Pippin officially has two titles now: Novice Trick Dog through Do More With Your Dog, and Trick Dog Novice through the AKC.
I’m a title hound and enjoy both training the tricks and checking off the boxes towards a goal. So I want to earn titles with Pippin as well. Certain titles aren’t going to be possible – he won’t be a good choice for an agility dog with his disabilities. And I’ve accepted that he won’t be a disc dog. But deaf dogs can compete in plenty of sports.
Obviously, nose work is a logical choice. Even deaf and fully blind dogs are allowed to compete in AKC nose work trials. We’re working on that. I’d love to get back into tracking, and that will depend on how well he handles the uneven terrain and working at a further distance from me. Trick training is another favorite of mine. I love the variety of tricks that are available to choose from through both the above listed organizations, so there’s no problem finding tricks that he’s able to learn and perform. The virtual options for earning titles means we can do these while still working through his anxiety and reactivity when away from home. We’ll be finishing up his Virtual Home Manners titles, and are working on the Fit Dog ones as well.
There will be adaptations needed, and there are ways of cueing that don’t require him to hear or see well – tactile cues, my body position and movement near him, making sure any hand signals are given close to his face, vibration, air movement. I already use a foot stomp to call him inside when he’s under the porch. And I’m experimenting with using a “look-stick” when I need to lure him from a distance. It’s a long target stick with a tasty bit of food on the end, usually used to direct a dog’s attention during photo shoots.
I’ve also been attending the International Seminar: Deaf, Blind, and Amazing series of webinars over the last month. The experience of so many other talented trainers has blown my mind! They’ve dealt with everything from problem behaviors arising from their dogs’ disabilities to competing at a high level in multiple sports.
Pippin doesn’t consider his deafness or vision impairment to be a disability. And it doesn’t impede his rambunctious play, or his ability to learn, or accomplish tasks and activities. It’s my job to figure out how to communicate in a richer and more nuanced way.
The titles, those are for me.
All Smart Pets Training 