed yet and her adoption cannot finalize until she is spayed.

YOU CAN TRAIN A DEAF DOG IN A STANDARD OBEDIENCE CLASS WITH ONLY MINOR MODIFICATIONS. FORTUNATELY, HEARING IS OF LESSER IMPORTANCE TO DOGS THAN SIGHT OR SMELL. DEAF PUPS ROCK!!

Some helpful info for those with questions about deaf dogs: Wonderfuls and Not-so Wonderfuls about Life With a Deaf Dog
By Sandi Liss

So, you're thinking about adopting that adorable deaf dog you saw online somewhere? Or the cutie you saw in your local shelter? You showed the listing to a couple of friends, did some internet searches to find out what you're getting yourself into, and even stumbled across our site.

As the mother of two deaf dogs, both adopted at six-months-old (and as of this writing are now 11 and 12 years old), let me assure you that you're about to embark on a wonderful dog experience. I was a little nervous before I adopted my first deafie also, but I decided it couldn't really be all that different from a hearing dog so I'd just dive right in. I joined a listserv group and did a lot of lurking those first couple of weeks. That was when I found out it really isn't any different than having a hearing dog around the house, and in time, discovered all the advantages. I've never looked back, and will never adopt a hearing dog again!

In no particular order, here are some “wonderfuls” and myths of having a deafie in the house:

Benefit #1

You can go to the bathroom in the middle of the night and not disturb the dog. As long as you don't create a breeze as you walk past them, they'll never know you've been up. This can be a very good thing, believe me, especially at 5:30AM when the sun's just starting to rise. My kids awake when the sun awakes, so this is a big deal in my house. They want to head outside right away, and I'm not always awake enough myself to do that. That extra 30 or 60 minutes can make a big difference.

Myth #1

The dog doesn't bark because it can't hear. This is one of my favorites, and was my mother's first comment when I told her I was adopting a deaf dog. My reply to this statement is that their ears aren't connected to their throats. Yes, your deaf dog will bark. Not at every little thing like those hearing dogs do (see Benefit #2), but it will bark. And just like hearing dogs, the pitch of the bark usually depends on the size of the dog. My male is the smaller of my two kids and his bark is pitched decidedly higher than my female's.

Benefit #2

Other dogs in the neighborhood start barking and yours won't feel required to join in. They can't hear the other dogs, so they don't even know anyone else is barking. Yours can be the quietest house on the block!

Myth #2

A deaf dog isn't a good watchdog. Boy, that statement couldn't be more wrong if it tried! Because deaf dogs are visually oriented, they're very watchful. And because everything gets filtered through their noses (more so than hearing dogs who also rely on their other senses), they smell stuff you don't even know is out there. This means that they are excellent watchdogs, and will see a car's headlights in the driveway before you do. They'll also smell wildlife (if you live in a remote area like I do) and car exhausts and will definitely warn you that something (or someone) is encroaching on their space. My male even barks at planes as they pass overhead in “his” space!

Benefit #3

A deaf dog usually won't bark at fireworks. This isn't completely true because my two react to the sulfur smell when the fireworks go off. But they are also fascinated by the light show they see and will sit quietly and watch. And they won't even oooh and aaah!

Myth #3

A deaf dog won't come when called. Well, not in the conventional sense, no, they won't. But because they're usually very bonded dogs, they don't venture very far away and will keep you in sight. If you stand quietly and watch them, you'll notice that they “check in” every so often. My two do that by glancing up from whatever they're doing or sniffing and look to make sure I'm still where I was when they got distracted. If I'm not, they immediately come looking for me. If I'm still there, they go back to whatever's holding their interest. You can also train them, quite easily, to come when you flick a light on and off, or when you stomp your feet on a wood floor.

Benefit #4

A lot of deaf dogs I know love to watch TV. I have one that does and one that doesn't. Animal Planet is a favorite, for obvious reasons. I know lots of dogs who will sniff behind the TV to figure out where the animals go to when they walk off-camera.

Myth #4

Deaf dogs are not trainable because they don't “listen” to you. Again, in the conventional sense, this is true. But you're the one who has to change and not just speak to the dog. Hand signals are the preferred method (American Sign Language (ASL) or made-up signs) and as with any training method, consistency is the key. Because these dogs are always watching you, they're usually easier to train than hearing dogs, depending on the personality and breed, obviously.

Benefit #5

These are some of the most devoted, loyal, and attached dogs you'll ever find. Sometimes referred to as “Velcro™” dogs, they want to be near you and keep you in sight. This can be wonderful because you always know where they are. On the other hand, when they decide to walk immediately underfoot, you do need to exercise some caution.

Myth #5

All older dogs go deaf. I usually advise new puppy parents to train their dog to voice and hand signals as lots of dogs go deaf as they get older and it creates a hardship - to say nothing of the depression - on the dog to learn a new “language.” As you're training, use hand signals along with your voice. If your senior dog develops hearing loss, there's no adjustment period for the dog and s/he will still understand you even if it can't hear you. And if your senior doesn't develop hearing loss then you've both just learned another language!

Benefit #6

You can speak to your deaf dogs when you're hoarse. It took me a while to figure this one out, but it's a real advantage to be able to still speak to your kids when you've got a sore throat or are on the phone. You don't need to interrupt your conversation in order to sign to them, and you don't need to strain your voice in order to communicate either. Just prop the phone on your shoulder and you're golden!

Myth #6

“Your dog's deaf? Awww.” If I had a nickel for every time I heard, “How sad that your dog can't hear!” I'd be a very rich woman. Fact is, dogs don't need their ears in order to process information. While it might mean that their humans need to exert a little extra care to ensure their safety, dogs don't rely on their ears as their first line for information anyway. They depend on their eyes and noses first, and then their ears to back up the input. And my kids don't need their ears to know I love them!

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Don't hesitate to contact us with questions.


CherishedK-9s@hotmail.com
www.CherishedK-9.com

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