Makaton and Dogs

[r3dh3d]

Not the most random thread title we've ever had, but I suspect it's up there.

We sign randomly to each other in our house. Mostly for DD1's benefit, but when DD2 was wee she picked a fair bit of signing up and will sign for emphasis. And of course, it's handy across a crowded pub....

Anyhoo, we're going to get a dog. And I just know we will sign at the poor thing in the same way as we do at all children - we won't be able to help ourselves. I'm sort of hoping that it should help rather than hinder - dogs work a lot on body language so visual reinforcement of language should actually help them understand a bit.

Am I the only bonkers person who signs at pets? Or has anyone else any experience of whether this is A Good Thing or A Bad Thing?

Dogs pick up on hand signals really well -- deaf dogs are trained mostly with them I think. I guess it will be a good thing.

I get numpty of the week award for thefact that once my babies were born I started gurning and smiling at my dog, like you do to babies.

i sign all over the place. dh tells me when I have signed to someone who would have no idea what I just signed.

i did tell the dog ( we are dogsitting) to sit on her bottom tonight i got as much response from her as I am getting from dd1 and dd2 at the moment.

My sister's dog has been trained to understand signs - but she uses words at the same time so I don't know which the dog is responding to.

r3,that is fascinating!
I would love to know how you get one.

I'm a salt with a big interest in SN, signing and behaviour analysis (ABA) which really started with animals.

Please keep us informed!