Instructions
Train your deaf dog to sit, stay and come within the safe environment of your home. Use three distinct hand gestures for each command. For example, the "sit" command can be given by moving your hand downward with your palm up. Put your palm out in front of you to indicate the "stay" command, and move it toward you to indicate "come."
Hold a treat in front of your deaf dog. Then, move the treat until he completes the movement you want, such as sitting or coming toward you. Do not move the treat if you're teaching "stay."
Offer the treat once your dog completes the task successfully. Then add the hand gesture as a command prompt. Your dog will eventually learn that obeying the hand gesture will be rewarded with a treat or pat on the head.
Add a "good dog" gesture to the training. When your dog does what you want, choose a gesture to indicate that you're pleased. Pair it with a treat some of the time, a happy expression and a pat on the head.
Put on the vibration collar once your dog can "sit," "come" and "stay" on command. Give your dog a treat after the collar is on. Then, take it off. This process is all about introducing the collar. Do this several times a day and eventually every half hour. After several days, start leaving the collar on for an hour or two at a time.
Page your dog by making the collar vibrate. Give him a treat immediately. This teaches your dog that you're causing the vibration. Continue paging and offering a treat for about 10 minutes. The next day, page your dog. If he looks at you, give several treats and stop paging. Otherwise, continue with the page and treat step until your dog looks at you without a treat being offered. Continue with this training until he looks every time you page, even with distractions in the room.
Add a "look" command. Page your dog. Then, move a treat in front of you so your dog looks at your face. Once that happens, give the gesture for "good dog" and offer the treat. Eventually, your dog should look at you when you page. Offer a treat sometimes and always give the "good dog" gesture.
How to Use a Vibration Dog Collar
When you choose to have a dog with special needs, you are basically volunteering for an extra set of training challenges. A deaf dog cannot be trained as easily using typical methods, because part of the process involves verbal commands. Since a deaf dog obviously cannot hear your commands, use hand gestures and a vibration collar instead. These collars teach your dog to look at you when needed, since this cannot be done by calling his name. This way, your dog's special needs will not get in the way of the training process.