You don’t need to call her when it’s time for “dinner” or say the word “ball” to get her excited. Eowyn, an adorable corgi, has surpassed the need for words. This clever pup has learned to understand sign language, just by watching her deaf owners communicate!
Emily Cassese, 32, was born with partial hearing, but over time she lost her hearing completely. When she moved in with her husband, Derek, 34, they embraced a new form of communication: sign language. Derek, an Orlando-based engineer, had owned Eowyn, now 9 years old, since she was a puppy. He quickly noticed that his corgi was both “stubborn and intelligent,” with a knack for learning new things.
After Emily and Derek began their life together, Eowyn became an integral part of their household. What they didn’t expect, though, was for Eowyn to pick up on their silent conversations. Without any formal training, this bright corgi started to recognize the hand signs used in everyday activities. For instance, when Derek used the sign for “dinner,” Eowyn leaped into action, barking with excitement.
“One day, she saw me sign ‘D’ for dinner, and she immediately jumped off the couch, barking,” Derek shared. “I looked at Emily and realized the dog had learned signs just by watching us.”
What’s even more impressive is how naturally Eowyn picked up the signs. The couple never set out to teach her sign language, but the clever corgi made associations on her own. From then on, she didn’t need to hear a word; she only needed to see the signs to understand what was coming next.
Though many signs spark joy for Eowyn, she has her limits. Derek laughs when talking about how Eowyn reacts to certain signs—like the sign for “bath.” The moment they gesture scrubbing their shoulders, Eowyn knows what’s coming and tries to avoid it. Another sign she doesn’t care for? “Failure.” No one knows why, but Eowyn has made it clear she’s not a fan!
The couple began sharing Eowyn’s remarkable journey on their YouTube channel, where they post videos of their life using sign language. To their surprise, one of their videos went viral, racking up over 80 million views. Viewers were fascinated by Eowyn’s ability to communicate without spoken words. Derek believes the story has resonated with so many because it shows that life, even for a deaf couple, can be very similar to everyone else’s.
“People have been inspired by our videos,” Derek said. “They’ve reached out to ask how to start learning sign language themselves. It’s incredible how this has encouraged so many to begin their own journey.”
For Derek and Emily, Eowyn isn’t just a dog; she’s a symbol of the connection that unites all of us. Her ability to understand and respond to sign language has helped bridge the gap between the deaf and hearing communities.
“We’re not going to say we’re ‘normal’—we’re quirky, we’re nerdy,” Derek joked. “But what we’ve learned is that we’re just like everyone else. Eowyn has helped us show that to the world.”
With Eowyn by their side, this couple continues to inspire others, reminding us all that communication, love, and understanding come in many different forms—even with a furry friend leading the way.
