[Deafdogsrule]

I wanted to introduce myself and my monsters. My name is Sara, I have 4 dogs, all rescues. My life so far has been about dogs, rescuing, training, grooming, researching.... I still have too much to learn, so I also spend alot of time on the internet, learning about dogs.

Thats me, now the interesting stuff, my dogs

My first dog (as an adult) is Zoe. I adopted her after my childhood dog had to be pts (she was almost 15) Zoe was not what I was looking for, but she needed me, so I adopted her. She was 1.5 years old, had already had a litter of pups, was horrifically abused physically and mentally. She was a quivering mass of paranoia and fear. She is now 8 years old, still nervous of the unknown (people, things, places...) but she no longer has panic attacks, and trusts 3 people (me, my Mom and my Sister). oh and she's a little Bichon x Lhasa Apso.

My next rescue, Scout, came along 3.5 years later. She is a terrier mix, and was 4 years old. Scout was 2 hours from being Euth'd at a pound when the rescue I am with took her in... She was with us (in a foster home) for another couple of months, with some interest, but no takers... Why? Because she is deaf. I have had Scout for three years now she has learned more than 50 hand signals, and I have done several demo's with her about deaf dogs and adopting less-than-perfect-pets. Scout is an AMAZING girl, and I am so lucky to have her in my life!

Because of Scout, I joined a Yahoo group about deaf dogs and learned that there are literally thousands of deaf dogs needing homes at any given time across Canada and the US. I had become so enamoured with deaf dogs that i wanted another, so I could prove that Scout isn't a one of a kind, that deaf dogs really are easier to have/train.

One day, a year and a half ago (end of January) there was a post about a terrier mix, possibly deaf, needing help and a home. He was reactive, cat aggressive and in rough shape (rescued as a stray). I wanted to help, but he was so far away... I posted anyway and jokingly said that if they could get him to Canada, I would take him... a week later I had him

Oliver is not deaf, but he is amazing. One of the smartest dogs I've met. I have learned tons about working with reactive dogs, clicker training, and dog aggression through him. He was 6 months old, and is now just 2, he is very high energy, and the biggest dog I've owned. He is probably an Irish Terrier crossed with a Lab. I've got him ball crazy, So we can work out his excess energy, and have taught him tons or tricks and movements, he's awesome! Btw, he came all the way from Houston, TX to Alberta, Canada in mid winter... he ADORES the snow! LOL

About 4 months from when I got Oliver, I got an e-mail from a friend in WA about a little 4 month old Mini Dachshund, who needed a home... She's deaf and has some mild vision impairment... I adopted her. She's a small mini, only about 8.5 lbs, is mostly white, with blue eyes and a dapple ear and back end (she looks like she's wearing shorts LOL) She's such a character, and is by far the toughest dog I have... at 18 months old, she is STILL destroying things, if she has half a chance. she is my little monster, but I love her anyways! She has learned about 20 signs and touch signals. I use her at my Farmers market booth every weekend to get people to talk to us about our rescue. She is a little social butterfly!

well, that's us in a nutshell, sorry it's long, but I have lots of dogs! I am hoping I can learn a whole bunch more from this forum!

[lange]

And many of us will be learning a lot from you! Can't wait to see the pics to go along with the stories.

[Deafdogsrule]

They wont let me post a pic yet of my pups... I'm too new, so that'll have to wait for a bit. unless there's another way to post pics.

[Lunareclipse]

add them to your profile and put one on your avatar. Reason why we don't allow pictures on the first posting is because we were getting tons of people that would sign up and post a pic advertising that we vote for their dog in a cutest dog contest or something equally mundane.

[Deafdogsrule]

OK I added a pic on my profile of my 2 youngest dogs, Oliver and Mouse. and My avitar is a pic of all 4 of my dogs together after their pre Christmas baths, and trims.

[CorkyMax]

Originally Posted by Deafdogsrule

They wont let me post a pic yet of my pups... I'm too new, so that'll have to wait for a bit. unless there's another way to post pics.

Here is a copy of what Yogi (moderator) said to do:
once you have completed a post, scroll down BELOW the area noted submit to the next section.
There you can browse your computer for a photo. (Manage Attachments).
Click on the photo to save and then once the url or link appears in the browse box on here, scroll down to the next "submit" box and click on it.

[lange]

Awww How cute your little pack is!

[josie]

Thank you for sharing your family with us, I am inspired! I know the joy and rewards of rescuing an abused/neglected dog and rehabilitating her. Your story goes far beyond that however, and truly, I commend you!

P.S. I am also an Albertan (Calgary)

[Lunareclipse]

Generally animals with white hair and blue eyes are deaf. There are exceptions according to the breed, but it's genetic and it's called Wardenburg's syndrome. I adopted a ferret that had it. She was deaf and learned hand signals quite easily. It is generally characterized by a white head or white blaze on the head and blue eyes. It affects 1% of the dog population. But with pets that have Wardenburg's Syndrome, 90% of those are deaf. Some people breed these poor animals for their odd characteristics rather than breeding for soundness. That's how I got my deaf ferret, Ainsley. She's been gone for 6 years now. But the people that bred her bred for the white blaze down the middle of the head and ended up with a whole little of deaf ferrets. Ainsley was quite small for a ferret. 1.5 lbs fullgrown and has some serious medical problems when I got her. Along with a serious case of giardia which most of our household ended up getting. I am so glad that you are taking special interest in animals with this condition. Thay need loving too.

[Deafdogsrule]

Originally Posted by Lunareclipse

Generally animals with white hair and blue eyes are deaf. There are exceptions according to the breed, but it's genetic and it's called Wardenburg's syndrome. I adopted a ferret that had it. She was deaf and learned hand signals quite easily. It is generally characterized by a white head or white blaze on the head and blue eyes. It affects 1% of the dog population. But with pets that have Wardenburg's Syndrome, 90% of those are deaf. Some people breed these poor animals for their odd characteristics rather than breeding for soundness. That's how I got my deaf ferret, Ainsley. She's been gone for 6 years now. But the people that bred her bred for the white blaze down the middle of the head and ended up with a whole little of deaf ferrets. Ainsley was quite small for a ferret. 1.5 lbs fullgrown and has some serious medical problems when I got her. Along with a serious case of giardia which most of our household ended up getting. I am so glad that you are taking special interest in animals with this condition. Thay need loving too.

Apparently, Most people on the deaf dogs yahoo group dont believe its that syndrome that affects dogs. It does however affect cats. Scout's deafness is caused by breed, she is a PRT x, white, brown spots, brown eyes. Deafness is inherent in JRT's/PRT's. 30% of Dalmatians are born either unilaterally or bilaterally deaf, but you dont meet that many that are, as most breeders euthanize them at 6-8 weeks after a Baer test is done to confirm it. Dals, JRT/PRT's, Heelers, Pointers, and Setters are all affected by the same type of deafness. (due to the ticking in the coat affecting the pigmentation in the inner ear)

then there is the Double Merle/Double Dapple that causes Mouse's deafness and VI. When you breed 2 Merles/Dapples together in any breed, you will get a 1/4 of the pups that are Double (often mostly white) and have a very high risk of being deaf or blind or both. They also seem to have a higher rate of epilepsy, tho Mouse doesn't. It has to do with the dilution gene, when doubled up, causing the issues. It can happen in any breed that can be Merle, From Great Danes down to Dachshunds. It is a big problem in Australian Sheperds, there are rescues out there dedicated to rescuing these double merle Aussies. NEVER breed Merle to Merle.

Originally Posted by josie

Thank you for sharing your family with us, I am inspired! I know the joy and rewards of rescuing an abused/neglected dog and rehabilitating her. Your story goes far beyond that however, and truly, I commend you!

P.S. I am also an Albertan (Calgary)

Thank you! I dont intend to be an inspiration, tho my dogs really are. Rescuing dogs is my life and my dogs give me so much more than they take.

I am in Red Deer, so not far at all!

[Lunareclipse]

I can understand why someone would want to put animals to sleep that has Waardenburg Syndrome, but I really don't agree with it. There are different degrees of it to being perfectly normal and just carrying the genes for it to being deaf, to being partially or completely blind, to seizures, to severe neuralogical problems. But most of time, you just get a deaf animal. I no longer have any animals with Waardenburg Syndrome, but I do have a saint bernard with epilepsy. Very poorly bred and has cluster siezures that goes on for days. People need to be more selective in theri breeding to prevent things like this. If a person can't afford to get your dog fixed, they certainly can't afford to have puppies. And we wouldn't have deaf dogs and dogs with epilepsy.

[Deafdogsrule]

Originally Posted by Lunareclipse

I can understand why someone would want to put animals to sleep that has Waardenburg Syndrome, but I really don't agree with it. There are different degrees of it to being perfectly normal and just carrying the genes for it to being deaf, to being partially or completely blind, to seizures, to severe neuralogical problems. But most of time, you just get a deaf animal. I no longer have any animals with Waardenburg Syndrome, but I do have a saint bernard with epilepsy. Very poorly bred and has cluster siezures that goes on for days. People need to be more selective in theri breeding to prevent things like this. If a person can't afford to get your dog fixed, they certainly can't afford to have puppies. And we wouldn't have deaf dogs and dogs with epilepsy.

Yes, breeding Fluffy to Rover is not an acceptable reason for breeding... the knowledge and research need to be behind every pairing. I am constantly trying to educate would be back yard breeders... a seemingly lost cause

Epilepsy must be common in St. Bernards, A friend of mine got a puppy, that had to be PTS 3 weeks later due to severe and continuous seizures... the vet couldn't stop them. the breeder's contract was a replace only one, and they didn't want another pup from her, so they lost alot of money.

The thing about deaf dogs, it's not a disability for them, they are not more work, they are not harder to train, infact, I find them alot easier to have/train. even my little deaf and VI dachshund is easier, and people that have deaf/blind dogs sing their praises too... My deaf dogs are going to be in a book, and every one that have dogs in that book feel the same way about their deafies.

[Lunareclipse]

Originally Posted by Deafdogsrule

Yes, breeding Fluffy to Rover is not an acceptable reason for breeding... the knowledge and research need to be behind every pairing. I am constantly trying to educate would be back yard breeders... a seemingly lost cause

Epilepsy must be common in St. Bernards, A friend of mine got a puppy, that had to be PTS 3 weeks later due to severe and continuous seizures... the vet couldn't stop them. the breeder's contract was a replace only one, and they didn't want another pup from her, so they lost alot of money.

The thing about deaf dogs, it's not a disability for them, they are not more work, they are not harder to train, infact, I find them alot easier to have/train. even my little deaf and VI dachshund is easier, and people that have deaf/blind dogs sing their praises too... My deaf dogs are going to be in a book, and every one that have dogs in that book feel the same way about their deafies.

When I had my deaf ferret, she wasn't any harder to train than the other two that could hear. She was a pure joy to have.

[Krissy48lowes]

Wow what a wonderful person you are to take in all this wonderful dogs. I have a friend here that owns a deaf Great Dane. The breeder was really concerned about possibly selling him due to his condition, and that he would be abused or bought by some puppy mill. Thankfully a friend of mine came along and adopted him. He's turning out be a wonderful dog.

I'm in such amazement of your generosity towards these lovely creatures we call dogs. I myself own three dogs, and I can't imagine life without them. Max is my oldest; he's a border collie/aussie mix that is certified as an animal therapy dog. Then there is my mini aussie Rusty, initially he was suppose to be my mother’s dog, but he wants little to do with her and everything to do with me. Trip our newest member to the four legged family is an 8 month old mini pin/chihuahua mix.

Good luck with all your dogs, I'd love to hear how they are doing!

[Deafdogsrule]

Originally Posted by Krissy48lowes

Wow what a wonderful person you are to take in all this wonderful dogs. I have a friend here that owns a deaf Great Dane. The breeder was really concerned about possibly selling him due to his condition, and that he would be abused or bought by some puppy mill. Thankfully a friend of mine came along and adopted him. He's turning out be a wonderful dog.

I'm in such amazement of your generosity towards these lovely creatures we call dogs. I myself own three dogs, and I can't imagine life without them. Max is my oldest; he's a border collie/aussie mix that is certified as an animal therapy dog. Then there is my mini aussie Rusty, initially he was suppose to be my mother’s dog, but he wants little to do with her and everything to do with me. Trip our newest member to the four legged family is an 8 month old mini pin/chihuahua mix.

Good luck with all your dogs, I'd love to hear how they are doing!

It really takes very little generousity to take in deaf dogs, They really are easier! Most people on our Yahoo group feel the same way I do, and once you have one, you'll always have more. Aussies are in a particular bad way in regards to being born deaf, blind or both, if that is the breed you choose, there are many, many Aussies needing rescues and adoptive homes. I get alot of postings about deaf dogs needing homes, and a good bunch of them are Aussies. One of my deaf dog friends has 2 deaf danes and a hearing dane mix, she just started up a rescue and is now fostering a deaf Aussie... a GORGEOUS boy. her rescue also has a deaf Ambull.

Taking on a Deaf dog is somewhat daunting at first, but if you ever get one, the rewards far outweigh the neg... if there are any to begin with. Scout was my first deaf dog, and I adopted her thinking I'd have a challenge.... boy was I wrong... She is, BY FAR, the easiest dog I've ever had! Scout was hours from euthanasia because of the myths about deaf dogs... so we are trying to change the way people look at deaf and "disabled" dogs. I have several video's on Youtube of Demo's we have done. If you want to see them, just search "Scout's Demo on Deaf Dogs" there are 4 or 5 video's of my deafies, and a couple of my Oliver, and my sister's westie pup.

I couldn't imagine life without my dogs either... I think that's how the species survives... they devote themselves to us, and get our devotion in return. Dogs of any kind (perfect purebred puppy to rescue with issues) all bring something meaningful to our lives, and often teach us or have some hidden purpose... Every dog comes into our lives for a reason, I truly believe that!