Just Plain Ralphie | Companion; Artist; 1st Deaf Grand
and Masters Champion Trick Dog of all Breeds;
Triangle Player; Strings By Mail Mascot. And I also have a little sister, Simply
Kennie!
A born-deaf dog who paints with a brush and does
other fun things to generate smiles! Ralphie is the 1st deaf dog of all
breeds to earn grand and masters champion trick dog titles from DMWYD. He's
also the mascot for Strings By Mail.
Welcome! I’m Ralphie… just plain Ralphie. I was responsibly bred but due
to the happenstance of genetics, I was also born deaf. Once my ears opened up,
when puppies typically begin to hear the world around them, my breeder realized
something was different. I continued to sleep soundly while other puppies awoke
to eagerly greet people when they approached. Still, through observing me, my
potential was recognized. I was gifted with early conditioning and handling,
just like other puppies, and was given the opportunity to prove myself.
"How much of a dog's abilities is based on what the human believes is possible?"
-Just Plain Ralphie
Curious Paintings by a Deaf Dog...
I’ve been painting since I was a pup. When I was first learning how to paint, it
was a trick that required me to pick up a paint loaded brush, put the paint on
paper, then put the brush back in the pot. I admit, there were times I painted
mom and my little sister and that I’d rather just drop my brush on the floor
sometimes.
I first started painting with washable paints on butcher paper. A special plastic sleeve holds
my brushes. The last painting I worked on was usually left on the wall to dry, then
moved up higher and replaced with a new sheet of butcher paper or a canvas.
Mom walked by a painting that was drying on the wall one day and something
caught her eye. I had painted a star. Can you find the star in one of the
paintings below? She looked through my other paintings and spotted more things…
runners, a cat, a dancer, a flamingo, a lighthouse, a tulip… all hidden in the
larger paintings. The tulip below was actually painted on the wall. I had missed
the paper entirely.
Below are some of the curious things I’ve painted. I like to call it, “what do
you see” art. While some people just see a mess of colors, others see fun shapes
or things. Give it a try!
The first painting is a combination of two. Look for the blue guy with the big
floppy shoes in the top painting. Is there also a lacrosse player? Find a short
video clip of me painting with mom as I’m painting the orange man running. The
other paintings have their titles hidden so you use your own imagination.
People can communicate with me. Some of my visual cues are American Sign
Language and others are unique signs mom made up. Any sign can be used for a new
behavior as long as it’s unique and used consistently with good timing. Adding a
tiny treat makes it more fun, memorable and engaging.
It all starts with a look, freely offered watchfulness. With each look, I was
rewarded with a happy face, a thumbs-up and a tiny treat so it would happen more
often. Timing is important because this is what helps to communicate to deaf
dogs exactly when we’ve done something right. If timing is off, we won’t
understand what’s being asked of us. You can capture behaviors as they naturally
occur or you can lure us using a super good tiny treat at our nose. Brief
training sessions incorporated into everyday life can really add up to better
understanding and retention.
It’s a beautiful thing when communication has been established because learning
and understanding can begin! Focus should be on a dog’s available senses rather
than the sense or senses that are missing. One less sense is also one less
distraction.
Deaf dogs can be enabled through love, conditioning/handling and training so
they can best reach their own individual potential.
Deaf Dog Play and
Training Videos
Painting in My Studio
5 Tricks in About 1 Minute
I Play the Triangle
Play-Training in Public
Tunnels… wow, they’re amazing!
Playing Basketball
Some signs and
behavior requests I understand…
Look at me
Down
Stand
Sit up
Come
Head down
Back up
Spin
Elephant trick
Drop down
Heel, beside me
Prance beside me
Right Turn
Left Turn
Hold, Carry, Drop It.
Wave
Cross your paws
Roll over to side and roll over
Ring a bell
Paint with a brush
Mimic behaviors- spin, lift feet.
Bow
Directions by pointing
Signaling to go around, head down or to bop an object.
Stay, wait
Open a cooler and bring me drink.
Around-place
Side
Sniff floor
Go to the door
Orbit (backwards around me)
Put paw on object
Play the triangle
Put letter in open slot
Shake hands
Away, go to mark
Skateboard, 3 on the board, pushing with the 4th.
Put my toys away.
Go away, pick up objects, bring them back and drop them in a container.
Take an object, go away, drop it in a container, return.
Basketball
Do your business (aka potty).
Let’s put your topknot up.
Let’s wash your mucky face.
Eat/water
Touch with Nose
More!
Skateboarding at the park.
Painting a big paper Mache Easter egg with my brush.
“What do you mean I missed a spot?”
Ralphie on the bay, walking by the marina. He
doesn't own a boat, just visiting.
Just Plain Ralphie - Deaf Dog... DEAF-ying Expectations
Just Plain Ralphie
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Copyright 2022-2024 Jaclin Dunne. All rights reserved.