Here is a little of what Cricket has learned. She is real quick to pick up on new signs but can be stubborn at times. I know someone that has experience with deaf children. When I talk to her, I can not believe how similar children are to dogs. For example...She says she looked after a deaf child that used to cover his eyes when she was trying to talk (sign) to him. Well Cricket sort of does the same thing! To get her attention I thump my foot on the floor. To let her know I mean business, that's when she is doing something she is not suppose to be doing I thump twice. There are times she totally ignores me. She won't look at me because she doesn't want to listen to the sign. I know she feels the thump on the floor because she jumps or flinches. But then she ignores me! Sometimes I see her looking at me from the corner of her eye then she looks away. Like she's saying "I can't hear you!". For the most part though she obey's commands. Here's what she's learned. This list is pretty much in order of what was learned.

Sign #1 - Hello!

First sign I used was "Hello" or "Good Girl" I gave her the "Good Girl " sign constantly throughout the day when I first started signing to her. She found that this command meant she was getting hugs and kisses and lots of petting. When I introduce her to new people this is the first sign they learn also.

Sign # 2 - The "No" Sign

Cricket learned this sign fast! Being in a new home meant new rules for her right away. We think Cricket was almost a year old when we adopted her, so she was past most of the puppy stuff. She did have some annoying habits though, as is expected with a previously owned dog. Drinking from the toilet was one of them. Harley never did drink from the toilet. He had a large size water bowl that was always clean and full so there was never a need to go to the washroom for a drink. He just never learned to drink from the toilet. One of Cricket's other bad habits was scratching at the door to go outside or come inside. If you read her "Story" page you remember that I had trouble with her at night after dark. When she went outside at night she would bark.....and bark...and bark. She didn't trust the dark. And turning on lights outside at night made things worse! It made shadows that followed her and moved with her. This was scary to her. To stop the barking or try to control it, I would go out side with her. Yes even at 3:30 in the morning. She'd bark and I'd give her the "No" sign. But I'd always check what she was barking at. She is more comfortable outside at night now but still barks now and then. This is where I realized I made my first mistake. By telling her "No" to barking outside at night, she had the idea not to bark at all. Back to the door scratching thing. Harley barks once to be let out or in. Cricket will not bark at the door. As a matter of fact she will not bark for me at all. I have a "Speak" sign but she will not bark. I think she received the "No" sign for barking one to many times. My mistake. This is one we are still working on.

Sign # 3 - Food!

"Food" or "Treat" She learned this one with lightning speed also. She loves her food! Any food! I'd just close my fingers and bring them to my mouth. That's her "Food" sign.

Sign #4 - Come

This one was easy because she knew the "Treat" sign and always is given hugs and praise when she "Comes"

Now that she had the basic "Yes" "No" and understood the food reward system the rest was a breeze! I think.

Sign # 5 - Outside or Walk

When ever we went out side or she did the scratch at the door, I would sign "Outside" or "Walk". This is my first two fingers pointing down making a walking motion.

Sign #6 - Sit

She learned "Sit". This is what she had to do to get the food or treat. Her sit sign is the first two fingers on the right hand tapping the top of the left hand.

Sign # 7 - Stay

Next was "Stay" and "Down" Just like teaching a hearing dog. "Stay" is open palm facing her and "down" is open palm facing down.

Sign #8 - Daddy

And somewhere in there she also learned "Daddy". This is the American Sign Language sign for Daddy.

"Kisses" Yes, Cricket gives kisses too. Just put your lips together in a kissing motion and Cricket gives kisses.

Sign #9 See, Look!

Cricket and Harley have a bench in front of the living room window. Cricket knows a "Go See" sign where I take my first two fingers and point to my eye's. She will run to the bench and look out the window to see what's there. Or she will run to the front door.

Sign # 10 - Fetch

This one was easy because she retrieved anything I threw. Rope, balls, sticks. I just had to put a signal to it. With my hand out in front of me I close my hand and bring it in to my chest. Like I am grabbing something and pulling it towards me. Some dogs are natural retrievers and others won't learn to fetch for anything! Cricket loves fetching! Getting her to drop the ball is sometimes hard but she will fetch it every time.

Sign #11 - Bedtime

Cricket knows a sign for "Bed Time" She and Harley sleep in the same room with me and I'll admit it now, they sleep in the human bed with us. Most nights this means under the covers. When I put my palms together aside my head, she knows it's bedtime.

Let's see...That's about 10 or 11 signs. She learned them all within the first 4 months of her coming to live with us. She is very smart and learns fast. I have found that a deaf dog is not much different from a hearing dog. Harley has perfect hearing. He still fetches Cricket for me if she is pre-occupied with bugs or something in the yard. It's hard to stomp your foot outside. I have a box of tennis balls also. If she has her back to me and I need her attention quick I toss a ball at her in the yard. I never did get one of those special collars. At first I was going to get one but could only find the shock type. And I just couldn't shock her.

Of course we never leave the front door without our leash. She is never out without one for obvious reasons. She can't hear danger like machinery or vehicles. She has a fenced yard with locked gates to minimize the risk of her getting into traffic.

Does she startle easy?

I read all the info on deaf dogs I could find on the net. One problem with deaf dogs is they are easily startled. I read to wake them gently or wake them with food or treats. I didn't do this. When Cricket sleeps I still wake her on purpose. At first she would jump from her sleep when touched and be confused. She did this for quite some time. When she was napping during the day I'd run my hand down her back to wake her. When she jumped up I'd give her the "Good Girl" or "Hello" sign and lots of hugs. She is to the point now where she wakes, lifts her head, looks at me, and goes back to sleep. Like she's saying "It's only you...I'm going back to sleep!" Something else I have always done is purposely tried to scare her. I am always sneaking up on her and giving her a pat on the bum. When she jumps and turns I give her the "Good Girl" sign and lots of praise. Some people might not agree with this. I know being startled is not fun. When we were kids we used to do it to each other all the time. Jumping around the corner yelling "booo!" was funny when you were doing it, but you could feel your heart stop when it happened to you. With Cricket, I want her to respond in a positive way. And she does now.

Show Me The Sign!

Just what are hand signals? Many people say use ASL-American Sign Language. I had no idea what this was. There are so many signs to learn and I just didn't have the time. As for the "Sit" "Stay" "Down" signs I used the standard doggy signs. The same ones that I use for Harley. And the rest I made up as I went along. I do use the ASL sign for Daddy. I did find that one hand signs are easier than two hand signals. And some signs have to be seen from a distance so I had remember to keep them big enough. What ever signs you use just remember to be consistent. Some of Cricket's hand signs are shown at the bottom of this page.

What's your face saying?

Remember your face? Facial expressions are so very important. Cricket can read a "No" sign from my face before I give her the hand sign...well most of the time. And I tell friends and family to smile and talk to her when she looks at you. "Why? She can't hear me". But she reads your face more than the signs you can give her. I have been talking to her since day one. Just like I talk to Harley.

Who Me?

I would like to say that I am not a professional trainer. Cricket is the first deaf dog I've met. I didn'tt know she was deaf when I adopted her, and I hate to say it but at the time if I'd known she was deaf I would of passed on adopting her. I sure would of missed out because she is a wonderful companion. If you are thinking of adopting a deaf dog remember, you have to be very dedicated and patient to teach a dog with no hearing. It is alot of work and worry. I didn't know if I could do it. I was always questioning myself...am I doing the right thing? Cricket and I are still learning. There was not that much information on training deaf dogs to be found when I first adopted Cricket almost 8 years ago. Not many people you can just call up and say "How do you do this?" or "What about that?". I hope this page will answer some questions for those looking for information on training. There is so much more information now.

Cricket & Harley's Mom

Here Are A Few Of The Hand Signs Cricket Resopnds To...

This is the universal hand sign for "I Love You" This tells Cricket "Good Girl" and "I Love You"

The first two fingers pointing down and moving in a walking motion is
Cricket's "Walk" or "Outside" sign. One of her favorites!

The "stay" sign is a flat palm facing Cricket.

Cricket doesn't have that many two handed signs. I found that the one hand signs are easier.
For sit these two fingers on the right hand tap the back of the left hand.

We use the see sign when there is someone at the door or outside. Like when her daddy comes home
the see sign will tell Cricket to go look out the window. I use these first two fingers to point to my eye's.

This is what we use for Cricket's down sign. Flat palm facing the floor.

Cricket's "No" sign. This is the index finger waved back and forth. It's like making the letter "Z" in ASL.