Deaf Dogs in AKC Performance Events

Deaf Dogs in Performance Events

As the Performance Chair for the American Toy Fox Terrier Club, I was asked to response to the recent email memo (see below) in regards to allowing deaf dogs to compete in AKC Obedience, Rally, Tracking, and Agility.

I am of the opinion that they should be allowed to compete in Performance activities. If anyone reading this has a different opinion, please feel free to let me know, including why you disagree.

Since I've trained two dogs to a UD and one of which has 5 UDX legs, it is most definitely possible to train a deaf dog to compete in above said events. While neither of my dogs are deaf, they work better with non verbal commands, than verbal. I've watched many handlers over the years in both obedience and agility...with some of these handlers using body language/hand signals in lieu of verbal commands. We all face challenges in dog training, be a dog with deafness or one that hears perfectly fine.

The Toy Fox Terrier breed as a whole is a healthy breed. Deafness is not a serious health concern with this breed.

The ATFTC doesn't foresee any potential consequences in allowing deaf dogs in competition.

Kathy Marble-Brown
ATFTC Performance Chairperson

April 6, 2010

To: All American Kennel Club National Breed Clubs

As you may be aware, the Companion Events Department has been requested to research the possibility of allowing deaf dogs to compete in AKC Obedience, Rally, Tracking, and Agility. Information was presented to the AKC Board of Directors at their November 2009 meeting and the department was directed to discuss the situation further with the delegate committee for Obedience, Tracking, and Agility at their December 2009 meeting.

In an effort to best represent the opinions of all those involved, we are now turning to the National Breed clubs to provide insight in this potential regulation change as well as to express any concerns held by the club. We understand that there are some breeds for which deafness is a more serious health and genetic concern than with others, but we wanted to provide all National Breed Clubs an opportunity to respond.

Please respond to the following questions:

Would your club support a proposal to allow deaf dogs to compete in AKC Companion Events? Why or why not?
Does your club foresee any potential consequences in allowing deaf dogs in competition? If so, please list in detail.
Is deafness a serious health concern for your breed? If so, does the club have any written position statements or materials regarding the club’s stance on deaf dogs? Please provide.

While we have sent this to multiple officers of the club, we ask that each National Breed Club submit only one official club response. Please email your responses to companionevents@akc.org prior to April 20th for inclusion in a memo appearing before the AKC Board of Directors at the May 2010 meeting.

Thank you in advance for your assistance in this matter.

Sincerely,

Curt Curtis
Assistant Vice President
AKC Companion Events