Dogs who have disabilities are just like any other. Although they may need some small accommodations, they live a very full life. Much like this handsome Pit Bull, who may not have hearing, but sure has an enormous heart.
This well-trained therapy dog sure made this group of students’ day! He even brought them all gifts, not that they needed any after seeing him.
Watch their elated reactions in this video shared on December 22:
@deafcoleChristmas Surprise for Some Awesome Kids #dogsoftiktok #pitbullsoftiktok #deafdog #dogoftheday #fyp
What a great surprise to have around the holidays for these young children! This beautiful and well-mannered therapy dog named Cole (@deafcole) was waiting on the bus as a surprise to join these kids on their field trip. Just like the children he’s here to see, Cole is deaf. When they enter the bus and catch a glimpse of him waiting for them, they grin from ear to ear. Even the bus driver wore an enormous smile with this new passenger on board. As the students climbed on, they immediately dropped to their knees to hug and pet him. Along the ride, he takes turns sitting next to the children in their seats. He also loved it when the kids used sign language to communicate with him. His dad reports, “It was the best day!” That’s for sure!
Related: Dad of Deaf Therapy Dog Gives Emotional Speech After Pup Named ‘ASPCA Dog of the Year’
Training a deaf dog
Training a deaf dog is similar to training a dog who is not hearing impaired, according to the AKC. However, instead of using voice commands, they need to learn hand signals, or sign language, much like they trained Cole to do. Whichever you choose, they stress, “Be consistent, so you always use the same signal for the same behavior.” It’s also important to work on startle training. “It’s essential to desensitize your dog and teach them that being startled is a good thing and can lead to rewards,” they report. This is especially the case for older dogs who may have lost their hearing over time.
This special surprise touched the hearts of people who watched the clip. Viewer @JanePAulsen responded, “They were so excited! The first little girl was so happy, she was speechless!” This boy made their day. Viewer @PetraBaauw remarked, “He is such a friendly soul. He would never hurt a fly. Sweet Cole.” He is a very well-behaved pooch. Viewer @BrittanyHanley reacted, “As a parent to a deaf 5-year-old, I love this so much!” He’s a wonderful dog with a special dad who is willing to share his time, too.
This charming pooch spends his time bringing smiles to everyone he meets. Perhaps in this new year, it’s something we can all strive to achieve each day.
