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deaf dogs atlas

These lucky dogs all have homes. If you are looking to adopt, visit the Adoption pages at DDEAF

Iowa Deaf Dogs

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Camera Shy
Town: Sioux Center, Iowa
Deaf dog: JR, a happy and energetic Jack Russell Terrier puppy who was born deaf. At first a rescue whose parents were going to place him with another family, JR worked his way into their hearts and became a permanent part of their family.
Human companions: Nancy A Hilbelink and her husband
Other pets: Dutch, a Rat Terrier puppy; Sioux-ki, a Shepherd/Blue Heeler mix; Job, a 16 year old cat.
Email: Unknown
Camera Shy
Town: North Liberty, Iowa
Deaf dog: Bunker, a six year old Dalmatian, who is a wonderful dog and friend. Of course he would say that I'm his and not the other way around. We've had to modify different things in the house since Bunk was born into our lives almost 6 years ago. The biggest modification would have to be the locking system that we have had to put on the refrigerator. After the second time of cleaning us out of condiments and butter we rigged and eyebolt to the counter and a cable with a hinge fastener to the handle of the door. Bunk has learned easier and faster than his brother who is hearing (but very stubborn).
Human companions: Tami L. Miller, her mom (Grandma, who gets the fun of feeding everyone. :-) and her sister (who has spoiled him since he popped out of his mother).
Other pets: Bunk lives with his brother Jethro, (hearing littermate), 3 sisters Tyghler, Rasin, and Sheba (hearing non-littermates), and his cat Tux.
Email: luvmydalmatians@aol.com
Camera Shy
Town: Waterloo, Iowa
Deaf dog: Spud, a 15 month old Boston Terrier. I bought my dog from a pet store. The owner told us he was deaf, and fortunately the girl working the counter had a deaf dog and told me not to worry. I probably would not have bought him otherwise, though I feel horrible for saying it. Now I can't imagine life without him! He is terribly spoiled and very smart..We taught him sign language and housetrained him immediately ... I love him with all my heart ...
Human companions: Sara & Jeremy Gleason
Other pets: We have a cat named Pepper, who is about a year and a half old.
Email: CRXchic21@aol.com
Camera Shy
Town: Davis City, Iowa
Deaf dog: Cotton's family says: "We got Cotton from a friend who has a kennel to give her a good home becuase she was taken by someone that could not handle her, and our friend got her back. We have two other dogs that we rescued and she asked us if we would take Cotton and we took her. We had no experance with a deaf dog but I am extremely hard of hearing so I could not say "no". Cotton was about one year old when we got her. To my knowledge, she had never been in the house. Her first night with us she slept in bed with me with no problems. I motioned for her to come by moving my hand toward myself and she came right to me. I started to use sign language. By trying different signs, we worked out a way to understand each other. Cotton is very smart and she is easly trained, but is stubborn when she wants to be. Cotton is a good watch dog. She has excellent eyesight and a strong sense of smell. She also responds well to vibrations. I am very happy with her." Cotton is a 6 year old Shetland Sheepdog.
Deaf dog: Shelby's family like to call her Lippy. They say: "She came from the same place that we got Cotton. She is Cotton's neice, so to speak. The reason I call her Lippy is because she loves to bark. She tries to herd everything from dogs, kittens, people, butterflies and just about everything. She is a ball of energy. Her eyesight isn't as good as her aunt's, but her nose works quite well. I have met people who think that a deaf dog is impossible to train and should be put down. Well I think my deaf dogs are wonderful!"
Human companions: Theresa and Robert Parker
Other pets: Alaskan Malamute: Bud, German Shepherd: Shadow, Shetland Sheepdog: Lucky, Chihuhua: Eddie, cat: Laura, cat: Minii and six kittens
Email: dilligaf@grm.net
Camera Shy
Town: Holstein, Iowa
Deaf dog: We lost our 3rd Boston the end of March at the age of 9 years, 11 months. Our daughter in TX found Sydney near Dallas and we met in Wichita, KS to pick her up. We noticed she wasn't responding to her name or noises a few weeks later and tried testing her with various sounds. No response. We then determined she must be deaf. We love her dearly regardless!!! I got on the internet and found the greatest book "Living With a Deaf Dog" by Susan Cope Becker, and also ordered the American Sign Language book. Sydney is a female Boston Terrier, who is now 7 months old.
Human companions: Linda & Husband Jeff, Son Chad & Wife Jenni, Daughter Michelle & Husband Ray
Other pets: Giant Schnauzer: Kilo, (Wisconsin Coon)Cat: Rowan
Email: ljochims@pionet.net
Bug
Bug
Town: Council Bluffs, Iowa
Deaf dog: "Bug, our Boston Terrier, is one and a half years old. We've had him since he was eight weeks old and figured out that he was deaf within 2 days of having him, as he was not reponding to sounds. He now knows approximately 15 signs and responds to them quickly when HE wants to cooperate. He has a great peer helper, our hearing dog, a Rat Terrier named Chigger. We use a combination of obedience signs, American Sign Language, and our own signs for commands. Bug's favorite sign is car because he can't wait to go for a ride. He caught on to signs rather quickly. We worked rather consistently with him until he would show the behavior we wanted. Would we reccommend a deaf dog? YES! You can work around their deafness. This is the first deaf dog we have had."
Human companions: John, Rachel, Zachary and Shelby Ellison
Other pets: Chigger, a Rat Terrier who is very energetic.
Email: jerezese4@aol.com
Camera Shy
Town: Mason City, Iowa
Deaf dog: Jimi is a 2 year old Jack Russell Terrier. "We got our dog from the Humane Society, and did not know that he was deaf. We were not sure what to do with him, keep him or give him back to Humane Society. But we fell in love with him right away so we kept him. He is very spoiled, loves to be around us all the time. We enjoy having him in our life and are glad we kept him."
Human companions: Morris and MaryLou Galindo
Email: maryloug@mchsi.com
Camera Shy
Town: Mechanicsville, Iowa
Deaf dog: Avalanche is a 2 year old Australian Shepherd/Terrier mix. "Avalanche was a rescue puppy at the humane society. Her mom, siblings and three-legged aunt were all adopted but no one wanted the deaf one. I did. We brought her home and I took a sign language class to help better communicate with her. She has passed basic obedience I. She has recently developed epilespy but otherwise is a "normal" dog."
Human companions: Karry Putzy and Pete Anderson
Other pets: Shelby and Molly, Golden Retrievers; Toby, Beagle; Lucy, Lab/Terrier mix; and two cats, Cleopatra and Chlotilda (Cleo and Chloe).
Email: putzy@netins.net
Carmen
Carmen
Town: Coralville, Iowa
Deaf dog: Carmen is a 1 year old Boxer. "We first met Carmen when she was one day old. She was the only girl in a litter of four boxers. When she was a few weeks old it was discovered that she was deaf and very feisty! She came to our home at the age of five weeks and together we are all learning to communicate with each other. She is mischievous and loves to play. Her favorite game is to steal mobile phones, eyeglasses, remote controls, billfolds, or whatever else is available, dash underneath the bed with her booty and wait until one of us negotiates a trade with her. Usually we exchange a dog treat for her booty. Her older sister, Ella (a rescue dog) is responsible for bringing Carmen in when she is being called or rescuing her when she escapes out the door. Carmen is affectionate and loves to sit on your lap even though she now weighs well over 50 pounds."
Human companions: Karla and Jean
Other pets: Eleven year old mixed breed named Stuart adopted from the Iowa City animal shelter; and a three year old mixed breed named Ella who is a rescue dog.
Email: jbott@mchsi.com
Spuds
Spuds
Town: Charles City, Iowa
Deaf dog: Spuds is a 9 month old American Pit Bull Terrier. "We adopted Spuds from the Humane Society and we were told that he was meant to be a fighting pit (which explains the cropped ears) however because he was deaf he could not fight. I was very skeptical at first, mostly because we have another pit at home which can hear and didn't know how the two would get a long, but my boyfriend talked me into it and now spuds is another loved member of the family."
Human companions: Lora Schnath and Cole Schmidt
Other pets: Sundae, 2 year old Pit/Chocolate Lab; and 2 cats - Sean, 3 years old and Scat, 5 months old.
Email: seansundaescat@yahoo.com
Scotty
Scotty
Town: Marion, Iowa
Deaf dog: Scotty is a mini/toy Australian Shepherd. "Scotty is a real charmer and loves everyone he meets. He is fearless!! I got Scotty from a breeder friend of mine who lives in South Dakota. Scotty is a blue merle piebald. One of two that were in her litter. One deaf and one hearing. Scotty was just blessed. I got my first toy aussie in March (actually, he is the first dog I have ever owned!!). Soon after Clay joined our family, I knew I wanted to have one more. I wanted a rescue/special needs pup because I knew there were way too many pups out there that needed a forever home. When my friend asked me if I knew anyone who would want Scotty even though he was deaf, I began to do some research. It didn't take me long to realize that I had to have Scotty. He has been a real joy!!"
Human companions: Russ & Amy Barta, Haley, 18; Holden, 16; Reagan, 10; and Mitchell, 8.
Other pets: Clay, 7 month old toy Australian Shepherd
Email: am-barta@mchsi.com
Camera Shy
Town: Buffalo, Iowa
Deaf dog: Shelby is a 5 month old Rat Terrier. "We got our pup from a man that bred them. We noticed after a couple of months that she would not come if we called her nor would she respond to noise. I took her to a vet that used a scope to make sure that she did not have a blockage in her ears. Negative, so he said that it was genetic. She also has a malformed mouth. Her bottom jaw sticks out too far and her top teeth go in. We would also like to teach her hand signals to help her."
Human companions: Jinnie Riley, her husband, daughter and baby.
Email: JHOOT@AOL.COM

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