Photo by Bill Green Sara Borin works with her 10-month-old deaf pit bull named Sage. Ms. Borin, an animal trainer by trade, uses treats to gain the pup's attention to allow her to teach it various hand signals. • VIDEO: Ms. Borin talks about what she’s taught Sage. • VIDEO: Coach Jeff Kimmell talks about his Knucklers' marbles team.

Sage's world opened up when shelter volunteers discovered she was deaf, said her owner, Sara Borin.

Ms. Borin adopted 10-month old Sage about three months ago. Since then, she has taught the puppy 18 signs. Sage sits, lies down, heels, shakes and even bows, resting her chin on the floor with her bottom jutting into the air.

Ms. Borin, 20, teaches dog training classes with Sage as her demonstration dog. Ms. Borin's fingers flash rapidly in front of Sage as she follows directions. When she strokes Sage, the dog relaxes and nearly falls asleep.

Sage spent the first five months of her life unable to communicate. Her first owner gave her up because she wouldn't listen. Volunteers at the animal shelter can tell by a dog's behavior if it is deaf, and they quickly spotted that in Sage.

Ms. Borin said volunteers told her Sage became a different dog once a volunteer taught the puppy to sit using a sign.

"All of a sudden she could communicate," Ms. Borin said.

Sage is part of a breed of dogs that were trained to fight, Ms. Borin said. Pit bulls were also trained as small animal hunters, but like any other breed, they want to please their owner.

It's up to the owner to make sure the dog is trained and exercised. Pit bulls are terriers, which means they're high-energy working dogs.

"Most dogs her size have to be walked at least a mile a day," she said.

Ms. Borin plays a lot of fetch with Sage, and has taught the dog to swim beside her kayak in a lake or pond, another form of exercise. She plans to start training Sage in dog agility, an activity for high-energy dogs and their owners.

Ms. Borin has always had rottweilers and German shepherds. She's been training dogs since she joined the 4H Tailwaggers club when she was 8. Besides teaching dog obedience classes, she is a psychology major in college.

"My dream is to train police dogs," she said.

She's always liked working with the "bully breeds," as she calls pit bulls, German shepherds, rottweilers and Doberman pinschers, high-energy dogs with strong bites. Vicious behavior, however, comes from cruel or ignorant treatment, not the dog's personality, she said.

"I have known some wonderful pits and some not-so-wonderful pits," Ms. Borin said. "It's all in how they're trained. Cockers can bite, but when they bite it's not as strong."

Ms. Borin said she tells her classes a bored bully is a bad bully and if you don't find something for them to do, they'll find something to do.

Sage will break a tennis ball in half when she picks it up in her strong jaws. She does whatever Ms. Borin asks, responding to the many treats Ms. Borin carries.

"She'll do anything to make me happy," she said.

She uses treats to train Sage, because deaf dogs can't respond to voice praise. While many trainers advise weaning a dog off treats for obedient behavior, she's not sure that will work for Sage.

Sage watches Ms. Borin intently, and licks her happily when Ms. Borin praises her. Sage will try to jump on visitors, but will stop when Ms. Borin gives the command.

"She does like praise," she said. "I try to switch it up, so she has to guess when she'll get a treat."

Ms. Borin developed sign commands using a combination of American Sign Language and common sense. When Ms. Borin places an index finger on her nose, that means "watch me." That command is helpful when she wants to teach Sage new commands or tricks.

"I'm teaching her to weave in and out of my legs as I walk," she said. "Because it looks cute."

Ms. Borin teaches dog training classes using a clicker method, and Sage's ears will twitch if Ms. Borin clicks the clicker right next to her ear. She feels the vibration of the clicker, Ms. Borin said.

Sage needs extra attention because she's deaf, but she also has typical pit bull characteristics.

"They are little vacuum cleaners," Ms. Borin said. "They will pick up anything. She is very curious and intelligent. I wouldn't suggest them for first-time dog owners."

Sage, nearly all white, is smaller than the typical pit bull, although she will get heavier. White pit bulls, boxers and other related dogs are more likely to be deaf. Dalmatians, which are white with black spots, also are more likely than most dogs to be deaf.

Ms. Borin said she has tapped into a network of deaf-dog owners and rescuers. She particularly admires the owners of deaf and blind dogs.

"I do still talk to her," Ms. Borin said. "She does read lips. Also, you talking changes your body language."

Sage can recognize her name, 'walk' and 'no' from lip-reading, Ms. Borin said.

"I just can't imagine her in someone else's hands," she said.