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By Lucy Notarantonio
Senior Reporter
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A heart‑tugging TikTok video has captured more than 146,000 views, showing the moment a man lifts his newly adopted pit bull mix, Blu, into his arms.
Nathan Davis explains through on‑screen text that Blu is deaf and was rescued from a kill shelter in Texas before finding his new home in Maine.
In the January 20 video, Blu leans into Davis as he carries him indoors, a gesture that viewers described as both trusting and heartbreaking. Davis, who regularly posts updates about his dogs, shared more details in the comments—drawing thousands of supportive reactions from fellow pet owners.
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Davis wrote: "Blu is only 3 and from what I know he’s only known shelters. He’s food aggressive which I have under control but this is my first deaf dog."
He added that training adjustments will be essential: "He’s for sure going to need the vibration collar and also a chest harness for when we go on walks because he pulls and he’s a [muscly] boy."
Other TikTok users jumped in with advice, empathy and shared experiences, creating a growing community of deaf‑dog owners rallying behind the pair.
Advice From Deaf‑Dog Owners
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So far, the clip captioned, "He’s nothing but sweat and gentle. It’s a learning curve for my boy Tucker and I but so far so good. All dogs deserve a loving home," has over 40,000 likes.
Many other deaf dog owners have offered practical tips to help Davis navigate life with Blu.
One user said: "Deaf dog owner here. start slow, use baby sign. you can find it on you tube. its usually one simple gesture and lots of treats. String cheese was a big hit with my dog."
"I adopted a deaf blue heeler. She was always close and watchful of where I was. I think in the beginning, if she was asleep and woke up and I wasn't in sight she would panic and search for me. [I] always made sure she saw me leave," said another user.
A third commenter shared: "We adopted this boy as a deaf puppy, turns out he can hear just fine, he just didn’t wanna hear his rescue mom I guess haha. He can hear a candy or chip wrapper from 5 miles away."
A fourth said: "They learn sign language so easy. I say and sign at the same time to my dogs so they'll know regardless."
Their collective experiences highlight both the challenges and the strong bonds that often form with deaf dogs.
5 Tips for Training a Deaf Dog
According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), the foundation of training a deaf dog is teaching them to focus on their owner. Because they can’t hear verbal cues, deaf canines rely heavily on visual signals and body language, making eye contact and attention‑building exercises essential.
Here are five tips provided by the AKC:
- Teach focus by rewarding your dog every time they look at you so they learn paying attention is worthwhile.
- Use a consistent "look at me" signal—such as a gentle touch or light flash—and pair it with treats until your dog reliably responds.
- Apply gentle, predictable touch in the same spot each time to avoid startling your dog and help them understand your cues.
- Use light signals or vibrations, such as a flashlight flick or floor stomp, to get your dog’s attention when they aren’t looking.
- Replace clicker sounds with a clear hand‑signal marker, such as a thumbs-up, and consistently reward the behavior you want repeated.
As Blu settles into life in Maine, Davis continues to share updates with viewers who have become emotionally invested in the dog’s journey. For many, the viral clip represents not just a rescue story—but a reminder of how deeply a patient, understanding home can transform the life of a dog who has only ever known uncertainty.
Newsweek reached out to @nathandavis22 for comment via TikTok. We could not verify the details of the case.
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