How to Train a Deaf Pet

Co-authored by Toni Woods

Last Updated: August 26, 2021 References

Having a deaf pet comes with its own challenges, but it can be just as rewarding to train. Although your pet won't respond to clicker training or verbal cues, you have other tools at your disposal and you'll probably find that the training process is similar. Sure, you'll have to make a few adjustments, but your furry friend will still be able to connect with you and respond to your commands.

Method 1

Method 1 of 9:
Get your pet's attention.

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Create vibrations through the floor or wave your hand in front of their face. You don't want to startle your pet so never walk up to them from behind to get their attention. Instead, get down and thump your fist on the floor or stomp so they feel the vibrations. You could also stand in front of them and wave your hand to get their attention.^{[1]
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American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.
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- Your pet might respond to a light touch, too. Always tap them gently in the same location if you're walking up to interact with them.

Method 2

Method 2 of 9:
Learn word signs for common commands.

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Pick up a book on American Sign Language (ASL) or make your own motions. Come up with a list of signs you want to teach your pet and figure out a motion for each one or find what the official ASL sign is for it. Here are some of the most widely used commands to get you started:^{[2]
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Toni Woods
Professional Dog Trainer
Expert Interview. 11 November 2020.}^{[3]
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- Sit: Place a treat in your hand and hold it near your pet's nose before you raise it up toward their ears. Wait for them to sit.^{[4]
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  Toni Woods
  Professional Dog Trainer
  Expert Interview. 11 November 2020.}
- Stay: Get your pet to sit and hold your palm directly in front of their face.
- Come: Hold your arm out and wave it toward yourself repeatedly.
- Down: Get your pet to sit and hold a treat in front of their nose. Slowly lower it down so your whole arm lowers.

Method 3

Method 3 of 9:
Use hand signs when you see your pet do specific behaviors.

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Signal to your dog when they do a specific motion. Start by making a simple hand gesture whenever you see your dog do an action. This is called cueing and it's a good way to start training. You probably already do cue training without realizing it!^{[5]
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- For instance, if you want your dog to jump in the car, you probably pat the seat or if your dog is standing near you, you might put your palm in front of them so they stay.
- This works with cats, too! You may need to get down low to do the hand signals, but cats can often be trained to "come" or "sit," for instance.^{[6]
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Method 4

Method 4 of 9:
Reward your pet with a thumbs-up and a treat.

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Pets respond really well to praise and positive attention. As soon as your pet does the desired behavior, immediately give them a thumbs-up and a big smile. Give them a small food treat, too! All of these reinforce the connection between the gesture and what they're doing.^{[7]
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- If you're familiar with clicker training, it's pretty much the same but the physical gesture replaces the clicking sound.
- Clapping is another positive gesture that seems like a reward for your pet.
- Deaf cats respond really well to being stroked instead of a thumbs-up or clapping.

Method 5

Method 5 of 9:
Practice giving the sign before the behavior.

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See if your pet can do the behavior right after you sign. If they can, great! Reward them with clapping or thumbs-up and a treat. If they didn't do the behavior, don't worry. They probably need a little more practice. Catch them doing the behavior you had wanted and then do the sign along with a treat.^{[8]
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Nonprofit animal welfare organization dedicated to saving animal lives by operating and supporting no-kill animal shelters
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- Your pet might pick up on some cues faster than others. This is totally normal, especially if it's behavior like rolling over that they don't do very often.

Method 6

Method 6 of 9:
Be consistent with your training.

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Keep your training sessions short but frequent. Your deaf pet is just like other animals in that they don't do well with marathon training sessions. Limit sessions so they're 5 to 10 minutes long and try to fit in 3 sessions a day. Remember, this is a great way to spend quality time with your pet!^{[9]
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- Use the same physical gestures every time you train so your pet picks up on the commands quicker.

Method 7

Method 7 of 9:
Pick up a flashlight or laser pointer for training.

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Use the light to direct your pet's attention or call them inside. If your pet is outside and you want them to come in, turn the porch or garage light off and on. The flashing light gets their attention and can be a good signal for coming in. You can also use a laser pointer in place of clicker training to signal a reward.^{[10]
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- For instance, if you give the command to "sit" and your dog does it, shine the laser pointer down near their feet. Then, give a treat. Over time, your dog will associate the laser light with a reward and you can drop the treat.
- Always be careful when you use a laser pointer. Never shine it directly into your pet's eyes since you could cause damage.

Method 8

Method 8 of 9:
Avoid using a vibrating dog collar.

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A vibrating collar doesn't shock your dog, but it's not a comfortable way to train. Although you could use the vibrating collar as a paging system, your dog will probably develop a negative attitude toward the feeling. It's better to train with positive reinforcement so your dog is happy to come over and check-in with you.^{[11]
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- Vibrating collars can also be really heavy, especially on small dogs.
- The vibrating collar doesn't actually train your dog; it simply gets their attention.

Method 9

Method 9 of 9:
Keep your pet leashed or in a fenced yard if they're outside.

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It's also a good idea to get a tag for their collar that says they're deaf. The tag should also have their name, your name, and your phone number. Since your dog won't respond to you calling their name, you may want to put a bell on their collar so you can hear where they're at and when they're on the move.^{[12]
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- If you have a deaf cat, it's really important to put a collar on them that lists that they're deaf along with their contact information.