A very important key to getting and keeping your deaf dog's attention is to teach an Automatic Check-In. This sounds just like what it means.
We want to teach the dog to check in with us often and automatically throughout the day. Think of all the times when you want to get your deaf dog's attention but it's looking in another direction or in another room, or is across the yard from you. These are those times when people want to know how to get their deaf dog's attention. The times when the dog is not looking at us.
It's important that we have certain signals that ask our dog to pay attention to us in the moment, such as what we discussed yesterday. These are signals that we can teach to our dogs. Just the fact that we are teaching those signals will help our dogs to watch us closer, because the dog doesn't want to miss the signal and miss a chance to get or do something fun with us.
But the dog still needs to be looking in our direction or be close enough that we can give the signal easily, right? What about those times when it's not?
What if we could create many opportunities throughout the day when the dog was magically looking at us and close enough to us to see our signals? Wouldn't that make life so much easier?
We can teach our dogs to keep an eye on us and to come see what we're doing on a regular basis throughout the day (this is called checking-in with us). The idea is that the dog will do this on its own without us needing to give a signal (this is the automatic part). Each time the dog looks at us or comes close to us to check in, we have an opportunity to communicate with a signal cue if we want to. This opens up so many more opportunities for us to be able to communicate clearly and easily with our deaf dog.
Dogs of any age can learn this, and I usually start as soon as a dog enters my home or comes for its first lesson. Create a situation where the dog will remain near you and where there aren't a lot of distractions. Believe it or not, the bathroom is a great place to begin! It's a smaller room, and there aren't usually too many distractions going on. (Although toilet paper can be a huge distraction to some dogs!)
It's important to remember that the idea of this exercise is not to try to get the dog's attention. The idea is for the dog to give you its attention on its own. This can be difficult because it involves patience on the part of the teacher.
Every time your dog turns toward you, give it one of those wonderful treats! And smile and act happy that your dog has noticed you. It won't take long before your dog will be following you around the bathroom, not wanting to look away. When this happens, reward and then end the lesson.
Try to be as aware as you can even during your regular day to day activities of your dog - there will be times that it looks at you or comes to see what you're doing. Be ready to reward those times too! You can have containers of treats in various parts of your house or in your pocket.
But you can also reward with other rewards your dog will like - petting, smiling, belly rub, toss a toy, etc. At this point, you will want to continue with your formal bathroom lessons, but also be aware to reward times when your dog checks-in on its own! Your teaching will go much faster that way!
It will take some practice on your part too - you will need to teach yourself to be aware of your dog paying attention. Often we get busy and our dog will check in with us, but we may not notice. As your dog learns to check in, you will also learn to check in and be aware.
You should find that very quickly your dog won't need to be in the bathroom for lessons anymore. Begin to practice in other places and situations, gradually increasing distractions. When you increase distractions, you will want to use high value treats in the beginning.
Keep your dog close to you in the beginning when you are adding distractions. This may mean using a gate or a leash so your dog can't get to the distractions. Remember, the idea is not for you to ask your dog to pay attention - the idea is for the dog to decide. So be patient and be ready as soon as the dog turns toward you, to reward and celebrate!
You will be able to begin to mix up the rewards you use, like we talked about yesterday. The more you can show your dog that you like it checking in with you, the better the behavior will become. But you don't always have to use a treat.
My dogs have been doing check-ins for years, but I will always acknowledge them for checking in to keep the behavior strong. Sometimes all it takes is a smile and a nod to let them know I noticed, or a scratching behind the ear.
The day that you want to give your dog a signal cue but it is looking the other way and then, in an instant, it looks back to see what you're doing, you can smile - and then give your dog that cue you wanted to give. It's so convenient to have a deaf dog that learns to pay attention without you asking for it. I know that if I just pause a moment, my dog will check in with me, so I can give it a signal.
Teach the automatic check in - you will thank yourself (and your dog) for it soon!
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