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These lucky dogs all have homes. If you are looking to adopt, visit the DDEAF Adoption Page.

Alaska Deaf Dogs

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Bandit and Joey	Town: Juneau, Alaska Deaf dog: Bandit is a 5 year old Shetland Sheepdog. Our deaf Sheltie is an absolute joy! We got him as a pup and had no idea he was deaf. It didn't take long for us (and the vet) to figure it out though. We walk off-leash with him in the woods, run up and down the beach with him and he gets along well with everyone! Training was a little more challenging for us than with our other dogs. We took for granted how easy verbal commands and verbal scolding worked in potty training a hearing dog. Shelties are sensitive to begin with, so the typical "rubbing his nose in it" but with no verbal commands proved pointless. We used the book "Living with a Deaf Dog" as our guide of things to come and it made it easy! Unless we tell someone, no one even knows he's deaf. He's a great dog, and a little bit of hard work in the first year of puppy-hood really pays off. Human companions: Joey Other pets: 2 hearing dogs Email: giantjoey_AT_hotmail.com
	Town: Wasilla, Alaska Deaf dog: Akosha is a 6 month old American Bulldog. Akosha was taken by a family at 5 weeks old because her breeder was going to have her put to sleep because she's deaf. Her other "mom" started having some health issues which turned out to be allergies to the dogs. She didn't want to take her to Animal Control since they would euthanize her instead of trying to adopt her out. We discussed the possiblity of adopting a special needs dog in the past. I like to think that Akosha came into out lives at this time for a reason, even if we don't know what it is at the moment. I'm sure that she'll teach us so much more more than we'll ever teach her. Akosha is has a wonderful personality and is very sweet and gentle. She loves people, especially kids, and very much wants to be a lap dog, not realizing how big she is. She only knows two signs which were taught to her by her other family but we're working on more, one day at at time. She's gotten along great with our other dogs so far and is fitting right in. We're finding out the biggest obstacle we'll have to overcome isn't her deafness, but people's assumption that she's a Pitbull or Pit mix and that she's aggressive. She does have fear issues with dogs that are bigger than she is. Hopefully our Great Pyrenees will help with that. I eventually want to participate in Rally obedience with her and I hope she'll become a registered Therapy dog. Human companions: Gayle and Bob Other pets: 10 other dogs, 5 horses, 2 cats, assorted Chickens Email: keepyrs_AT_mtaonline.net
	Town: Two Rivers, Alaska Deaf dog: Austin is an American Bulldog/Pitbull Terrier who is about 1.5years old. I work at our local animal shelter as an animal tender. Austin first came into the shelter as a stray nearly a year ago. I fell in love immediately. However, I have four dogs, one of which is highly dog aggressive so, I was very reluctant to adopt him. He found a home...then another when he was again a stray, but not redeemed. Then with owner #3(or more?) he was brought to the shelter twice. That did it for me. I decided come hell or high water I was going to incorporate him into our home. It's been very rought, but we're making progress. Austin is Awesome!!! He looks a lot like the dog from the little rascals. He follows me around like a shadow, even when we're outside. I really love him. I'd very much like to hear from others in AK who have deaf dogs. I know you're out there because a few years ago I nearly adopted a dog from the newspaper, but she went to a man who already had another deaf dog at home. Human companions: Barbara Harris, One husband, one son, age 11 Other pets: I have four other dogs: Miss Nikki a shorthaired husky who was abused and very slow to adjust to noises, cars, being in public, etc. Otis the Ugly, this is my "bad boy," he's American Bulldog/Labrador retreiver and he's ball crazy and usually very obedient. Conan the Handsome is a Pitbull/Labrador mix and is very aloof, but devoted to us. Then there's Peanut, the squirrly little bitch from hell. She's a Jack Russell Terrier/Pitbull mix who's as neurotic as she is cute. She's small but has a huge ego. She is very, very possessive, but responsive to commands and my original shadow dog. In their own ways, all my dogs are special needs. Email: fsbjh2@mosquitonet.com

Culprit	Town: Kasigluk, Alaska Deaf dog: Culprit is an Aussie, born 4/02. "We found Culp on the DDEAF site and drove down from Anchorage (where our truck lives) to meet and adopt her. Culprit has been with us for a year now and 'hardly ever' exhibits any of her old 'unusual behaviors' (trying to dig through our floors, barking at invisible {to us} bugs, etc)...as long as she gets enough exercise. We have used a vibrating collar to train her to return to us when we go out hiking, skiing and snowmachining - and she absolutely loves frolicking in the freezing breakup/freezeup waters." Human companions: Josh and Laura Szurszewski Other pets: Baxter, a male Lab/Husky/? born 3/98; and Murray a male terrapin. Email: szurszewski@polandmail.com

Keller	Town: Anchorage, Alaska Deaf dog: We adopted Keller from a rescure group when he was 10 months old. His nickname is "Timmy" after the little boy in Lassie. He has learned that barking gets him a lot of attention....we are just sure he is trying to tell us that "Timmy has fallen in a well." The name stuck! He is a wonderful and loving dog and oh so smart!! Human companions: Anne and Two teenage boys Email: alazenby@gci.net

	Town: Soldotna, Alaska Deaf dog: Sam is a 2 year old Aussie/Rhodesian Ridgeback mix. "We picked out Sam from an animal shelter in Bend, Oregon. The shelter didnt realize she was deaf, thankfully! She is an awesome, playful, and sweet girl. We do have a hearing dog, Buddah, who has been a great help in training Sam. Buddah is seven and a very patient brother. We use some ASL to train, and some homemade signs. I do this so I can do most signs one-handed, so other hand can be on leash outside. I wouldn't trade Sam for anything, she is sweet and intelligent." Human companions: Kali and Jeff Harrison Other pets: Buddah, a Lab/Chow mix. Email: kali_jane22@yahoo.com

Ginger	Town: Anchorage, Alaska Deaf dog: Ginger is a Canaan Dog. "Ginger is currently training for agility and is and outstandingly fast and focused dog. She is without a doubt the smartest dog I've ever trained. She is so intelligent, that she knows she can disobey you, and is constantly getting into new kinds of trouble. She is loving and absolutely cute." Human companions: Liz Eldridge Other pets: 3 cats, fish, and a parakeet. Email: eeldridge@bethelutilities.com

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