Deaf Dog Causes Hilarious Mayhem in Viral Video – This Pup’s Antics Will Have You in Stitches!
A deaf dog called Atlas has gone viral on social media for his chaotic personality. Atlas is an Australian cattle dog known for their high energy and intelligence.
Atlas lives with his mom, Veronica Chobanian Morales, and his two other fur siblings, Blue and Callie, who are also Australian cattle dogs. The viral Instagram reel uploaded by @myislandheelers shows how all three dogs are of the same breed, but Atlas is definitely the most energetic one among the trio. (watch the video below)
In the video, viewers can see how Atlas just runs around the house, topples chairs, and jumps on tables. And that’s not all. He keeps hitting his siblings with the things in his mouth, which can be one of his toys, like a big ball, or something completely odd, like a hula hoop. On the other hand, Blue and Callie calmly tolerate their brother’s hell-raising antics and do nothing to retaliate.
Source: @myislandheelers
Deaf Dog Loves To Cause Chaos
The text overlay on the video says, “He’s deaf, he must be so chill.” Essentially, their mom, Veronica, is trying to convey how some people assume that deaf dogs must be calm and laid-back, but her deaf dog, Atlas, is the complete opposite. He is highly energetic, troublesome, and uncontrollable and keeps everyone on their toes.
Instagram users have shown immense love for the video, with over 153K likes. After all, who can resist a rebellious dog enjoying life, even being deaf?
One user, Rosalyn comments under the video, “The way he PURPOSEFULLY is slamming into the other dogs is killing me😭” Another Instagrammer, Lakota Dofland, wrote, “He’s a heeler… chill is not in the menu.”
While this video is definitely enjoyable, and you can’t help but laugh at Atlas’ shenanigans, it also raises the question of what the usual temperament of a deaf dog is and how it is different from other dogs.
What To Expect When Bringing A Deaf Dog Home
If you’re considering adopting a deaf dog, you might have many questions in your mind. For instance, what will they be like? How will you make them obey commands?
Hilary Weaver, senior editor at The Wildest, describes her experience of being a pet parent to a deaf dog called Charlie. She says Charlie is extremely loving, devoted and always likes to be close to his humans.
In her words, “He [Charlie] wants to be as close to me as he possibly can, it’s comforting for him to feel someone next to him. He can’t rely on his ears to pick up any startling sounds that would jolt him out of his sleep. He relies on feel, so if I suddenly stand up, he snaps awake to see what I’m reacting to. He sleeps like a human being with his head on my or my partner’s pillow, and because he can’t hear me, he needs to see me at all times.”
Another thing Weaver points out about Charlie is that he is a loud communicator, which can come across as aggressive.
She explains, “Because he can’t hear himself to regulate his own volume, my boy is a loud barker. This has led some fellow pet parents to interpret that as aggression. In reality, he’s simply playing and asking his pals to play along with him — he’s just loud about it.”
How To Train A Deaf Dog
Training a deaf dog is not so different from training a dog who is not deaf. Positive reinforcement is the way to go with all dogs, and deafness doesn’t change that. Giving them a treat after good behavior is something that you should do with all dogs.
According to veterinarians at VCA Animal Hospitals, the difference with training deaf dogs is that “Instead of listening for cues, deaf dogs learn by using their vision, their sense of smell, and their sense of touch.”
Instead of verbal commands, you will need to rely on visual cues like hand signals and body language to train your deaf dog. When it comes to deciding what cues to choose, here are some tips given by VCA Animal Hospitals:
- Cues should be simple and specific, each signaling a single action or behavior.
- Everyone interacting with your dog must use the same cue in the same way to avoid confusion. Consistency is key.
- For competition-level obedience, consider working with a professional trainer to develop precise hand signals.
- While some people adapt American Sign Language for dog training, others create their own signs. Remember, hand signals should be clear and easily distinguishable.
Additionally, Weaver details how she and her partner use different training methods for Charlie and another dog, Georgie, who is not deaf. She explains, “With her [Georgie], we use a clicker, so she can hear the “click” when she completes a task. Then we give her a treat. With Charlie, after he sits, comes, waits, etc., we just flick a thumbs up — more of a visual clicker. And then, of course, he gets a treat.”
Therefore, living with a deaf dog can be slightly different, but with love and care, they can be the perfect canine companion you can ever wish for.
