Deaf Rescue Dog Living His Best Life After Learning Sign Language Is An Inspiration

Sometimes, a pet seems fated to end up with certain owners. That's certainly the case with Bruno, a sweet doggo who was scheduled to be euthanized in Spain but wound up being adopted by Skye and Daniel Tibbetts in Stourbridge, England. At first, Bruno seemed to ignore everything the couple said, so they tried speaking Spanish to him. That didn't work either. Then, they realized that Bruno might be deaf, which was subsequently confirmed by a vet. The couple started teaching British Sign Language to the dog, which they'd already learned because Daniel's parents are deaf.

The Dodo's video about Bruno has been viewed more than 198,000 times on YouTube. In it, Bruno is shown living his best life: learning words in sign language, cuddling with his owners, being treated to his favorite meal, and serving as the ring bearer in Skye and Daniel's wedding. "This family's love for Bruno melts my heart. Deaf dogs deserve the same chance to be loved and happy," one viewer wrote. Another added, "How delightful that Bruno 'found' his way to people who already knew sign language and could breeze him right into connection and communication! Lovely!"

If, after you check your puppy's hearing or test your adult dog's hearing, you learn that your pet is fully deaf or starting to go deaf, there's no need to despair. As Bruno demonstrated, most dogs can easily learn to understand words in sign language. Pet dogs are already keenly attuned to human body language, and physical cues may be even easier for them to learn than spoken commands. The process of teaching a dog to respond to signed words is similar to training a dog in general. The keys are patience, consistency, and high-value treats as rewards. Training sessions should be short and fun for both dog and owner. 

You can also pair the sign language signals with commands your dog already knows, if it's been trained, to help it pick it up even faster. Even if your dog isn't deaf, it can be useful to teach your pet some sign language. Using signed words allows you to communicate with your dog in noisy environments and from a distance. And, of course, many dogs do experience at least some hearing loss as they enter their twilight years. One viewer of The Dodo video wrote, "When my dog was trained as a puppy, we used some signs for basic commands such as sit, down, stay, and come. Never used them that much until she went deaf at 15. It made such a difference to our ability to communicate with her as she progressed into old age."