Gina’s dog-rescue friend emailed her a picture of a deaf Aussie and Gina, who had never been around a deaf dog, was intrigued to meet him.
When her friend drove up with the beautiful white dog, sitting in the passenger seat, he out flew out in a wild white blur like an excited kid
home from summer camp, it was a magical moment for them both! Almost!
Gina was so busy watching the white streak that she did not hear her friend quietly empty all his “stuff” out of her vehicle and prepare to leave. In a panic, Gina asked, "Where are you going?" and her friend prophesied, "Keep him a few days. You'll fall in love with him."
Like a young Helen Keller, Riley had no training and did not know how to be a “good dog’’, so a determined Gina
enrolled him into a dog obedience sign language course.
Riley was so bright, so eager to learn and to please, that he learned all the basic communication skills in three days!
Pet deafness is not always easily recognizable. Many pet parents assume that their pet is misbehaving, so they punish the confused animal. This leads to fear and aggression with many of the pets ending up in a shelter, just like Riley had - Gina’s home was his third
home.
"When he arrived," confesses Gina, "I was afraid of his aggressiveness. Once we could ‘talk' to each other, we were both thrilled to understand and be understood. He was a totally different dog! He shined with happiness, just like Helen Keller had when she learned to communicate. I was told that it would take three years for him not to run away, as he had his first homes, but his people probably assumed that he was disobedient. They did not understand that he
was deaf. No matter how loud they called, he could never hear their command to, ‘Come back’!
Today, when I make the sign for ‘ball’, Riley retrieves it. I am as thrilled as he is that we can communicate. He is an awesome retriever, which contrasts with our Labrador Retriever, Connor, who doesn't retrieve at all!”
Gina has also created unique signs to indicate her dog’s different toys and time to go to bed. Because she has always paid close
attention to her dogs, she has even created a telepathic bond with him. So, Riley watches her body language, signing, and listens with his heart.
“We are so close,” said Gina, “he is always by my side and I often forget that he can’t hear. It is fascinating and a challenge having both a hearing dog and a deaf dog, because I have to remember to sign.”
And inquiring minds want to know, “Is Riley friendly with other
dogs?”
“Dogs have their own body language,” explained Gina, “so his lack of hearing does not interfere and he loves playing and greeting them.”
Today, he enjoys sitting in her vehicle’s passenger seat passionately barking at the cows. Once barked out, he lays his head on her lap. “He occasionally suffers from car sickness,” said Gina, “so we are using a homeopathic remedy for car sickness.”
Riley’s love for learning and
play pointed them directly into agility classes.
“We have so much fun,” said Gina. “But when the goofball tires of running the course, he flatly refuses to look at me! He knows that he has to see my hands to obey commands, and ‘his game’ means that I can’t ask him to do anything. It is so funny, because we both know what he is doing!
It must be terrible for a dog to not hear and because Riley is also sight impaired, he is afraid of the dark, so we keep a
night light on for him.”
Gina’s friend was right!
“I love Riley to the moon and back,” admits Gina.
