Teaching a Deaf Dane 'quiet'
'Distraction Training' is hard. Who would want to stop playing, exploring, looking at the world etc.? As I mentioned earlier, it will take time, patience, consistency plus positive reinforcement in her training to be successful.
When they get around 18 months of age they can enter the 'I forget I know anything stage' and you just have to keep plugging through.
I do not use laser or pointers in my light training. Some animals and even certain breeds can be predisposed towards 'obsessive' behavior.
I have been working with SN's (Special Needs) animals for almost 20 years now and have also owned them for just as long.
Yes, they can 'feel' the vibration from making the sound of barking. They also can feel 'escalation' levels of the types of sounds. Having talked to many deaf people, they know when they are talking quietly and when they are shouting and animals are similar. It is a physical vibration that is stronger when they 'up' the level of sound.
I use a squirt bottle and work on associating a 'signal' - 'shhhh' with the 'no' sign. Positive reinforcement when they obey. Exaggerated body and facial expressions to let them know that you are not happy with that behavour is also very helpful. You want to have a high reward/reinforcer when the correct behavior is demonstrated.
Sometimes, I have used a one finger very light touch on the nose or under the chin in addition to the above as well. That way there is a physical 'touch' presence to what I am asking of them. I am not hitting, tapping or otherwise inflicting pain or discomfort to them. It is simply getting their attention focused on me. I personally do not hold their mouths shut.
She is well aware of what she is doing and will continue to do it to get 'attention' as long as she is getting what she wants...in this case; in your bed. She is barking, getting attention and then is allowed to get into your bed. This type of behavior is being reinforced. Barking = attention = your bed. Some deaf dogs can have odd barks, either too loud or very sharp or unusual in some other way. They do learn that barking gets your attention.
I have never used a bark/vibration collar for training. I do use vibration training in the means that I bang the floor, wooden door jambs etc. I also use light training by flicking the lights on and off.
The thing behind many bark/vibration collars is that many people tend to eventually use them as a 'crutch' and not use them properly so that the correct behavior is never learned outside of the collar and the owners are completely dependent on the collar for correct behavior demonstration. I also feel that many people are in fact actually punishing their dogs constantly when these collars are not being utilized in the right manner. There is also not much of an opportunity being given for the animal to 'show' if they have the capabilities of now demonstrating the desired Behavior.
I also feel this way about many people who use gentle leaders, haltis, chokes and prongs. As a correct training aid, they can serve the right purpose. If used incorrectly, they become a 'crutch'. I would like to see more trainers really 'teaching' and 'training' the owners on the proper uses of such collars etc. I, personally, rarely have used prongs or chokes in training either. I can count on one hand over the past 20 years how often I have used them and it was never on a Great Dane. Often these items are used as 'easy' way out of actually fixing the problem or they are not being used properly combined with time, consistency, patience plus positive reinforcement. Please NOTE I am not saying that this is the case for all situations or cases. From being in the trenches for almost 20 years; it has been for many though.
You have to be constant and step in each and every time she is making noises. You cannot be lazy and must reinforce the desired behavior consistently. Play is interrupted, the command given, correct follow-up and play is allowed to continue. Just like kids, sometimes they can get carried away and play needs to stop completely for awhile so that everyone can re-group. I am a huge believer in 'time-outs' as well.
You must go each and every time to them when they are exhibiting this behavior.
One of the first things I teach my deafies is to constantly 'look' or 'watch' me. Even in play, they will often look towards me for guidance and if they are making noises at a level that I am not happy with, I give the 'no' 'shhh' command then. In the learning stages, many of them will ignore me and continue doing what they are doing.
Though time, they become well aware of what I am asking of them. They either then choose to listen or they choose to ignore me and I have to reinforce with the squirt bottle etc. Soul is only 12 weeks old and he is already learning. I have no issues with his 'talking', just the barking. He came to me very vocal and he is hardly making a peep anymore.
They are very smart, sensitive creatures and many people do not give them the credit they deserve for manipulation in getting what they want nor in learning correct behaviors quickly.
Some options that are listed on various sites to work on barking issues are:
Citronella collars
Sound-emitting collars
Remote sound-emitters
Muzzles
Debarking surgery
Medication
*To me, they seem so harsh, especially to start of with.
