Deaf Boxer has been waiting for a home for too long...

[Inverness]

Sydney was found on the streets last December, starved and with a severe ear infection which made him tilt his head to the side.



He was treated for weeks with antibiotics, put weight back on and became happy again. Unfortunately, either due to a genetic defect or most probably because of the ear infection that remained untreated for so long, he lost his hearing.

Sydney was adopted by a great family and spent a few weeks with them. However, he came back because he did not get along with the family's other Boxer.

Sydney's been back for a while now. Although he gets many hits on Petfinder, it seems everyone is set back by the fact that he cannot hear.

Deaf dogs are not that difficult to manage ! They learn sign language very quickly, just like hearing dogs taking advanced obedience classes ! One does need to have some sense of humour to stamp on the floor each time they want to attract the dog's attention, and possibly blind neighbours so they don't see them waving freneticaly in the air when they want to call the dog back inside from the yard...

But hey, besides these little adjustments, deaf dogs are just... dogs ! And Sydney is a GREAT dog ! He is gorgeous, friendly, affectionate, and someday he will make someone VERY happy. We just hope that day will soon come...

Gorgeous Sydney:

[poodletalk]

Does the dog already understand sign language? I have a family, who thought about getting a boxer and they have a son who's hearing impaired. MAYBE this could be a match....

[BoxerRescueMTL]

Wow poodletalk - let us know what they think!!

[poodletalk]

I need more information about Sydney though, how old is he? Does he like children? Is he a barker?

I will email the family tonight when I get home....

[Inverness]

Originally Posted by poodletalk

I need more information about Sydney though, how old is he? Does he like children? Is he a barker?

I will email the family tonight when I get home....

Sydney is between 1 and 2 years old. He likes everyone, but needs to be able to eat his meals in a quiet place. As for the barking, he is not THAT bad, but since he cannot hear himself, he can be a little loud...

[chico2]

Sydney is a sweetie,what a wonderful face... that it will work out.
You guys amaze me tiredlessly working to find homes for lonely animals,you are just fantastic,wish we had a few million like you

[poodletalk]

Does Sydney already understand signs or does he still need to learn it?

[Inverness]

Originally Posted by poodletalk

Does Sydney already understand signs or does he still need to learn it?

He has already learned a few, knows "come", "good boy", "wait", "in your crate" and "sit". Still needs to learn "down", "quiet" ( ), and whatever else people will want to teach him !

[twodogsandacat]

Originally Posted by Inverness

He has already learned a few, knows "come", "good boy", "wait", "in your crate" and "sit". Still needs to learn "down", "quiet" ( ), and whatever else people will want to teach him !

Good luck finding a home for him. I am amazed at well deaf dogs do with that special person willing to work with them.

[poodletalk]

One more question, is this proper hand signals that a child would learn in hearing impaired schools or this general hand commands the previous owners made up. I hope you understand what I mean.....

[meb999]

all appendages crossed for Sydney
Keep us updated on what this family thinks, Poodletalk. Look at that face...I just want to hug him!!

[erykah1310]

I am in love!!!
Everytime i visit this section i fall in love with these poor little dogs!! But Sydney is really tugging at my heart strings!! If i didnt have 3 dogs already I would take him in a heart beat!! He reminds me so much of my Kita gurl!!! I hope he finds a forever home that will treat him as special as he is!!!
Good luck with finding him a home!! Give him a big hug and a kiss for me!!! Hes handsome!!
You are doing a wonderful thing for this sweet guy!!

[Inverness]

Originally Posted by poodletalk

One more question, is this proper hand signals that a child would learn in hearing impaired schools or this general hand commands the previous owners made up. I hope you understand what I mean.....

The hand signals one normaly uses with a deaf dog are the same ones you use when you train your dog in advanced obedience. This is pretty standard everywhere. However, it doesn't matter. You can chose whatever you like, as long as the whole family sticks to the same thing.

[mafiaprincess]

Better Q for poodletalk..

Does the boy 'speak' American Sign Language, or Signed Exact English..

ASL while universal in the 'real everyday world' is often not taught in a residential deaf school, they are often taught SEE instead, and the signs don't add together as universal.

The signs I was taught in OB aren't ASL hand signs.. I have 2 levels of ASL.

I taught Cider ASL hand signs rather than the ones used in OB. It probably wouldn't be hard for a family to teach using ASL hand signs or SEE hand signs (which ever they use in their family), as long as they had some guidance on how to go about doing it if it's their first time.

[poodletalk]

I don't know which one he uses, the whole family went and took courses as well. I emailed her late last night, I am still waiting for a response. Lets keep our fingers crossed

[catsnatcher-CDN]

Poodletalk!!
Let's hope this lead comes through! He's so freakin' beautiful.

[phoenix]

Oh wouldn't that be just perfect. Boxers are the best!!!!! and I think it would be just amazing for that child to see a perfectly capable yet deaf dog become a part of their family!!!

Good luck Sydney

[Frenchy]

What a perfect match this would be!!!

[meb999]

Originally Posted by phoenix

Boxers are the best!!!!!

AMEN to that!!
Good luck to Sydney

[poodletalk]

I'm still waiting to hear back from the lady......................................

[Kayla1984]

He is beautiful!

He looks just like my Apollo!! Identical!

I'd snap him up in a second if I had the adoption fee just sitting around!

[Lil'RickyMom]

If it doesn't work out, you can try listing him on the deaf dog site. I'm not home now, so I don't know it, but I can get back on later and post the link. I have to go on there myself to post a deaf pup I just rescued.

Where is this dog? Is he at risk of being put down or is he in a safe place where he can stay until adoption?

Get back to me, I want to see if I can help... Even though I am full, a dog on death row usually finds a spot somewhere with me. You can e-mail me directly as I don't have much time to check the forums these days. sophie@rimasec.net

[BoxerRescueMTL]

Hi Sophie, Sydney is safe - he is wth Sasha's Den.

[poodletalk]

The family emailed me, we will talking more in depth this coming weekend. Lets keep our fingers crossed

[meb999]

[mafiaprincess]

Update please?
*hopes for good news*

[Inverness]

Fingers crossed here too...

[poodletalk]

I had a talk with the family yesterday, they are still interested in adopting a dog but not right now. They never had a dog before, their son wants one and they think it would be good for their son to have one.

They just want to make sure their son and the rest of the family understands the responsbility of a dog and what to do and not what to do with a dog.

Yesterday their son walked my husky and it was a match made in heaven. My dog who's normally abit of a grump with new people adored him and vs versa.

Since they live close to me and they are family members, when I have time on the week-ends I am going to take my dog over to their place and we will go for walks together. I will show the boy how to walk a dog properly and many other things.

There will be an adoption of a dog eventually, I just don't know when.

[badger]

Poor Sydney. I hope he gets a break soon. Such a smoochy face.

[meb999]

any updates on Sydney?