Have you ever seen a dog doorbell? It’s an electronic device mounted on the outside of your house, and it makes a sound so your pup can hear it. These devices are important for dogs with hearing loss or deafness because they allow them to know when someone is at the door.
This blog will explore these helpful gadgets, how they work, and who should use them!
Many people with pets have a doorbell that rings whenever they need to go out. So why would you need two types of bells for when you leave or come home?
Here are some helpful reasons:
1) Deaf dogs are susceptible to sound, so not having the doorbell on means that your dog can’t tell if it’s you at the door or a stranger.
2) Not having a sound for your dog to hear when you come home means that they may spend hours anxiously waiting for you and getting worried. This can be really unhealthy because dogs need emotional support from their owners! Deaf Dog Doorbells take away this anxiety, so your pup doesn’t have to wait for you all day.
3) You can start training your deaf dog to recognize the doorbell sound and associate it with getting attention from his owner. This is a great way to give these dogs more independence!
4) You can get a doorbell for your dog even if you have no intention of training them to use it. This is great for those who want their pup to hear when someone is at the door so they can be more comfortable in their home!
How a Doorbell for Deaf Dogs Works
You might be wondering how these dog doorbells work and what exactly they are.
The device is actually just like a regular doorbell. When someone presses the button on the outside of your house, it sends an electric current to the inside and makes a ring. However, these devices are also connected to a small microphone that can pick up sounds in your house.
The microphone then turns those sounds into electrical signals so they can be sent to the doorbell. Of course, since they turn sounds into electrical signals, it means that these devices can also pick up things like your dog’s barks!
You would install the microphone and doorbell at a place in your house where you want your dog to hear it. For example, if you wanted them to know when someone is at the back door, you would put it on that door.
It is important to note that these devices aren’t a substitute for teaching your dog how to recognize the sound of your voice. They are merely an addition to all the training you do with your pup!
Downsides of Using Door Bells for Deaf Dogs
There are some disadvantages to using a doorbell for deaf dogs. For instance:
- 1) Having the device on all the time means that it could disturb your dog’s sleep or be too loud for them. This is why you should only use these devices when you need them!
- 2) These gadgets aren’t completely pet-friendly, so you can’t leave them on when you are gone for long periods of time. This is because they use a lot of electricity and could hurt your pup if they get too close to it.
How to Train Your Deaf Dog for Doorbell
1) Place the Dog Doorbell at an Area Your Deaf Dog Frequents
You’ll want to put your dog doorbell in a place that you want your pup to hear it. For example, if you wanted them to come to the front door when someone was there, you would put it on that door.
2) Leave the Door Bell on Every Time You Leave
It is important to leave the doorbell on every time you leave for your pup to learn how it works. Just like with all training, this should be a positive experience that makes them happy and content!
3) Teach Your Deaf Dog What It Means When They Hear the Doorbell
Once your pup knows that the doorbell is attached to you, they will learn what it means when they hear it. Start by instructing them to sit every time it rings to associate good things with the sound. You can then teach them more complex behaviors like coming to you, staying, and other commands!
4) Give Lots of Treats and Rewards!
Dogs love treats, so be sure to give your deaf pup lots of them whenever they do the things you want! This is a great way for your pet to feel rewarded while learning to recognize these sounds. Of course, you can also play with them, take them out somewhere fun, or do anything else you know they enjoy when they do what you want.
5) Keep Training Your Dog to Use a Doorbell
Even if your pup has fully learned how to recognize the doorbell, you still need to continue training them just like with anything else! Dogs get rusty just like we all do, so don’t stop working on these important skills!
Doorbells for Deaf Dogs – The Bottom Line
So, are these doorbells a good idea? They can be! Individual dogs will react differently to this new noise, so you’ll want to use your best judgment when trying one of these gadgets.
You might end up finding that your deaf pup doesn’t like the doorbell, or they might ignore it. But, on the other hand, your dog might learn to bark anytime they hear it since that’s a behavior that gets them attention!