When thinking about adopting a dog, most of us usually have the key things in mind, such as breed, age, and personality.
Rarely do people think about other factors, and this is not unusual. Very few people would be willing to adopt a dog with any kind of disability.
While that is understandable to a degree, I think most would be surprised to see just how much they have to offer. It’s a life-altering experience.
When Alyssa Bernal first adopted her dog, Sadie, she did not suspect anything was wrong with her. However, she was completely surprised by what she discovered.
Sadie Has A Problem
After Alyssa first brought Sadie into her home in Oklahoma, she was surprised by how energetic and playful she was. She is just the sweetest dog.
However, her new owner did not suspect that she was dealing with some form of disability when she first took her in.
During her first days, Alyssa suspected something was wrong. She would call Sadie, but she did not respond.
At first, she thought that Sadie was in a deep sleep, which would explain why it was so difficult to wake her up, but that was false.
After a few more days, the problem became apparent. Sadie was actually deaf. Once they confirmed this, the family from Oklahoma realized that they needed to take a different approach at caring for her.
She would have to undergo training for deaf dogs, which would make her life exponentially easier, but Alyssa didn’t know where to begin.
Reaction On The Internet
Alyssa decided to post about Sadie’s story on TikTok where she asked advice from other people who also have deaf dogs.
One person commented: “Remote collar training would be incredible for her. She can feel the vibration of the collar so you can get her attention from another room or when she’s not looking at you.”
I have never heard about this, but it is actually a good idea as it would make Sadie’s training a lot easier.
Another person said: “Double Merle, wish breeders paid attention. I have a deaf dog as well. She’s amazing. Challenging especially when they are sleeping somewhere and you can’t find them. We had to stomp on the floors.”
Well, that is certainly one way to get your dog’s attention, although I feel like there has to be a better method to find them. The collar solution seems great.
Lastly, one person commented: “I had a totally deaf German Shepherd. Had it confirmed at 5 months. Adolescents was a double nightmare but with special training we both learned sign language and he absolutely BLOOMED.”
This is amazing. Training is definitely the best way to help deaf dogs lead a normal life. Thanks to the amazing advice Alyssa got from other people in the comments, she will try to help Sadie as soon as possible.
It is always incredibly heartwarming to see people with similar situations help each other out, and I am glad that Sadie will get the love and care she deserves.
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