DOGumentary

CAN WE CREATE A NEW HUMAN-TO-PET, PET-TO-HUMAN, TWO-WAY, TOUCH SENSITIVE, TACTILE LANGUAGE FOR DEAFBLIND DOGS? AND CAN WE TIE THIS INTERACTIVE MEANS OF COMMUNICATION TO PET-FRIENDLY MONTESSORI LEARNING STYLES?

We believe that we can. In fact, from the moment we adopted/rescued DOGtorYakoo, his learning and teaching give-and-take process started to take shape. The specific techniques we developed and refined grew out of the experiences that deafblind humans are discovering for themselves. These steps center on advancing the visually based American Sign Language and incorporating into the touch and tap techniques for more tactile intensive hand and body connections. For example, for PROtactile human interactions, one hand might spell out letters, words, and phrases, while a second hand conveys signals about what is taking place in the setting where the ASL conversation is taking place. This intensive set of SITUATIONAL AWARENESS upgrades dramatically improved ASL, particularly for those with hearing AND vision challenges.

For DOGtor Yakoo (and now his ‘little sister’ NUKA), we’ve discovered that similar approaches work well. Deafblind dogs can become much more intensely involved with their own sense of situational awareness even as they are guided by simple touch and tap guidance. We began calling our adaptations our PAWtactile language because like the PROtactile engagement for humans, our Yakoo has a grander understanding of all that takes place in the environment surrounding him.

It has been about two years since we first adopted Yakoo and started making him a more involved part of our family. Across these months, we’ve documented the many interesting and entertaining steps that this required, thus building the basic components of our PAWtactile language. Numerous online social media postings — videos, still images, stories, reels, etc., from our @DogtorYakoo platorms — showcase these experiences, and will ultimately become the footage for Yakoo’s DOGumentary, an interactive book, and numerous teaching and learning materials.

Please keep an eye on this page for updates on the progress we’re making (beginning in 2023 and early 2024) on this initiative. You can also help by helping us cover some of the costs associated with developing and testing Yakoo’s PAWtactile communications by providing us a gift using our GOFUNDYAKOO page. The full, interactive PAWtactile book and touch and tap teaching tools will likewise be made available on this website as we finish putting them together.

Thank you for watching and supporting our work. We know that Yakoo (and now his ‘little sister’ Nuka) appreciates all his supporters. Feel free to share your thoughts or questions with us and we’ll do our best to address your interests and concerns as we move forward.