I have thought about this too. I had wanted to try clicker training with Wooly, but then I thought what about Leopold? I don’t think he would know the difference and it would make it difficult to teach Wooly. So I suppose I would have to separate them if I wanted to try it.

Despite Leopold being deaf, it is difficult to sneak up on him sometimes. He has learned to keep an eye on the doorway or keep an eye on Wooly. So if he is where he can see the doorway, he will watch for me. If not, he will take visual cues from Wooly. I can only sneak up on Leopold when he has his head buried in the hay or when he is so focused on doing something naughty that he isn’t paying attention (especially if his back is turned to me). Perhaps as Mocha progress, he will learn other ways to make sure nothing is sneaking up on him.

Have you thought about maybe trying hand signals? I have heard mixed results with that, but you could certainly try it as an alternative to clicker training.

Here’s a crazy suggestion, but what about using a small pocket flashlight? You could wave it against the wall he’s facing or across his head when his eyes are closed to get his attention. Once he begins to associate it with you, he will understand it as a signal you are there.

Because it may be that his hearing is lost in the lower register but not the higher ones. Try a very soft high pitched kids whistle and see if he hears it. If he does, I would use that instead of a clicker. It’s unique, fits with the clicker training technique and isn’t used for anything else. If he seems deaf to that too, then consider flicking the flashlight on and off fast instead of a click. It may be easier to place it on a table or counter when you enter his room, so you can grab it to announce your entrance, and pocket it for flicking sessions.

Mocha – LOL – how many ways can you spell “HEAR” ? I counted three.