May be getting a deaf great dane*update*

[angie7]

For starters, I'm very familiar with the breed. I have one now, had 4 in my life and was heavily involved in GD rescue several years ago before some medical conditions got in the way. Anyways, the dog in question was my very first rescue. She came to me when she was 5.5 months old, her owners said she was stupid but turned out she is deaf. I rehomed her with a friend of mine where she has happily lived for the last 7-8 years. Well the friend and I had a falling out a few months ago and now her and her husband are splitting up and she has to get rid of her dogs (she has 7 dogs total). She called me last nite, asking if I would take this Dane back b/c in her words "she only knows you and me". And she's right, this Dane remembers me and loves me to death and I do her. I emailed my friend today and told her that I would gladly take her back.

My dh thinks it's a trick and she's just trying to get me back in her life (this woman is a little crazy) but I told him that it didn't matter. If she was serious, this Dane was coming here with us. But anyways...let's say it's real

We are moving next week to a new house. Things are very hectic right now and absolutely not the best time to bring in a new dog. I'm concerned for my other pups as this will be a stressful move for them plus another dog. I'm also concerned as this new dog has never been around children for any length of time and considering she is deaf, I'm worried about her and my kids. My kids are excellent and very well behaved around animals but there is always that freaky moment that can happen. Mostly I'm concerned about accidently bumping into her while she's sleeping and startling her.

I've never had a deaf dog before, any tips? She is trained with sign language and a very sweet girl.

[Nicole915]

Angie,

Best of luck to you, how wonderful of you to take this dog back into your home. It may turn out that all the chaos of moving will work to your advantage, all the dogs will be on a slightly more level playing field due to the new surroundings.

Here is a useful website, their advice on desensitization is good. While my dogs have lost hearing acuity over the years, I've never had a dog who began life without hearing, and I understand that is a whole different training ball of wax. You may want to look up your local dog training club, often they have a go-to person for deaf dogs (sadly, usually the dalmatian rescue person).

Keep in mind that one of the challenges will be keeping her safe from other circumstances. A fenced yard and a leash are far more critical in a dog with a hearing deficit.

And I'm sure you know this from working with the breed, but keep her trim! Her skeleton will thank you as she ages.

(I'm not your vet, and this isn't medical advice.)

[greenmagick]

Are you on DOL? There are multiple members there with deaf danes.

Good luck!

[angie7]

Oh yes, I've been a long time member of DOL. I think for 7 or 8 years now but I haven't been there in a long time. I lost a very dear Great Dane 3 years ago and just never returned much after that. I'm known as "Mira" on there I will probably becoming active again shortly as we plan to add another Great Dane (rescue) to our lives again within the next year or 2.

Thanks Nicole915 for your information. Sadly this woman was playing a trick on me I haven't heard back from her. As nervous as I was to bring this dog back, I wanted her back too. She was one of those that I wish I would have kept. Out of all my rescues, there are only 2 that I really regret rehoming and she was one of them

[greenmagick]

Originally Posted by angie7

Oh yes, I've been a long time member of DOL. I think for 7 or 8 years now but I haven't been there in a long time. I lost a very dear Great Dane 3 years ago and just never returned much after that. I'm known as "Mira" on there I will probably becoming active again shortly as we plan to add another Great Dane (rescue) to our lives again within the next year or 2.

Thanks Nicole915 for your information. Sadly this woman was playing a trick on me I haven't heard back from her. As nervous as I was to bring this dog back, I wanted her back too. She was one of those that I wish I would have kept. Out of all my rescues, there are only 2 that I really regret rehoming and she was one of them

I figured you were over there in some capacity

Sorry this woman is being a UAV. Hopefully things work out for the best!!!

[angie7]

*UPDATE*

Well she finally responding back to me claiming her computer was in the shop...Anyways, the deaf Dane in question will be coming to live with me in a few weeks. We are moving this weekend to our new house and I'm going to give us at least a week (probably 2) before I go and get her for everyone to settle in.

We will be using a wireless fence so this is new to me. I've never had one, always had an actual fence but the way our property is, a fence is not possible. It's on 9.5 acres, completely filled with hills and deep valleys and the house is literally in the middle of the woods. We have looked at every way possible to put an actual fence up, but there isn't anyway to do it with the way the property is so this is all that we can do. The house sits .3 miles off a very lonely road. You can't see the road from the house as over half the driveway is a winding drive that is tree lined. So I'm not really concerned about them getting hit by a car as not many cars travel that road and the fact that they can't see the road. Their instinct will take them the opposite way, towards the 3 acre lake that sits behind the house anyways

We will be using the Wireless type that you just plug in and gives you 1/2 an acre to run on. The collar beeps as a warning and since she's deaf, she won't hear it. I think I'm going to have a friend of mine that is also a GD breeder and dog trainer come over and help me train her on the collar but any other tips? I plan to use the flags to set up a border also.

*please no flames on this type of fence, it's all we can do with our property.

[greenmagick]

I wonder if there is a way to rig the collar or get a special one that vibrates a warning?

[VroomieMama]

LOL... I'm deaf so I can relate to the dog. Just stomp the floor a little bit louder before you get close to the dog so the dog would feel the vibration from the floor and she'll know that someone is near her.

About the fence, you stated about putting flag stakes near where the fences are and I think thats a good idea. You and the trainer can train your dog to know where the boundaries are and it all will work out.

About the children, ask your friend what it was like when the dog is around children.

Deaf dog is just like any other hearing dog except it just hear tiny bit or nothing at all. So treat it like you would with hearing dog.