I have a deaf and blind dane

[vbrea40]

I have a deaf and blind dane. He is Approx. 4 months old picked up as a stray and I got him through rescue. We are learning together how to commcunicate with each other. I need tips from any one on how to be a good parent to him. I want to meet his needs in every way possible. He is a good boy and very sweet. He is doing well on house training, though he still has accidents but he tries. He has learned his way around the house and in the yard. It seems most things come very natural to him. He does not crate well at all! He would rather be in the bed with my husband and I. He has separation issues really bad.
He has food issues, he is very food agressive.
We have 4 other danes and he gets along well with everyone. Except and feeding time. So he eats alone.

I would greatly appreicate any comments, tips, etc....

I just need help.
Vbrea

[Princess Mom]

Hi
I have a deaf dane 10 months old. I know that Willie needs much more hands on training. We are fortunate that he has his sight. We have been successful with sighning and real positive discipline. Willie is very confused when it is dark and if I can get to him to reasure him that all is well he is calmer. I commend you for taking on your puppy. I have recently read a book by William Campbell and he had many good suggestions for dealing with dogs who have sensory disabilities. Good luck with your new puppy.
Cindy

[Pauline301]

Hi and Welcome. Sounds like you have a houseful. So good of you to take in a blind and deaf baby. Here is an older link about Solo another blind and deaf Dane that was taken in by someone. You might try emailing her and see if she has any training tips or other help for you:

http://www.danesonline.com/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?az=read_count&om=3092&forum=DCForumID16
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid69/pddde4acc6d0e55ca1a84e3360dacdc01/fbb2e526.jpg

"Acquiring a dog may be the only opportunity a human ever has to choose a relative." – Mordecai Siegal

Linda, Dave, Jesse, and Kitties, Cassie, Pekoe and Emma

http://sites.centralpets.com/mammals/yuccabean/personal.html

[salty]

that's very nice of you to adopt the dane. Let him sleep in bed with you. Maybee he just want's to snuggle a little. He definitely deserves it.

[CritterMom]

Congratulations on your new addition and thank you for taking in a special needs baby! :-( :o My boy Oz is also deaf and functionally blind due to severe micro-opthalmia. He can tell the difference if you flip a strong light on and off, but can't see objects, hand signals, etc... It took him less than an hour to memorize the layout of the house when I brought him home (at 18 months). When I expanded the fenced yard to two acres, he kept getting confused and didn't know how to get back to the house, so I planted rosemary along the deck and started spraying citronella along the bottom of the fence and around the trees (once a week and after any rain). He can now run in any direction and stop within three feet of the fence. When he's ready to come inside, he sticks his nose in the air and follows it to the house. I was worried that he would be difficult to train, but after learning the touch signal for 'sit' everything else followed fairly easily. We recently graduated from a regular basic obedience class (sit, down, stay, heel, come, etc...) and will start the intermediate class in January. If there are classes available in your area, I'd highly recommend enrolling. Give the trainer a call, explain the situation and ask if they're willing to let you attend class. I enrolled Oz mainly for socialization and to get him used to focusing on me with other people and dogs around. I never expected we'd keep up with the rest of the class and graduate. There are some excellent posts about crate training in the 'Training and Behavior' section if you search the archives. We had some problems with crating the first couple of weeks. He'd go into the crate with no problem, but proceeded to make a noise somewhere between a howl and a scream that came close to shattering glass! :'( He was calmly laying down while making these horrible noises and after a few minutes would stop and curl up for a nap. I used lots of treats and praise and gradually built up how long he was in the crate. Now he makes a couple of half hearted whines when he goes in, but quickly settles down. He's only crated 4 hours a day and sleeps with me at night, so I can't offer any first hand advice on night time crating, but there have been some really good posts on this topic in the training section. I'm sorry to be so long winded! Please keep us posted on how your boy is doing. :-( :-( I'd love to see some pictures! :)
Feel free to email me if you have any questions or would just like to talk about your boy: critter_mom@earthlink.net

Kristi & Oz
(& the rest of the critterkids) :)

[for the love of the dane]

That's so sad that these babies have these challanges! My dog babies sleep in bed with us a good portion of the time too, and your sensory impaired babies deserve it more!

DS

[rcpa3116]

I also have a deaf and blind dane. We adopted her when she was about 8-10 weeks old. She truly is a sweetheart. I tell everyone I finally have my daughter! We have found that with training she is just as quick to learn as Titan was. She is just as interested in her environment as the other dogs. But, she is also food aggresive and I believe it is due to her disabilities so she is fed alone. That is the one exception we have made with her. I love to watch her outside as she smells with her nose up in the air. And at times it also breaks my heart knowing she has these disabilities. But, she does great. She learned the layout of the house in a matter of hours even at that young of an age, and we have since switched the living room around after walking her to each piece of furniture she new where everything was. I would never trade her for anything in the world. People have told us how lucky she is that we have her, but, I believe we are the lucky ones because she has shown us so much and taught us
that no matter what, life is worth living.:-(

There is a lot of help on this site if you have any questions all you have to do is ask.

Congratulations to you and your new baby! :o Your life will be enriched.

Randy & Cheryl
Titan and Crystal's Mom & Dad
http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4289483337
http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4289482147

[V_L_Sand37]

I applaud you in saving this Dane!!! It must be difficult at times for the both of you to communicate and I do sympathize! I wish I could offer some profound words of wisdom but I cant. I to have just recently adopted a Dane from a shelter and everyday is a new learning experience. Mine was underfed and has problems with his back legs but nothing to the extent your dealing with! I just wanted to say BRAVO!!! on your decision and that you have the best of luck with your special needs bundle of joy!!!:)

[vbrea40]

oops

[Dandidane]

We have two deaf Danes Tundra 1 and Quinn nearly 5....Both can
see.
I know Tundra is very scent driven. He sniffs the air
and us if we have been out around other people, food and today
other dogs. Good Luck Diana