CHANCE
STATE: ME
AGE: 9 months
WEIGHT: about 60 lbs
SEX: Male
NEUT/UTD: Yes/Yes
COAT COLOR: White
DOCKED TAIL: Yes
CROPPED EARS: No
CHILDREN under 4: unsure
CHILDREN OVER 4: yes
SEPARATION ANXIETY: Some
OTHER DOGS: some okay
CATS: unsure
CRATE TRAINED: Yes
HOUSE TRAINED: Yes
OBEDIENCE TRAINED: No
LEASH TRAINED: Some
ATTENDING OBED.: No
MICROCHIPPED: No
ADOPTION DONATION: $250
DEAF
UPDATED - Chance has now been with our family for two months. It feels like he has always been with
us. He is a very sweet boy. Our boxer/dane mix, Harley, loves him very much. They are always together.
Harley is two and happy to have a high energy playmate. If they are not playing then they are curled up
together and sleeping. Harley even tolerates the fact that Chance like to sleep touching or even on top of
Harley so that if he gets up to leave then Chance will know. Our other dog, a yellow lab named Jake tries
to steer clear of Chance. Jake is 7 and doesn't always enjoys Chances high energy. Training a deaf dog
has brought some challenges but has also been fun. Chance has learned about 20 signs so far. He is
learning to look at us when we use a vibrating collar. We have had very little success with a flashlight or
laser pointer because Chance won't stop looking for the light after we turn it off. If we use a light, for the
next 15-30 minutes, Chance will walk around the house in search of it.
Chance has been working with a private trainer prior to joining a puppy class. In these sessions we
worked on teaching him the signs that went with the commands that would be taught in the class. We also
worked on eye contact. He is easily frustrated when on a leash around other dogs but unable to play with
them. Last week, Chance finally tried his first puppy class. Even though we needed to be seated on the
opposite side of the room from everyone else, he did very well. A steady stream of treats helped him stay
focused and he was able to participate in the whole class.
Separation anxiety is still a major issue. I have read this is common with deaf dogs and dogs who are
adopted. Poor Chance is a mess when he can't be right with us. When we first tried crating him we found
that he was in "panic mode" and would chew so much he would make his mouth and face bleed in a matter
of minutes and be soaked in drool. The trainer and vet recommended we not crate him while he is hurting
himself. When we are home he follows us from room to room and even into the shower. Any attempts to
confine him (even when we are home) with a baby gate or leash, cause him to panic and do major damage
or hurt himself. After much thought and based on recommendations from his trainer and vet, we have
decided to put Chance on medication for separation anxiety so that we can start training him to be left
alone safely. Without this, we are unable to leave him alone. He currently goes to work with me everyday.
I run my own small school and Harley has always come with me. I had intended to bring Chance to
school too. Chance does tolerate being confined in the back of my suv with a dog gate but this will not be
an option in the winter or next summer. Actually, he has already eaten everything in the back of my car
that he can eat so now there is nothing let to damage. It will be several more weeks before the medication
really takes effect and we can start retraining Chance. We are hoping this helps and that medication is only
a temporary solution while he learns that he safe without being with us every second.
Overall, we are so happy that Chance has joined us. We love watching him jump around like a kangaroo.
He loves to cuddle and kiss. He is like Curious George and always getting into trouble. He definitely
keeps it interesting!
UPDATE 11/9/04 - Chance is doing well and we absolutely love him!
Chance is adjusting very well and making lots of progress. He is a very
smart boy and has learned about 20 signs so far. I have been taking him to
a private trainer, but last week we finally joined a group puppy class and
he did much better than the instructor or I expected him to. He loves our
other dogs. He goes to school with me and my two year old boxer/dane mix,
Harley, each day. I teach middle school. Chance loves the kids and all of
the attention. One day I took him to the car dealership to wait while they
changed my oil. He laid on the floor for forty minute while three kids
under the age of four climbed all over him and pet him. He loves kids and
can be extra gentle with small children.
Separation anxiety is still a major issue we are working on. We found that
when we left him in a crate he was panicking. Even after 30 minutes, he was
drenched in his own salvia and often chewing so much his nose and gums were
bleeding. Right now he can go to work with me and he is comfortable being
left in the back of my car with a dog gate. Unfortunately the car is not an
option in the winter and summer. Confining him to an area in the house
doesn't work and he does lots of damage. The vet and trainer have both
recommended medication for separation anxiety while we retrain him to feel
safe being away from us safely either in a confined area of our house or a
crate. Hopefully over time, this training will work and the medication can
be stopped. While we are with him at home, he has made progress. He
doesn't follow us around as much and will now go into another room to sleep
or play without being able to see us. For the first month we had him, he
was even getting into the shower with us. He was very clean, but we are
happy to have the shower to ourselves again. I did read in a book that
getting in the shower is typical of deaf dogs or that many deaf dog owners
start showering with the door/curtain open since their dogs can't hear them
in the shower they want to be able to see them.
We love how sweet Chance is. We have seen such a huge improvement with
training. As he continues to learn and mature we are confident that he will
become more independent too. I am attaching two pictures for you just
because I thought they were so cute.
9/04 - Chance has been adopted!
8/24/04 Hi everyone, Chance arrived on Sunday after a long ride up to Maine. He is a very sweet white
deaf pup. He is very smart, though he needs plenty of general obedience work. He will do best with a
boxer-savvy family who will guide and train him as he needs. Chance is at the vet's today for his neuter;
once he is home we will be able to tell you a bit more about him!!