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chelseata · Feb 13, 2008, 02:26 PM

My dachsund lucy is 2 1/2 years old. She's the product of two dapple parents and is "different" as a result. She is white with bright blue cocked eyes. And she is almost completely deaf. She is also honestly slightly retarded but the sweetest girl ever. All this has made training and disciplining just about impossible. Since she is deaf, she can't hear her incredibly loud and high pitched bark/whine that I ended up having to get a bark collar for (which kills me but it's the only thing that works). It also means there is no verbal scolding since she can't hear, and no spanking since she doesn't understand what that means.

So at night if she isn't sleeping, she whines and yips enough to not set off her collar. Whether she's outside wanting to come in, or inside with me wanting to go out. It's like having a newborn baby. I'll put her out, she whines, I bring her back in, she whines, etc etc. several times a night resulting in no sleep for either of us.

Any advice?

Mama oose

450donn · Feb 13, 2008, 03:36 PM

Have you had her to a doctor to be sure there is not a medical condition causing this behavior?

progunr · Feb 13, 2008, 06:27 PM

It sounds to me like you know what the dogs issues are, "slightly retarded" I believe is the term you used.

I know of no helpful tips for a "slightly retarded" dog, hell, I had enough problems training my dogs, and I believe that they were relatively normal.

Good luck to you!

carolbcac · Feb 13, 2008, 07:42 PM

I would try a Kong toy stuffed with peanut butter, etc. to occupy her at night. Her senses of smell and taste probably work fine. Even if she is completely blind and deaf, you may be able to teach her simple behaviors like sit and shake using treats. You may have to give the different "commands" by touching different parts of her body if she can't see hand signals. Once you can open a channel of communication with her it may be amazing what she can do. Remember, they thought Helen Keller was retarded, too!

bransonsmama · Feb 13, 2008, 09:04 PM

Helen Keller was not retarded, she was deaf and blind!! That doesn't make her "RETARDED":mad:

ayashe · Feb 13, 2008, 11:17 PM

Keep her up during the day, and make sure she is exercising so when it's time to go to bed, she will be tuckered out. Don't feed her a few hours before it's time to sleep to assure she is not needing to go out and relieve herself. I too have a daschund mix and they are big babies. Once it's time for bed Missy crawls up next to me, and dozes off, but not if I let her sleep all day and be lazy.

teachnk · Feb 14, 2008, 04:44 AM

It really sounds like you need to do some training with her. You may not be giving her enough credit. The hearing loss means you need to train her without appropriate training for a dog with a hearing disability. I didn't see anything about her having visual issues, so there is no reason you can't uses visual clues. I suggest taking a simple obedience class to start. They generally use visual clues, I was surprised that my dog learned only one verbal command - the rest were hand gestures in the 8 week class at a large pet store chain. I have never heard of "verbal scolding" or spanking as a suggested method for training or ending the barking. Your dog really needs more exercise so that she may sleep at night. Socialization might help with the barking as well. Maybe you can try a dog park where she can run around, definitely try some long walks and teach her to play fetch - a sure way to wear them out. It also provides her with the playtime and interaction with you she appears to be craving. I think she wants to go out in the middle of the night to play, she's not tired - when you put her out, she cries because she's alone, no one to play with.

carolbcac · Feb 14, 2008, 12:37 PM

Apparently I was not on my game at all last night; at least I didn't explain myself very well! I assumed that being blue merle, blue eyed and having "cocked" eyes (could be any of a number of problems) that she at least has some visual issues. She may very well be capable of seeing hand signals. My intent was to say not to sell this dog short. With some training, and the training might have to be adapted to her needs, she may be capable of learning more than anyone dreamed. I am learning disabled, and I always zone in on how to go about training special needs dogs. It would be perfectly fine to start with traditional training with the instructor's help in adapting her to strictly visual cues.

vettek04 · Feb 15, 2008, 06:04 PM

You first should contact your veterinarian to do a neurological exam, simply to rule out any symptoms of a genetic problem that may be causing her issues. Also bloodwork and survey radiographs are never a bad idea, again just to rule out any major genetic abnormalities. Assuming these are all normal:
"special needs dogs" can be trained to do amazing things, but sometimes specific issues never resolve, hand signals are key with a deaf dog (if she can see you), very small tidbits of food as an incetive/reward. I know of a white deaf boxer who knows all hand signals - the owner somehow tought him that a "thumbs up" is GOOD BOY! And his response to this sign is AMAZING! I also have worked with a blind and deaf dog who is trained by touch, small taps to have her follow you!
When taking on a special needs dog, usually they have issues that must be coped with rather than fixed.