‘Retired’ deaf sheepdog learns sign language

• Peggy, a Norfolk sheepdog, has always been a working dog, until she suddenly became deaf with no discernible reason.
• Animal welfare manager Chloe Shorten took her in when she had no home to go to, and helped Peggy continue what she loves the most: working.
• Now, Peggy learns sign language and continues to enjoy her job.

It seems like old dogs can learn new tricks, like the case of Norfolk sheepdog Peggy.

Peggy has spent most of her life working for her human in herding animals. She has always been a farm dog and she’s great in this job, mastering the ability to listen to and perform a shepherd’s signal — until she went deaf for no apparent reason.

Just before Christmas in 2018, the hardworking pup was surrendered to the Mid-Norfolk and North Suffolk branch of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which was unfortunately full. The staff couldn’t find a foster family for her for the time being. Fortunately, animal welfare manager Chloe Shorten stepped up and took her in.

It seemed meant to be for Peggy and Chloe to be together. Chloe had two other sheepdogs and her husband is actually a shepherd!

It was expected that Peggy would undergo some adjustments, but soon enough, she started to bond with Chloe.

“We decided she could stay with us temporarily while we found somewhere more permanent to take her in, but we completely fell in love with her almost immediately and it soon became clear that she wouldn’t be going anywhere!” Chloe said.

“… we started taking her fun places like the beach, something we don’t think she has ever experienced before,” Chloe added. “With some TLC and decent food, Peggy soon started to adjust to life. Several months on and Peggy has blossomed into a wonderful dog who is continuing to improve daily.”

Knowing the nature of working dogs, who tend to get bored and are bred to do a specific job, Chloe helped Peggy so she could get back to work. She taught her hand signs and trained her to use her eyes instead of her ears while doing her job.

“We started by teaching her to look at us for hand signals. We used repetitive and positive reinforcement and instead of pairing a verbal command with an action, we’d use a physical hand gesture,” Chloe explained. “She reads our hand signals and body language as a way of telling what we’re asking for. For example, thumbs up means ‘good girl.’”

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Ten-year-old Peggy is “generally retired,” but this doesn’t stop her from doing what she loves most.

For Chloe, “Having a deaf dog is a learning curve but one we are thoroughly enjoying seeing her coming out of herself and zooming around the garden, barking with joy!”

Source: Inspire More