Adopt Laney!

History: Laney came in as a stray from Southern California. We’ve fostered a deaf dog before, so we said yes. A wonderful volunteer flew her to Sacramento to start her next chapter with us.

Deaf: Laney is completely deaf. We do not know if she was born that way or lost her hearing later. Living with a deaf dog is often easier than people expect. She stays connected, checks in often, and prefers to be with her people. She knows basic hand signals and is eager to learn.

Training: Current cues: sit, come, kennel, potty. In progress: down and stay.
She sleeps in her crate at night and uses the dog door reliably. On leash, she is easy to walk and does not pull. She may angle toward other dogs to say hello but redirects easily. Because she is solidly built, her walker should be steady on their feet (not too frail or too young). There is not a mean bone in her body.

Outings: Laney excels on the leash and in social situations. She is very calm in stores and will sit patiently while you browse. If she is out by herself with you, she has a good heel. If she does go slightly in front of you, she does not pull you along. Our cue for “watch me” is a double-tug on the leash and she will make eye contact with you. She’s very food-motivated and we reward her often on outings for good behavior (this can be as simple as a peice of dry dog kibble).
We have 5 dogs and sometimes we will walk them in a pack and allow them to walk in front of us. Our dogs our voice-trained to “wait” (stop) and “here” (return to me) - Laney is very attuned to the other dogs she is walking with and stops and returns when they do. Laney has come with us to breweries, outdoor patios, and picnic tables. She is patient and does not beg. If we know we will be out for awhile, we bring her a bully stick or beef cheek to give her something to do.

Manners: Excellent house manners. She greets politely and does not jump. Her whole body wiggles with joy when she sees you (or her tail will start thumping with pleasure if she’s laying down!). She loves car rides and walks and will hover near the door when it is time to go. A signal for “back” helps her give space, and she is picking it up quickly. In the car she is calm and quiet, usually curling up to nap or watching the world go by. She recently came with our family on fall break vacation and was perfect on our 6 hour car trip - no whining, no moving around, no car sickness (it was very a windy road at times). At home she likes to be near us. She naps in the office while I work, lounges on the couch in the evening, and stretches out on the bed while we read. But she doesn’t invade our space or try to be a lap dog - she’s happy with a gentle stroke or scratch. She enjoys being brushed, is very good for nail clipping (clippers or dremel), and is easy to bath and blow dry (no, her short coat does not require blow-drying, but we like to test all our foster dogs with it!).

Quirks: Laney runs left-hand circles. Only left-hand circles. We do not know if it is neurological or related to her deafness, but it is her favorite way to self-exercise. If she gets excited or stressed, she may do smaller circles indoors. A light touch on her shoulder or a small wave breaks the loop. Inside, she is relaxed unless it is play time with our dog, Charlie.

Dog Friendly: Laney lives peacefully with our four dogs, 10 to 40 pounds. Her favorite game is galloping big circles in the yard. She may chase along if another dog is after a ball, but she is not toy-driven herself. Once she knows a friend, she enjoys rough-and-tumble play and bitey-face. She respects other dogs’ toys and food.

Noise: Yes, Laney has a voice. She barks - usually with excitement when we go in the backyard to play! She will occasionally give a low whine or bark when seeking attention (which we try to avoid to teach good manners). During play, she will rumble and growl like a champ and will sometimes bark to invite other dogs to join in. Inside the house, she settles well.

Cats and Kids: This gal has not lived with cats or small children. She has met both on social outings. She was calm meeting a cat, but did lunge when the cat suddenly ran off. She has the potential to be cat-friendly with more training. Small children have always been treated sweetly and calmly by Laney. At foster events, she has sat quietly to be pet by toddlers and was also unfazed by a newly walking baby. While her size may knock over smaller children, there is no indication that she’s not suited to a home with kids. 

What she’s looking for: Laney would do best with at least one friendly resident dog. Like our other deaf foster, she takes comfort from canine company and picks up the house rules by watching them. She would not do well in a home that requires her to be in a crate all day. She is non-destructive in the house and does well crated for reasonable short stretches. She is happy to relax at home, but she is a young dog who lives for walks and hikes. She is easy at breweries and on dining patios. A moderately active home with a yard for her circle runs would be ideal.

You can apply to meet her here: https://www.cabullyrescue.org/