Kris Metz, seen here with her Papillon KC, will lead the deaf dog training coming to the Upper Ohio Valley Obedience Training Club. (Photo Provided)

BELLAIRE — The Upper Ohio Valley Obedience Training Club believes any dog can learn, even ones that can’t hear.

The nonprofit club is offering a six-week training course for deaf dogs and puppies beginning at 6 p.m. Sept. 3 at the club’s headquarters at 56490 Key Bellaire Road in Bellaire. In that course, instructors Kris Metz and Connie Smith, both of whom have deaf dogs, will guide dogs and their owners through training exercises based on hand signals.

Club board member Linda Cornell said Metz and her Papillon KC have taken classes she instructs and Cornell marvels over Metz’s work with her dog. She said KC is almost ready to compete in American Kennel Club shows.

“She is amazing,” Cornell said of Metz. “She truly is a specialist with deaf dogs. She said she would love to teach and bring her knowledge to others with deaf dogs and puppies.”

Most of the dogs in classes like these are born deaf, Cornell said, but the class is also effective for older dogs who are losing their hearing. The old saying “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” isn’t true here, she said.

“Senior dogs, they’re never too old to learn,” Cornell said. “When they start losing their hearing, it’s good to teach them signals to come, sit and stay and things like that.”

The cost is $75 for the six-week course. Those interested in applications for the course can email the club at UOVOTC@gmail.com.

The club is also offering other classes: a puppy kindergarten starting Sept. 3 from 7:15 p.m.-8:15 p.m., an advanced obedience class starting Sept. 2 from 6-7 p.m., a trick dog class starting Sept. 2 from 7:30-8:30 p.m. and a beginners manners class starting Sept. 4.

Those who join the club, after taking two classes, can enroll in classes for $30 per session. The club also has a program for those who adopt dogs from shelters. Those owners receive a 20% discount on classes.