Hello Sara

Thanks for the explanation. I see what you are saying about the dog not knowing there is anything 'wrong' with it but when I read the first post I wasn't thinking that a deaf dog needed 'ears' of a hearing dog, I was thinking it would be good to have another dog with a deaf dog as the pup could continue to socialise and interact with other dogs in a safe environment.

It would be hard to let a deaf dog off-leash in public places where it can learn to play and communicate with other dogs but if there was another dog in the household then socialisation would carry on.

I wondered if that was why rescue centres asked for there to be another dog in the household???

Socialization doesn't happen with only one or 2 other family dogs, so that's not likely why they want a hearing dog around. And no deafies shouldn't be off leash, unless they have a very reliable check-in and recall (one of mine I let off leash all the time... the other 2, no way!!!)

Whilst I appreciate that a deaf dog doesn't need a hearing dog as a companion, personally I think it can be very useful - if the hearing dog is well trained.

When my old dog Kip went deaf it really helped having Hoki. I would whistle and Hoki would come. Most of the time when Kip saw Hoki coming back, he'd turn and see that I wanted him too. If he didn't turn round, I'd ask Hoki to go and 'get him' - she would just run in front of him and stop so that he turned to me.

Admitedly even before he lost his hearing, he'd never go too far away from me, but having Hoki meant that Kip could carry on having the same freedom he'd always had.

He's adorable.........I want

Do you think they will do swops...Patrick for him it would be the only way........unless Pat went to London again and I smuggled him in whilst he was away

Hope he finds his forever home xxxx

we had that with Reah and Meg, when Meg's hearing went I would get Reah to 'fetch' her....it was lovely to see Reah nosing Meg to come

Yeah, that's why I said that it is often a help to an older dog who goes deaf. I know when my Springer x went deaf, she learned to rely on Benji for cues, but for puppies that are born deaf, it really makes no difference. they don't know anything but. Mouse, Boo and Scout pay no extra attention to Oliver, Zoe or my Sister's dogs. Mouse and Oliver are strongly bonded, so if it were going to happen, I would expect it would happen between those 2... but Mouse pays no attention to what Ollie's doing... unless she wants to play

Hali and Youngstevie

That's what I was thinking might be the reason - they can interact safely with their own species and learn from them.

A pup at 9 weeks won't have got all it needs from its mam and littermates but as an only dog won't have any to mix with in its new home to learn from and being deaf won't be off-leash in public so the opportunity to socialise with its own kind would be severely limited.

I was interested in this pup and on a second 'search' for the advert brought up this page/discussion. I've got another dog so won't worry now about whether it would be better placed as an only.

I gotta say, that you totally need not worry they are better off as an only. All I was saying that the fact that the pup NEEDS another dog is a myth. LOTS of deaf dog owners have deafies as an only dog. It's almost as common as having a deafie in a group. I just dislike when rescues limit the homes the pup can go to by saying it HAS to go to a home with another dog. I'm involved with deaf dog rescuing and transport here, and it's a common myth that we encounter alot. We do our best to educate wherever we can (there are SOOOOO many myths about deaf dogs!!!)

If you do end up getting this puppy, I can send you a TON of info on deaf dogs, but the best tip I got when I adopted my first deafie was:

think of a deaf dog like this: It is a DOG first, with all the needs of any dog. it is a BREED second, with all the breed traits, abilities and drives common to any member of that breed. It has it's OWN personality third, and be as unique as any dog will be. And finally, deaf.

Basically this means that the deafness IS NOT A HUGE ISSUE and thinking about it in that way will NOT help you train and live with the puppy. Have the same expectations for housetraining, and obedience training that you would have for ANY puppy you bring home. there are only a few exceptions. You talk to the dog with your hands and body, and off leash. recall training must be done with a vibrating collar (used as a cue, the same as the word come, not as an adversive like some use a vibrating collar in the place of a shock collar) or training a VERY good check-in. Otherwise, you dont want to let the pup off leash in an unfenced area.

Thanks for replying and for the tips.

I had figured that the training would be as it would for a hearing dog but with hand signals. Years ago I did loads of training with other dogs and in Obedience we used hand signals more than verbal commands because you can't speak to your dog when competing.

Have had a few pups and rescues/re-homes over the years and always housetrain them the same - out every hour, after eating and when they wake up so would do the same for a deaf pup. Does that sound right?

Are there any websites for deaf dog training Sara?

(am getting ahead of myself now as haven't expressed interest in this pup ) but if not this one I'm sure there'll be others.

Yes, there are several. I will PM them to you...