Deaf sheepdog relearns to herd the flock with ‘sign language’

• Being a sheepdog has been Peggy’s calling.
• But when she lost her hearing when she was eight, it significantly hampered this passion.
• Still, nothing can stop a dedicated dog from going back to what she loves doing most, so Peggy trained to herd the flock despite her disability.

If it’s your calling, nothing can ever stop you from achieving it — just like the case of Peggy the sheepdog.

A 10-year-old Norfolk collie, Peggy used to herd sheep, and it was something she excelled in. But when she was eight, she lost her hearing, which put a halt on this mission.

Peggy’s owner eventually had a hard time communicating with her, so she had to hand her over to the care of a local RSPCA animal shelter, which, at that time, was in full capacity given the Christmas season.

So animal welfare manager Chloe Shorten stepped in. Chloe and her husband Jason, who had two other working sheepdogs, decided to take Peggy home.

The couple knew that sheepherding is part of who Peggy is. She had lost her hearing, but not her love for it. So, Chloe and Jason came up with a plan.

“We knew Peggy wanted to be working, so we started the long process of teaching her how to herd and work with a shepherd without relying on voice commands,” Chloe told the BBC. “We started by teaching her to look at us for hand signals.”

The couple used repetition and “positive reinforcement” to revive the restrained sheepdog in Peggy. With the help of a sheepdog trainer, Peggy learned to respond to hand signals and body language.

This relearning didn’t only bring Peggy back to what she loved doing most. Chloe said that the entire training experience has helped Peggy realize that she can trust them.

“[It took her time to] learn that we love her, and understand our praise,” Chloe said.

Although Peggy is semi-retired now, her love for herding is still within her. She still heads out with them from time to time, savoring those moments where she gets a “thumbs up,” making her realize she’s doing a great job.

Just like the old times.

Source: Good News Network