It is well know in the dog world that white dogs have a predisposition to be born deaf - it is all to do with their genes (hence a lot of deaf Dalmatians). I am sure that the breeder may have had her suspicions but it is almost impossible to prove...

Well, being a "sight hound" this dog will do well being taught using visual signals rather than sound. However, you must understand that these dog have very good sight if objects are moving - and find it a lot harder to see static things. This is why so many dogs do not come back when they are called - they cannot see the owner against a background if the human is not moving! Therefore make sure that any signals you make are either moving (just a little movement if you are close to the dog - bigger movements if the dog is further away) or you are in silhouette so that the dog can see the hand or arm which is away from your body. Try to use the hand/arm nearest to the dog, otherwise your body may block its sight.

As with all dog training it is important to be consistent. If you use one signal to mean one thing - don't change it. Also do not use a signal for any other command than the one you first trained it. "Hear Hear" will be able to help you a lot and in the meantime look at Barry Eaton's web site - it has lots of very useful tips to help you as well. You can even clicker train your dog using a small torch and switching on the light instead of making a clicking sound.

Just one little warning for the future. As I said before, sight hounds have a very strong instinct to chase moving objects (prey) and so you will find it very difficult to "call" your dog back if she learns to enjoy chasing either the cats (which she may do as she grows older and more inventive!) and/or your other dog. Therefore, until you are very, very sure that you can get her attention I would strongly suggest that you manage the situation and do not let her have the opportunity to chase these very tempting "things". Remember that first impressions are what dogs learn and remember most - if they do something that is rewarding they will repeat the behaviour, especially when learnt as a puppy. One way of catching her attention is to have some very smelly, tasty food in a little sealed plastic box (such as tinned fish, smelly cheese, cooked meat) so that you can open the box and let her smell the aroma from a distance. As long as the wind is in the right direction her amazing sense of smell will notice the atoms of food scent in the wind and she will come to you for one of the lovely tasty and smelly treats. Reward her with one while holding her collar and then allow her to go off again. She will learn that smelling the food and having her collar (or harness) held is OK and that it is not necessarily the end of her free time. I hope these are of some help to you.

PS. Can I strongly recommend reading Deaf Dogs and Deaf Dogs in Agility, both by one of our Guest Writers, Helen Brown.