Working with a deaf or hearing-impaired dog is not far off from working with one who can hear. Both rely on their owner's guidance and behaviors as signals for what to do next. While we as humans speak with our mouths and our voices, we often use our hands to further express what we’re attempting to get across. It is these actions that your deaf dog will rely on. Instead of using certain words as markers or symbols for the action you’re asking them to perform, you will use a hand signal. They will then associate this hand signal with the action, like sitting.

It is important to keep the following in mind:

Making and holding eye contact with the dog is the key component of this exercise. Because they are hearing impaired they will rely on your facial expression to understand your reaction and what you are asking them to do. It is important to maintain a neutral expression until prompted otherwise.
You may not be able to hold the dog's attention during the entire test. This is okay, it is important not to get frustrated with the dog. In the case that the dog loses focus or looks away, redirect them, start from step one, and complete the task again from the top.

Supplies

A high-value treat (something your dog is really interested in).
A quite area.
A dog!

Step 1: Read

Read through the disclaimers and the instructions at least once before beginning the task.

Step 2: Gather Supplies

Gather a high-value treat in your pocket or a pouch, out of the dog's eyesight. This is a treat that the dog considers to be of high importance.

Step 3: Minimize Distractions

Ensure that you are in an area with as few distractions as possible. The less that will catch your dog's eye, the better.

Step 4: Get Your Dogs Attention

Make sure the dog is looking at you. Feel free to hold a treat just in front of your face to direct the dog's attention toward your eyes. Bending slightly forward also helps.

Step 5: Smell

Once you ensure the dog is looking at you, you can allow the dog to touch their nose to the treat. This allows them time to smell what you have and come to the conclusion that they want it.

Step 6: Encourage Sitting Position

Hold the treat over their head. This will guide the dog to lift their nose to the smell which often leads them to a sitting position. If you find they are not sitting on their own, guide them to a sitting position by pressing lightly on their lower back until their hind legs are resting on the floor.

Step 7: Reward

They do not need to hold this sitting position. Once their hind legs and tail are touching the floor, reward them with a treat. Make sure to be expressive in your celebration, smiling widely and physically rewarding deaf dogs is important since they cannot hear verbal praise.

Step 8: Add the Sign

Once they’ve successfully sat and been rewarded, repeat steps 4 through 6 adding the hand motion that you would like to symbolize ‘sit’. It is important you are consistent with the hand motion you pick and that it is simple, with one or two movements. Pointing downward is a good choice. Exaggerate this movement in a way that makes it clear what your hand is doing.

Step 9: Repeat

Repeat steps 4-6. Guiding the dog and rewarding each time.

Step 10: Evalutate Your Results

After doing this several times, allow the dog to attempt to sit on their own, using only the hand motion as a signal. You need not continue to hold the treat over their head each time now. If it seems like they are not yet connecting the hand signal, you may return to guiding the dog with the treat or your hands.

Step 11: Celebrate!

Eventually, your dog will learn that the hand signal translates to your asking them to sit. Pat yourself on the back. You trained a deaf dog to sit.

Introduction: Teaching a Deaf Dog to Sit