Ivor had been rejected by a number of families because he had spent a lot of time in shelters. After being returned a fifth time by a family who was baffled by the dog’s unusual behavior. If a breeder has several puppies, it can be difficult to tell if any of them are deaf.
When a volunteer at Ivor’s dog shelter checked his hearing, she understood why Ivor had trouble adjusting to life in a typical home. The previous owners were unaware that Ivor was deaf.
In order to interact with the dog, Ivor started learning sign language. Ivor picked up the lesson quickly. By forcing him to touch the palm of their extended hand, the volunteers first taught him to approach before introducing him to other fundamental commands.
Ivor was soon placed up for adoption once more, when he met the young woman who would eventually become his devoted owner. The two were able to communicate right away. Ivor was adopted by her and brought home.
The Girl was eager to advance his education. Ivor had missed out on so much in the other homes, and she wanted to help him make up for it. Ivor keeps an eye on everything and can tell when someone is trying to talk to him.
Living with a deaf dog can provide challenges you wouldn’t often encounter with a dog, but the girl is equipped with all she needs to care for Ivor.
