Thinking of adopting a deaf rescue bully
Hi there! So I am brand new to this forum, and found you guys during my research. So the humane society in my area just picked up a bull terrier (In a target parking lot of all places) and I went to visit today and am just in love. He is about 8 months old, and a special needs guy because he is totally deaf. They said he has some issues with other dogs and occasionally with people, but it's because he is very mouthy and since he can't hear he doesn't understand when other dogs say stop of you tell him no. They said it doesn't seem like aggression, just very rough play. When he started to get mouthy with me when I was playing I just pushed him off, and stopped playing and he seemed to get it. He was super affectionate and didn't seem phased by me pulling on his tail or ears or touching him from behind when he couldn't see me. They "cat tested" him while I was there (because I do have a cat) and he was a bit nervous with the bolder cats, but then went into that puppy stance with his butt up and seemed to want to play. This seems like a good sign that he can be socialized to see cat as friends and not food.
I've had dogs before (all dobermans), and I have done research and I know these dogs are very high energy and can be destructive if not given enough exercise and attention. I also know they can be stubborn and need good training and direction. I know deafness is a worry with bullies, especially the white ones. I was hoping some people here had experience with deaf bully training and living with them in general and could give me some tips and what to expect. I've been doing research on how to train deaf dogs, and have found go info on hand signals and vibration collars, but any resources y'all really stand by would be greatly appreciated.
I included some pictures of him, one from the adoption website and one I took. He's such a cutie.
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Comments
I have no first hand experience of Deaf Bullies myself but there are many success stories, even on this site.... I know there was a guy in Holland who had great success with sign language... even mine respond to sign language... Raising my hand to my shoulder means "Sit, if you want a treat", and believe me, they do. Do a search for "deaf" in the search field above your name and hit "GO", I'll look around too. You're gonna love him!!!!
http://www.bulliesofnc.com/BTforum/discussion/2289/it-s-been-a-while/p1
Other than that, the experiences of the man that posted here in the past that Phil has kindly linked, I have zero experience or advice. They are smart dogs, and ours seem to get both hand and/or voice commands.
This is an absolutely adorable BT. Unless you can 100 percent guarantee that he will never escape your home or be off leash, you should not consider adopting him. He will need to be kept safe and not allowed to get into harms way, like oncoming traffic where he will not hear car horns.
It's not just a lot to consider about a deaf BT, it's also a lot to consider about your home situation and commitment. Best of luck in reaching the right decision. This is a great place to come. Lots of people here know so much more than me and we all love our babies.
I apologize now for that fact that I'm going to be harassing you guys a ton.
Our pup was quite mouthy when he was younger. It's easier to get a handle on it early rather than later.
A customer of mine has a deaf Boxer. He has taught her hand signals. She is dog aggressive and he has her leashed at all times when outdoors. When he doesn't have her attention he stomps the floor or ground and she makes eye contact.
Bullies with good hearing are stubborn and try not to listen. I don't think you will be far behind with one that is deaf.
I can hardly wait for an update!!!
It's all good though, I'm using my extra time here to re-read When Pigs Fly. You should see all the notes I have been taking from that book, Clicker Training for Obedience, and on food stuff. I have been going a little crazy buying toys and various things for him. I even ordered him a custom collar, and a nice little leash that says "I am Deaf" so hopefully people will get the hint.
He has been a maniac for the past 4 hours. I live in a pretty small apartment, but he has been running full speed from one wall to the next, very often slipping (since it's tile) and skidding into the wall, only to leap back up and continue sprinting around. It's hysterical. He has been freaking out over his toys, throwing them around and chasing them as fast as he can. I got him a Nylabone antler thing and that seems to be his favorite, though it might be tied with the tennis ball. He really is like a little wrecking ball barreling through the house. I really wish I had a yard to let him just run as fast as he'd like to get his shelter exorcism in. Though I'm making him run with me on his walks after he pees so hopefully that'll help. We're about 1/2 and 1/2 for going to the bathroom in the proper place. He will just stop suddenly mid play and start peeing, so I am just going out every 15 minutes. I think I am going to take his water up about an hour before I decide it's time for bed.
He has also decided to let me know that he does in fact bark, and quite frequently. He can't seem to contain himself with the cat, he just has to bark and bark excitedly at her. He's keeping a healthy distance since the few times he has gotten close she has slapped at him. She seems irritated, but not afraid of him so I think once he can calm down around her they will be fine.
He constantly follows me around the house, and will drop any toy he has if I start moving. I've had cats only for the last few years so it's almost strange to have something so interested in what I am doing. He has finally calmed down and is sleeping on my foot as I type this. He also seems to be happy with his crate. He will go in there in his sprinting laps around the house (slamming it into the wall of course
Overall I am charmed. He is a sweet little thing, though I think I have my work cut out for me to get him to a proper house companion from the little hellion he is right now. I also included some pictures (please excuse the quality, I was using the front camera and he kept trying to eat it if I wasn't quick enough)
(At least Icarus, without his wings, has fallen into your loving arms instead of into the Icarian Sea)
I think the long day finally got to him. He passed out in my lap for about 1/2 an hour, and only woke up when the cat got on the couch to sniff him. He seems more relaxed. I don't have work or school until January 20th so I have lots of time to get him adjusted thankfully. I am so glad I have a place to gush about him and post pictures where people won't get sick of it :P. I think my friends are already over me sending pictures. Thanks everyone for your support. I am already smitten with the little monster.
I have a Kia Soul so there is a little back area he could stay in, I just wasn't confident he wouldn't try and crawl over the back into the back seats, or chew off my head-rests. I'm going to work out a better system for car time.
"It's not just a Dog, it's a Bull Terrier!"
www.bulliesofnc.com
This was last night after he had fallen asleep. He seems to be a pretty heavy sleeper
:x
Too funny about him knocking the car into neutral, Stoeger has done the same more times than we care to remember.
We have found it helpful to use a collar or harness and a leash with a carabiner on the handle end.
The carabiner is great for clipping our Bullie to any available anchor, especially in a vehicle. It works perfectly in our open top Jeep Wrangler!
We have a few different length leashes and find it easy to limited his range in the four different vehicles we own.
Stoeger a rockstar? Yeah, I'd say that is fitting, haha!
Things have been going well with Icarus. He seems to get sit, and I just called a trainer in the area and she was super excited to be working with a deaf dog and we'll probably be starting with her in February. He loves other dogs, and it super submissive with everyone (which is a relief) A friend of mine has a very well mannered pitbull that he got to meet this past week and they are in love. He will play for hours until he can barely move and she isn't phased at all, he has actually not managed to wear her out yet. When we go visit Sweetpea he generally has to be put in her crate to take a nap at some point because he has no off switch. He has gotten to meet a few other dogs, and seems to be doing very well with them. He is still having accidents when we go to friend's places, but when he is at home he has finally decided that he will go sit by the door and stare at me when he wants to go out. So overall everything is going well. I've found that if I take him to have dog-friend time for at least an hour he is much calmer at home, and can even resist trying to play with the cat. My friends have given him the nickname "Dickerus" when he is being a menace, which is kind of perfect. Things have gotten a little complicated because I am in a boot for 6 weeks. I fractured my ankle a few days ago playing with him on the stairs (I know I'm super clever). It's a lot more work to go get him when he's being bad not that I have to hobble over.
He's not allowed in my bed, but he crawled in while I was staying at a friend's and I couldn't resist cuddling
This is his favorite place to lay when we go visit one of my friend's
And this is Sweetpea, she's his favorite friend
We just started a puppy class (which I am disappointed in, but that's a different story).They have someone who trained a deaf dog, and a lot of the club members do things like agility and obedience so I'm hopeful they'll give me some tips. I'd love to eventually be able to doo obedience (I'll be already prepared for Utility since I can only use hand signs now anyways
It's actually been a rough couple of days for me. The other night a drunk driver smashed into my father's veterinary clinic destroying almost everything inside. He actually killed one of the kittens in the front (who was supposed to go to a new home that next day) and the other one has a broken back and they aren't sure how well she will recover. The driver ran from the scene, and the police didn't seem to think they'd be able to do much on the criminal end. Here's the link if you're curious about what it looks like when an SUV takes on a building
http://www.khou.com/story/news/local/2016/01/18/driver-crashes-through-veterinary-hospital-takes-off/78973962/
"It's not just a Dog, it's a Bull Terrier!"
www.bulliesofnc.com