What is it what is it GIVE IT HERE GIVE IT -- oh God it's gone now hope it wasn't chocolate

Countess Elena — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 09:34:51 -0800

How can I train a deaf dachshund to Drop It -- without hand signals? I have a deaf dachshund, and she is my pride and joy. She is deaf by birth, and is three years old now.

Like all dachshunds, she loves to eat. Unfortunately, the vet considers her to have a sensitive stomach by nature, and has put her on a strict I/D diet. I'm sure he's right. I took her in a year ago because she had been vomiting clear liquid every day, and the vet said that she just can't handle anything but bland food. So she spends her life trying to get anything else.

I live in a city, and twice now I have had to take her to the vet because she was scary sick from something she ate on one of our walks. It's often too late, especially in the early morning or evening, for me to realize that a light-colored object on the ground isn't a dead leaf but instead a piece of torn bread or half a muffin, before Short Round can inhale it. People around here throw a lot of crap from the nearby Dunkin' Donuts on the ground. These things just make her throw up, which doesn't require a vet visit. What's worse is that she likes things that make her really ill, like woody objects -- nutshells, pine cones -- and, just recently, sidewalk salt. Those symptoms were fun to wake up to at 3 am, boy howdy.

Clearly, she has to learn to Drop It. But how can I get through to her?

-- Hand signals? They worked briefly when she was a puppy, in a specialized class situation until she learned that she didn't have to look at me. She's too short to be forced to look. By the time I manage to grab her attention, often physically, she's eaten whatever it was. When we walk, her attention is strictly on the many smells of life.

-- A laser pointer or flashlight? She's agitated by strange lights. Car headlights or garish Christmas displays give her barking fits. I don't know that I should associate this reaction with something I do (should I?) Besides, a laser pointer could damage her eyes.

-- The water bottle? She associates this with being a Bad Dog, and it is almost never used, because she runs and hides and is quiet when she sees me pick it up. I feel terrible about this -- I've squirted her maybe once. Is it healthy to associate this with our walks?

-- A vibrating collar? Are these healthy for 12-pound dogs? I'd hate to think the solution costs $250, but if it's safe, it may be the best option. Still, I don't know anyone that's used one on a pet.

-- The "Here, have a treat instead" method? She'd have to finish eating the thing she's already got before even considering the proposition. Nevertheless, this may be worth a try if I can find some hypoallergenic treats for her.

I'd appreciate your ideas. (And by the way, don't be discouraged from the idea of having a deaf dog. She loves everyone, she's smart as a whip, and she was very easy to housetrain.)

Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with deafdog

What is it what is it GIVE IT HERE GIVE IT -- oh God it's gone now hope it wasn't chocolate