Special Needs: Claudia is deaf. She has learned to respond to some sign language that her foster is practicing with her.

Description:
Claudia is a blue-eyed Boxer mix who just happens to be deaf. Like many deaf dogs, she has learned to cope beautifully. She has understands some sign language!!! There is a tremendous amount of information online about deaf dogs, including www.deafdogs.com. Do you have a heart big enough for Claudia?

Foster update 6/13: Claudia is a wonderful dog! Where ever I go with her all I hear is how beautiful and sweet she is! She is such a lover and enjoys the company of both K-9’s and people! She goes to the dog park everyday with me and my two other dogs. She gets along with everyone. She enjoys running after squirrels, visiting with people and wading in the pond. She enjoys playing with dogs but prefers the one smaller than her (if only smaller by a couple of inches). She does play with my Shepard mix, who is the same size, but had to warm up to it. People are shocked when I tell them she is deaf. It does not affect her happy bubbly personality at all! She greets people and other dogs with out fear. I am teaching her sign language so she can understand commands. She knows her name (the letter “C” ), come and no. We are working on sit and paw right now but it’s a slow process! She is very in tune to your mood and is aware when someone is upset, playful or sleepy just by watching your body language and facial movement! She is a big snuggler and enjoys getting her body pet! She is playful with my cat (whom does not run away… but stands her ground and kicks butt.haha) but respects when the cat is not really in the mood to get pounced on! Claudia has a great springy boxer run but is not much of a jumper. As far as I can tell she likes children. She is crate trained but we are working on house training!

As far as her deafness goes, she sleeps like a rock and is only woken up by touch or vibrations in the floor! She can sometimes be surprised by your presents if she did not see you enter the room but reacts with a little jump and sink down (like wow were did you come from)! She is learning to look at me for signals and keeps an eye on me at the dog park but wonders far away (she always comes running when I get too far away from her)! She would benefit form having another dog in the house to teach her the schedule and ways of the house. Really the only thing that makes her a bit different is all the yelling and “no” commands in the world do not get her attention! She must first look at you, then you can talk to her! On a final note I have been using light to get her attention. If its night and she is in another room I just switch the lights on and off. She comes running at that point. The same at night or day if she is outback and I need her to come in!

Foster update 6/18: Well since Claudia has recovered from have her heartworm treatment she has become another dog. She has learned to RUN and chase squirrels at the dog park. She runs everywere! She started playing with my shepard mix and they play all the time. Those heartworms must have really effected her because she seems so happy and healthy now!

Foster update 7/11: Claudia is almost housetrained. She now has a schedule that she follows very well and has not had an accident in at least 7 days! YAH!

8/5 Foster update: well Claudia is housetrained but requires a regular constant schedule to maintain this. She does her business in the morning before i leave for work and then goes out in the evening when i come home. Then a trip to the dog park and she finishes it all up! She is out in the house all night and does not have any accidents. She will require a home with a pretty constant schedule and minimal change as this throws her off. Also, she has a sensitive stomach and changing her food causes stomach upset and diarreha (like most dogs). Otherwise she is a wonderful dog!