Woody Alp

Woody is an approximate 4-year-old (vet's best guess) Australian Shephard mix (maybe with Maltese, Poodle, or Yorkie). Weighing only 10 pounds he is a dog who is very easy to carry around and likes it. His blue eyes stand out as he looks at you with so much love and shows he wants to be with you every minute of every day. Everyone who meets him uses the word "sweet" to describe him.

Woody came from a large hoarding situation that kept the animals in a warehouse. No A/C, no beds, no vaccines, no flea/tick/ heart worm prevention and often very little water. These dogs usually never saw the inside of a house, and worse yet, their human interaction was so limited. 4LD welcomed Woody with open arms as we change his life forever. During the past week in foster care he has really enjoyed living as a dog should. Woody was never potty trained in his previous living situation. His foster family has begun the process, and his adopters will need to continue helping him learn to go potty outside.

He is now realizing the comfort of lying in a dog bed, the security having his own bowls for food and water being fed at regular times, the excitement of humans around giving him attention, and receiving the feeling of love and reciprocating that love.

Walking on a leash is not something Woody has had any experience doing and is not something he understands yet. The foster mother has been successful getting him to walk on the leash in the yard but sometimes Woody will pull or want to head toward the house because this is new to him. He is making progress and his foster mom knows he has potential to be a leash walker - 4LD just wants his permanent family to know leash walking will be something they will need to work on.

Woody is deaf, but he uses his eyesight to connect with the people around him. His foster family has begun communicating with hand gestures, such as waving him over and rewarding him with a treat when he comes. He happily follows them around the house and out into the yard, and they describe him as extremely smart and quick to learn. They suspect he may never have been able to hear, and he seems comfortable navigating the world through visual cues.

Woody's adopters will need to develop a system of hand signals to communicate with him. Like his foster family, they can look forward to seeing the joy in his eyes when he understands what they are asking and responds. Woody may use whines and barks to let them know what he needs, while relying on visual cues rather than spoken words to understand them.

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The average lifespan for this breed of dog is 15 years; therefore, Woody's adopter will need to be prepared to care for him for many years so he will not have to move to a different home again.

Woody's adoption fee is $620. This dog comes microchipped, neutered, up to date on all necessary vaccines/rabies shots, dewormed, and heartworm tested being negative. He is currently being fostered in the Plant City/Tampa Florida area.

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***We are a foster-based rescue with no shelter or facility to view our dogs, and our address is a mailing address only. Please be patient as we are an all-volunteer rescue team, and our rescue dogs are in various loving foster homes throughout West-Central Florida. As a general rule we try to limit our adoptions to within the state of FL. If interested in one of our dogs, please fill out an application at www.4luckydogs.org, and we will contact you by phone/text if we feel your application is the best fit out of the ones received.***

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INFORMATION ON DEAF DOGS

Deaf pets are just as intelligent as hearing pets. They can be taught sign language commands and are fully trainable. Deaf dogs can be marvelously adaptable and inventive (dogs are good at using their other senses). When it comes to learning, deaf dogs are like little sponges soaking up everything. People do not think of deaf dogs as having a "disability", just a dog who is a little different.

A deaf dog will bring years of love to a family with only minimal additional investment in training time for you and your family. Adopting a deaf dog can be a uniquely rewarding experience.

Key benefits of adopting a deaf dog…

Less stress from loud noises: Deaf dogs are not bothered by loud sounds like thunder, fireworks, or traffic, which can significantly reduce anxiety levels.
Stronger bond with owner: Training a deaf dog using hand signals creates a unique and deeper connection with the owner, as they rely heavily on visual cues for communication.
Suitable for quieter environments: If you live in a peaceful area or prefer a calmer home, a deaf dog may be a good fit as they are less likely to be startled by sudden sounds.
Potential for therapy work: Deaf dogs can excel in therapy roles due to their calm demeanor in loud situations and ability to provide comfort through physical contact.
Rewarding training experience: Learning to train a deaf dog using hand signals can be a fulfilling challenge, requiring patience and creativity.
Giving a deserving pet a home: Deaf dogs are often overlooked, so adopting one can provide a loving home to a dog who might otherwise struggle to find one.

Important considerations when adopting a deaf dog…

Extra training commitment: Proper training with hand signals is essential to ensure your dog understands commands. Some ideas are to place a bell on your dog's collar so you can find him/her and buy a tag for your dog's collar that says: "[Name] is deaf. If found, please call …".
Safe environment awareness: Be mindful of potential hazards in your surroundings and take extra precautions to keep your dog safe. A deaf pet should never be allowed to roam freely outdoors unless they are in a securely fenced enclosure, since they cannot hear cars or other dangers approaching.
Visual communication skills: You will need to be comfortable using hand signals and body language to communicate with your dog. Essential signals are: sit, stay, come, down, good, no and watch. Also establish a signal for your dog's name.

Referral to trainer for deaf dogs

OUT OF THIS WORLD DOGS - Home

Links about Adopting a Deaf Dog

Should You Adopt a Deaf Dog? | Petfinder

10 Reasons Why Deaf Dogs Rock - Deaf Dogs Rock