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Posted over 6 years ago
| Updated over 6 years ago
I found a new home! Plenty of my friends are looking for one too. Check out other pets at this shelter, or start a new search.
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My basic info
Breed
Border Collie/Springer Spaniel
Color
White
Age
Young
Size
Med. 26-60 lbs (12-27 kg) (when grown)
Weight
–
Sex
Male
Pet ID
Anita
My details
Good with kids
Good with dogs
Shots current
Spayed / Neutered
My story
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Here's what the humans have to say about me:
Meet Sordo (which is Italian for deaf); he’s approximately a year old, a neutered male about 40 pounds and completely deaf. I think he has been deaf his whole life as it doesn’t seem to affect him in anyway. He does not seem to get startled easily but you should always approach him nice and easy if he’s sleeping. A family with children over the age of 5 would be highly recommended.
Deafness in white dogs is not an uncommon thing. White coated dogs are often affected by deafness because they carry the piebald gene, which is demonstrated by their predominant white coat. The piebald gene is a result of the absence of melanocytes, the cells which create pigment. These melanocytes are the part a dog’s DNA that determines if he will have brown or black hair, blue or brown eyes, and so on and so forth. When a dog is born without the genetic material to create melanocyte cells, a white hair coat and sometimes blue eyes, are the result. So, what does hair color have to do with hearing loss? Well, the ability to hear is made possible by a special layer of cells within the inner ear. This specialized layer of cells and the cells that determine hair color, come from the same stem cell source. Without this stem cell, the dog’s body won’t be able to make this specialized layer of hearing cells and will likely be white in coloration.
While Sordo may be deaf don’t let his name define him. He knows no different and is one of the sweetest, loving, kind, and gentle dogs I have fostered so far. He has gotten along great with all dogs he has met. The only precaution you need to take is that he should always be leashed, if he wonders off there is no recalling him. He will not hear any fore coming danger like passing cars or aggressive barking dogs. Sordo was found in Southern Indiana in the middle of a highway. Animal Control picked him up and brought him to the high kill shelter scared and confused. Rover Rescue brought him up and put him in our foster home program, now looking for a safe forever home.
I will begin his obedience training with all hand signals, using good smelling treats and a laser point to grab his attention. I’ve also read up that using a bark collar that has a remote control with the vibration mode (not shock mode) set to low will work as a good training tool too. This would be similar to the clicker training for hearing dogs. This will be a fun adventure for me as well as I have never trained a deaf dog.
So far Sordo has behaved extremely well. He’s been calm and seems to be housebroken. He doesn’t like being in the crate as he cries when placed in there. He has also cried when left alone but only for a short time. At night he sleeps in my bedroom. He sleeps all night but can’t decide if he wants to sleep in bed with me or on the floor. I think he got too hot in the bed LOL.
Sordo has been neutered and is current on all vaccinations. If you would love to meet him please give me a call. Anita, 708-751-4904. His adoption fee is $200.00
