New foster, deaf

[adeinert]

He's here!:D
He is a cutie pie. He is very gentle for a nine month old boxer. He has many spots under his coat. He seems to be enjoying settling in at my house. I have been trying to match my positive facial expressions with kisses and pats so he can get lots of joy from facial expressions since I can't call out lovey words to him. He is easy going when walking on the leash. I can't tell if he knows any commands. Not the ones I have asked of him. We will focus on come, stay, sit, no, and of course praise. I am pretty sure he is housebroken. And my one year old male LOVES him. Jilly is still acting tough while wagging her tail. In a few days, she will too.
Thanks for all the ideas and well wishes!
Ashlie, Jillian, Tulley, and "working on a name right now"

 

[Seminolefan]

So happy to hear he is Settling well! Will you post PIctures soon??????
Heidi, King & Queen

 

[boxers4life2001]

Glade to hear everything is going good so far. Maddie has tons of black spots under her white coat, the older she gets the more they come out:p What is his name??? I have a hand signal for Maddie's name, it actually is just the letter "M" in sign language and I make the letter and move my wrist up and down and tha'ts her name in sign language. I bought a book for American Sign Language so I could get some universal ideas for different hand signals. You can make your own up or use the one's in the book. If your not going to be keeping him, you might want to use the universal signals to train him so his new family will know what they are. Hope you post some pic's of him, he sounds soooo adorable!!!!!! Keep us updated on your progress

~Carrie~

 

[adeinert]

Moments after my last post, Jilly caved. She loves him too. He is obviously easy going for her to quit protesting so quickly. We are using a sign for come off Deafdogs.com, where I will print out each sign I teach him for his forever family.
He really would rather hang close to me than follow the others around. And when he is following the others, he is practically touching them.
He is a nice, classic built guy. I will have to put his pic in my gallery. Right now you can see him at www.flbr.org under available males, he is the only white boxer currently. His name is Colby. My last foster, Lily, is still under Special needs boxers, although she has been adopted recently.
:D Loving our new visitor, Ashlie, Jillian, and Tulley

 

[melruf]

hi, we use a bear bell on our deaf fawn boxer archie's collar to help us keep track of him both in the house and when we're out hiking. the bell tells us when he is up to no good and where to find him if he looses track of us on the trail. he has adapted very well to hiking and checks back periodically to make sure he can still see us. one of my favourite perks of having a deaf dog is when you come home and he's passed out on the couch we put our hands or face up to his nose and his knubby starts wagging before he even opens his eye. good luck with you new foster, more than anything enjoy your new house guest.

 

[adeinert]

I have to come up with a sign for Colby. Mom suggested putting one hand on cheek. I have been searching madly to see if that means something else. If not, it would be hand on cheek and make o shape with lips.
Unfortunately, training has taken a step to the backburner. Colby's incision site looks bad, oozy, and obviously is driving him crazy. He freaked out at the vet's when the tried to put an e-collar on him so he had the stiff, tight, band - a no bite collar. He is walking around like he is going to fall over. He is so sad. I have taken it off a dozen times only to get into a wrestling match to keep his head away from the stitches. It bothers him that bad. He is now on antibiotics and I guess we have to wait.
We just hug and he leans and I am starting the I LOVE YOU sign.

I also ordered the book: Living with a Deaf Dog, I figured I could pass it on to the new family.

What I have learned about having a deaf boxer is, be ready for LOTS of love and be up to the challenge of training. Not that it is harder but he has the capacity to learn a ton for everyday life. Now that I have had him in the house, I see that for me owning a deaf boxer would be something I could do. He's a real gem.
Ashlie, owned by Jillian, Tulley, and Colby too
see Colby at www.flbr.org under available males
and see Jilly, Tulley, and a previous foster under pic of the week
:D Love my boxers!

 

[adeinert]

Hi!
Just wanted to update everyone on how Colby is doing in his new environment. He is such a lovely guest. We are working on signs and he is just the biggest lovebug. My boxers and I adore him very much. He is spoken for, and will meet his potential forever home in a few weeks. Till then, I get to enjoy him and love him!
Ashlie

PS I bought "Living With A Deaf Dog". It is a wonderful book.

 

[adeinert]

Last update

Hi,
Just had to share with all of you who started the process with me when I took in this guy. He was a keeper! I would have kept him in a heartbeat. Maybe there is something about a deaf dog being a little more mooshy and very laid back. I don't know, but he won the heart of everyone he met. My dogs adored him more than any other foster and as I said I thought about keeping him. He went to a fabulous family yesterday and I know he will be deliriously happy with his new mom, dad and boxer brothers.

I learned that deaf dogs are beautiful companions. He was one of the easiest fosters I have had. So mild mannered and learned his signs well. I can't believe some breeders would kill these amazing dogs. I once said that rescued dogs are more emotional and velcro-like than other boxers, well a rescued deaf boxer is the lovey-dovey top of the pile.

Thank you for all the advice along the way. I was nervous at first about communicating with him, and turns out he was part mind reader!

Ashlie