Deaf puppy learns sign language

A deaf puppy has learned to communicate with her master using sign language. Snowy was handed in to an animal charity because her owners could not cope with having a deaf dog.

However, within just three weeks of training, the four-month-old Jack Russell can sit, stay and walk, by responding to hand gestures.

The pet has learned a vocabulary of different commands including, sit, stop, lie down, roll over, come back and walk on.



Staff at the Dogs Trust Salisbury in Newton Tony, Wilts, hope that they will now be able to find Snowy a home because of her newly-acquired obedience.

Her trainer, Leslie Carley, described Snowy as "the brightest spark" among the animals at the centre. Mrs Carley said: "Snowy is very bright and learned remarkably quickly, so she's picked up half a dozen commands already.

"When she first came in she didn't have a clue what was going on and would chase around causing trouble. It's incredibly that she's only four months old - but I suppose it's easy to teach a young dog new tricks."