Important Disclaimer
The information provided here is for general pet health education only and is not a substitute for professional veterinary advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Never disregard professional veterinary advice or delay seeking it because of something you read here. If your pet is experiencing a medical emergency, contact your veterinarian or an emergency animal hospital immediately.
- Species & breed
- Dog · Boston Terrier
- Age
- 6 months old
- Sex
- Male
- Color
- Black & White
What a great name — Goober sounds like a character! Training a deaf dog is absolutely doable, and many deaf dogs go on to be wonderfully well-behaved companions. The key is simply switching from sound-based cues to visual and touch-based cues instead.
Here are some general approaches that work well for deaf dogs:
Hand signals are your best friend
- Most standard obedience cues (sit, stay, come, down) can be taught entirely through hand signals. Many trainers actually teach these alongside verbal cues for all dogs, so there's a lot of good guidance out there.
- Be consistent — pick a signal for each behavior and stick with it so Goober isn't confused.
Use a "watch me" signal first
- Before giving any cue, you need his attention. Teaching a hand signal (or a gentle tap on the shoulder) that means "look at me" is a great foundation skill to build everything else on.
Vibration and touch as attention cues
- A gentle tap on his back or side can serve as your "hey, look over here" signal when he's not already watching you.
- Some owners of deaf dogs use a vibrating collar (not a shock collar — just vibration) as a long-distance attention signal. This can be especially helpful outdoors.
Positive reinforcement works just as well
- Treats, toys, and enthusiastic praise (big smiles, thumbs up, happy body language) are all fair game. Deaf dogs read your body language very well, so your expressions matter more than you might expect.
Leash and safety habits
- Because Goober can't hear traffic, other dogs approaching, or you calling him, keeping him on a leash or in a securely fenced area is especially important. A tag or vest that lets others know he's deaf can also help strangers interact with him safely.
Start short and fun
- At 6 months, his attention span is still puppy-short. Keep training sessions to 5–10 minutes and end on a win so he stays enthusiastic.
There are also trainers who specialize in deaf dogs, and searching for resources from the Deaf Dog Education Action Fund or similar organizations can give you structured guides and video demonstrations.
When to see your vet: Since Goober is only 6 months old, if you haven't already confirmed his deafness with a vet, it's worth mentioning at his next visit. A test called a BAER test (it measures how the brain responds to sound) can confirm whether the deafness is in one or both ears — that's useful information for his care. Boston Terriers can be prone to congenital (present-from-birth) deafness, so your vet will likely be familiar with this. No emergency here, but loop them in at your next routine visit!
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