Deaf & Insecure Rescue Dog.
Deaf & insecure Rescue dog.
If you’re serious about having a harmonious household, Cathy Pote is an exceptional trainer and I recommend you give her serious thought. But to appreciate the results is to understand the story precluding them….
My most recent addition “Pip” was about 17 months old when adopted from rescue and to say she had issues is an understatement. Aside from these “issues‘’ I was aware there was another element to be dealt with, and that is that she was born with congenital deafness. Well…….me, my history with Weimaraners, my experience with deafness (American Sign Language), and what I thought was my vast knowledge on dog training was all about to be challenged in ways I hadn’t even considered. I now was the proud owner of a brand new bouncing (literally) baby girl that was acting out and behaving like a petulant child. One who had been spoiled rotten and had no manners at all, and here I was lost and no idea of what to do.
She started out timid and leery of her new surroundings and family; no doubt thinking at first it’s great that’s she’s going for a car ride…yippee…and then faced with the reality this wasn’t just a play date and that she now has to prove herself and reestablish her position in yet again another new home. (Don’t think she quite broke it down like that in dog terms…but you get the idea.)
Weeks into her being here she was now determined that she will not only run over the other dogs in the house but also, she will now “own“ me. Within no time she was viciously attacking Chelsea (my other female Weim), the house was becoming completely out of control, and I was feeling an enormous amount of guilt for not being able to protect me and mine: This prompted my on line search, making inquiries with the Vet…with any and everyone. I didn’t want to send Pip back, give up on her, and take the easy way out; but I needed a resolution as I would not continue to put the other two dogs in harms way. The other is a Pomeranian so you can imagine the potential damage here.
I came across “Sit means Sit” and their method of training. I had intended all along on getting an E-collar so that some day “If” I could trust Pip, we could all hike off lead in the woods. So the concept of the E-collar wasn’t entirely new to me; however what was new to me was the method in which they proposed to use it, and that peaked my curiosity. After perusing the web site and watching several videos, I made contact with Cathy Pote in Oakville Ontario. She sent me a link to a video where their Sit Means Sit in Las Vegas had worked with a deaf dog…I was entirely taken aback and watched it time and time again: All the while disbelieving that the results were so evident in such a short time clocked on the video, and of course thinking “this won’t reallllly work…at least not like that”.
I came to the realization that there are no hidden agendas here; this is merely a case of both owner and dogs willing to be trained. As result I began training with Cathy and within 15 minutes of training there was a notable difference in Pips behavior; soon there after that same day I could drop the lead on Pip and she was at my side waiting anxiously to see what I wanted next. It’s only continued to get better with time with Pip now waiting for my cue and like a sponge wanting to soak up more.
I appreciate in training with Cathy that Pips deafness wasn’t the focus. It without doubt played a part, in having to use signs instead of voice, but for me…not Pip as she doesn’t know any different. Yes being deaf heightens her senses and awareness of goings on around her, but Pips challenges were more so from her history then her deafness. Deafness or not she needed the structure, discipline, consistency and guidance that any dog should have. Cathy provided me with the tools to do just that with this method of training. Before when I signed “Come” Pip looked at me and here eyes said “Ummm maybe in a bit” and “Sit” to her meant “o.k. but only for a second”. Now “Come” means “Commminnng” and …you got it “Sit”… means Sit, and she does it happily.
We’re doing it…, she heels without hesitation, she loves to play fetch, and we are off lead hiking in the woods; all the while she blissfully comes when signaled. I trust her and she finally trusts me. And what was once an intimidating and intimidated, frightened, overly anxious, insecure dog is now happy, feeling safe, confident, and a joy to be with.
Sincerely…Thank you Cathy! Thank you for your compassion, kindness, knowledge, expertise, want and perseverance to show Pip and I, as well as others out there that there is a improved way for all of us to not only co-exist but have fun doing so.
Charlene C. Slaats-Gray
London
Ontario Canada
