Lyra @ 5 weeks

[Kayota]

LOL OMG She's SO cute.

[shadowfacedanes]

Originally Posted by Cheza

Yeah she was chewing on me a little bit. I'm kind of unsure how to correct her because she can't hear a yelp.

She's adorable!

With my deafies, I used a tap to get their attention, then a hand signal for no.

You can also use a squirt bottle, though mine thought water being sprayed at them was fun.

And of course, there are always the vibrating collars. I never used one, but not to say I wouldn't. They just weren't widely available 10 years ago.

Teaching a "look at me command" is one of the first things you want to teach her, and it's pretty simple. Tap her while you're just hanging out together and if/when she responds to your touch by looking at you, give whatever signal you want to use for "watch me" and then praise madly.

Training a deafie is a mix of deliberate commands, and using what the dog does already. Of course, I always train my hearing dogs the same way too. If a hearing pup sits down on it's own without a command, I still go "OMG, good SIT puppy, good dog" and carry own as if he discovered the cure for ebola or something.

[smkie]

I think it is wonderful you are getting to experience her and she you at this tender age. She is growing strong sturdy and beautiful. ARe all blue eyed dogs eyes THAT blue this early? I have never seen anything like this but have had no experience with blue eyed dogs. WOW!

[Cheza]

Ahh thanks Shadow, much needed advice! I intend to treat her as a "normal dog", just sometimes I'm not entirely sure how to not use a vocal command/correction. It'll be a learning experience for me. Squirt bottle may work, but I have no idea how her aversion to water will be just yet. At the moment I'm shopping around for a vibrating collar as an attention getter.

Smkie - I'm not actually sure! The other littermates are changing to brown, and a few paler blue eyes, but only her and one sister have a blue THAT bright. I'm interested to see if they fade as she grows older, or not.

[Jules]

Oh the cuteness!