A man with hearing difficulties taught his deaf dog sign language

Friendships between owners and animals are sometimes quite unusual! This is especially true for Nick Abbot, an American who suffers from hearing difficulties, and his dog!

This little Labrador called Emerson was the last puppy in his litter and was taken to an animal shelter in Maine before Nick adopted him.

However, the animal had some serious health problems. He wasn’t eating or drinking and suffered from epileptic fits. But above all, the little puppy had hearing problems. So, the shelter placed an advert that attracted Nick’s attention.

‘He came straight to me at the door and sat right away at my feet and stayed there. […] And I knew right then and there that we would get along and understand each other pretty good.’

The shelter had already started to teach him sign language, which Nick was more than happy to continue. With persistence and time, the pup has been able to learn commands. Any dog can in fact learn sign language, since they read body language as much as voice commands.

Nick gives him commands with certain motions, for example when he signs the letter S, it means 'sit down'… Nick and Emerson use all sorts of visual codes and gestures to be able to communicate.

What else can we say; this duo’s story really is touching!