Q: We’re enchanted by Eva, a sweet, young Dalmatian available for adoption through the nearby Dalmatian rescue. Our only concern is that she is deaf. If we adopt her, how will we train her? A: Deafness is inherited in some breeds, including Dalmatians, especially those that are mostly white and have blue eyes. Fortunately, with kind, consistent training, deaf dogs can learn hand signals and become wonderful family pets. Dogs communicate with one another primarily through body language, so many trainers feel it’s actually easier for them to learn hand signals than spoken words. I’ve found hand signals help me silently communicate with my own hearing dogs while I’m talking with someone in the room or on the phone. So, I recommend all dogs learn hand signals. To teach Eva, take her to a group obedience training class taught by someone experienced with deaf dogs. You’ll learn the standard hand …