A deaf dog is taught sign language to increase chances of being adopted.

Meet Reggie, a six-year-old crossbreed who is already a pro at sign language. You won't be able to call him over with a whistle, but he knows the signs for 'sit', 'down', and 'drop'. Unfortunately, Reggie was born deaf, but that hasn't stopped him from being a responsive and delightful dog. The staff at the kennels where he currently lives describe him as a "wonderful old boy" who is always eager to learn new tricks. Reggie's previous owner passed away three months ago, and since then, he has been in the care of the RSPCA. The staff at the kennels are concerned that finding a new home for a deaf dog like Reggie may be a bit more challenging, so they have been working with him to teach him sign language, giving him an advantage in finding a new forever home.

You may be wondering if this is a specialized form of sign language, but the kennel staff assure us that Reggie is learning British Sign Language. He has already mastered eight words, including the signs for 'hi', 'sit', 'down', 'paw', 'come', 'drop', 'wait', and even 'good boy'. And there's more to come – next on the list is the sign for 'sleep', which will be his cue to go to bed. Of course, whether Reggie chooses to actually follow this command once he knows what it means is another story!

If you think Reggie might be the perfect addition to your family, he is currently being cared for at the Halifax, Huddersfield, Bradford & District Branch in Halifax, West Yorkshire. The staff at the branch are keen to continue Reggie's training with his new owner, and Animal Centre Manager Claire Kendall says that Reggie is a quick learner who picks up new signs like a pro. She also mentions that they make sure to train him in a calm environment with no distractions, and they keep the sessions short and fun with lots of tasty treats as rewards. Reggie's resilience and ability to adapt to his hearing impairment is a testament to the amazing nature of animals.

It's believed that Reggie was born deaf, as he is very receptive to hand signals, movement, and light. He reads our body language and hand signals to understand what we are asking of him, and a thumbs up means "good boy". The kennel staff are hopeful that there is someone out there who will be able to dedicate the time and effort to continue Reggie's training and give him the wonderful life he deserves. After all, Reggie is a shining example of how resilient animals can be, and he deserves a loving forever home.

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