• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Deaf puppy has managed to learn sign language in two months

Home> News

Published 03:52 23 Nov 2022 GMT

Deaf puppy has managed to learn sign language in two months

Seven-month-old Spanish Water dog, Rafa, has already learnt sit, stay, spin, give paw and stay.

Charisa Bossinakis

Charisa Bossinakis

A deaf puppy has impressively learnt sign language in just eight weeks.

When Jo Le Page from Guernsey learnt her seven-month-old Spanish Water dog, Rafa, was deaf, the owner sought to teach the pup without her words..

Jo Le Page/SWNS

Advert

So far, the canine has learnt nine different signs, including sit, stand, watch me, spin, give paw, lie down, come, stay and safe - where he walks toward Jo, turns around and stays there.

He can also pick a toy from his owner’s hand, using Jo’s signal as a prompt.

However, training hasn’t concluded yet, as Jo wants to continuing teaching Rafa more signs.

Whenever the pup succeeds at reading Jo’s signs, she gives him a thumbs up for encouragement.

But, according to the preschool teacher, there is no hand sign for when Rafa doesn’t correctly carry out a task.

Advert

When Jo first acquired the pooch back in June of this year, she had no idea Rafa was deaf.

However, she soon noticed that Rafa was seemingly unbothered by loud noises.

Jo Le Page/SWNS

Jo told the outlet that when he wasn’t affected by loud drills or the smoke alarm going off, she knew something was up.

But upon discovering his disability, Jo and her family still decided to care for Rafa.

Advert

She said the experience ‘opened up a whole new world'. Jo added that she would like to see the doggo become a therapy dog.

Currently, he is training to see if he can remain calm around things like wheelchairs and walking sticks while navigating foreign environments.

“He could potentially become one of the first deaf therapy dogs,” she said.

She added: “This is only the beginning of his journey and we just take it a day at a time.

“Most people wouldn't have bothered. Our initial thoughts were that it would be hard or impossible to train a dog who can't hear."

Advert

She hopes Rafa’s story will inspire other owners not to surrender their dogs once they learn of a handicap.

Jo continued: “We thought it would definitely be impossible to drop his lead on a walk. Education and training has proved that all of our fears were false.”

I'm not crying; you are!!

Featured Image Credit: Jo Le Page/SWNS

Topics: Animals, News, Dogs

Charisa Bossinakis
Charisa Bossinakis

Charisa Bossinakis is an Associative Journalist at LADbible. Charisa has worked across various media platforms including, print, digital, radio and podcasting while maintaining the highest regard for quality work and integrity. She also covered everything from breaking news, to pop culture, entertainment and politics and is part of the editorial team for LADbible.

X

@CBossinakis

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

an hour ago
2 hours ago
4 hours ago
  • an hour ago

    At least eight people dead after hot air balloon crashes in Brazil

    Governor Jorginho Mello took to social media to issue a statement on the horror crash

    News
  • an hour ago

    New weight-loss drug ‘better than Wegovy’ has huge impact and doesn’t have to be injected

    A new study suggests amycretin could potentially ease the burden on the NHS

    News
  • 2 hours ago

    Man diagnosed with early-onset dementia at 55 years old had one sign noticed by doctors before diagnosis

    UK native Jim Rogers believed his strange symptoms were due to stress at work

    News
  • 4 hours ago

    British woman died one month after Turkey weight loss surgery following damning complaint

    Hayley Butler had flown out for the procedure after apparently struggling to get help in the UK

    News
  • Vet issues stern warning over walking pets in 25 degree heat with shocking human comparison
  • Bulldog puppy 'saved owner's life' after chewing his toe to the bone while he slept
  • What happens if your dog attacks a postie as 'cruel' Royal Mail employee caught kicking puppy on camera
  • Owner explained how bulldog puppy ‘saved his life’ after chewing his toe to the bone while he was asleep