One of my clients cannot speak.
She recently adopted a two year old Shepherd mix named Glinda. Glinda has a tendency to see an open door as an invitation to hit the open road. She also takes (actually, drags) her new owner on walks, when it should be the other way around.
And she greets guests with two substantial paws raised to the level of the vulnerable and unprotected human throat.
Just because her owner has no voice doesn’t mean that they can’t communicate with each other. On the contrary. Since Glinda doesn’t talk either, the use of hand signals and body language makes perfect sense.
We used a squeaky toy and crouched down to teach Glinda to Come when called.
We taught Glinda to Sit using an upward hand movement, and Stay with a hand in a stop sign gesture. Both signals worked to keep her well away from the door so that her owner could open it without fear of Glinda making a getaway.
With a sharp clap of her hands, Glinda’s owner was able to interrupt before her dog’s paws launched into the air to plant on a guest. Glinda quickly got the hint that sitting to greet a visitor resulted in a treat AND attention, a satisfying combination of rewards for this sociable girl.
On a walk, a Canny Collar, introduced with treats, helped Glinda relax and focus on her owner rather than on the sights and smells of the great outdoors.
People with dogs that – through birth or accident – have only three legs or are blind or deaf – attest that their pets act like nothing is wrong. These dogs compensate for their condition by adapting and by gaining new skills, or enhancing existing ones.
Dogs do not perceive their owners as disabled, either.
To a dog, there is no such thing as limitations, only abilities.
Comments