A few days after a family welcomed home a new puppy, they started realizing something wasn't quite right.
In a July 8 TikTok video shared by user @alyssabrookebernal, an Australian shepherd puppy was sleeping under the table. The owner inched closer, calling Sadie's name but the little pup didn't move an inch. She tried snapping her fingers as close to the dog as possible and still nothing. Not even a flinch.
Perhaps the puppy was in a deep sleep, but when this continued for a couple of days, the family began to piece it together: Sadie was completely deaf.
The family realized that whatever they thought they knew about puppy training would have to change slightly. Instead of saying commands or telling Sadie to go outside, they needed to shift gears.
The good news is that training a deaf dog isn't difficult. It just requires different techniques and plenty of patience. The American Kennel Club recommends incorporating focus training through visual cues such as hand signals or body language instead of relying on your voice.
Other suggestions include gently touching your dog in the same spot every time so you do not startle them awake.
Newsweek reached out to @alyssabrookebernal via TikTok for additional comment.
As of Thursday, the TikTok clip amassed over 816,000 views and 26,100 likes. Viewers were quick to offer support and tips as they have also raised a deaf puppy.
"We have a deaf Australian Shepherd. He was quick to learn signals and also learned to ring a bell by the backdoor when he needed to go out. He is now 6 and rotten!!!" said a dog owner.
Another added: "I had a totally deaf German Shepherd. Had it confirmed at 5 months. Adolescent was a double nightmare but with special training, we both learned sign language and he absolutely BLOOMED."
Some suggested using a vibrating collar for training to get her attention or one owner said they would flip the light switch on and off to tell their dog to come in.
The family has taken the advice with gratitude, applying it to their training. The children were working with Sadie in a more recent clip, asking her to come and sit through hand signals.
The caption reads: "Although, at first, learning new ways to train that fit her needs was challenging it has been well worth it. Lots of patience and a lot of love, she is thriving!"
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
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