Eddie, a six-year-old deaf dog and bull breed, is looking for a new home after his former owners abandoned him at a property in Durham. RSPCA officers and police rescued Eddie and took him to Block Fen in Wimblington, Cambridgeshire.
It was found quickly by the staff of the center that Eddie is deaf. Nevertheless, Eddie’s lack of hearing did not affect his lifestyle in any way. He is very friendly with people and reacts to them positively.
Tiffany Fowler, who is the kennel supervisor, is convinced that Eddie can be trained to respond to sign language and visual commands. There has already been proof that Eddie reacts to visual commands.
For instance, Eddie sits if someone places a treat above his head. Eddie also wags his tail if someone addresses him while making eye contact.
According to the RSPCA, Eddie was probably born deaf. Nonetheless, he has adapted to his environment quite nicely.
Deafness works out in Eddie’s favor at the noisy kennel, because he doesn’t get scared by the barking of the other dogs.
People pat Eddie whenever they come into his kennel. This enables Eddie to feel that they have entered his space without being scared.
Now the RSPCA wants to find a patient and loving family for Eddie. The owners of Eddie would have to use visual signals and train him.
Through positive reinforcement, Eddie can learn to communicate in various ways. Most importantly, Eddie can learn to get along well with his new owners.
The story of Eddie indicates that disability must not prevent a dog from enjoying its life and learning new things.
References Link: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwm2rpj81ek3o