Nick Abbott, 31, was born deaf. So was his dog Emerson.

When he first saw a photo of the pup posted by the rescue organization NFR Maine on Facebook, he knew it was meant to be.

When Emerson was rescued in Florida at just 6 weeks old, he was experiencing seizures and was infected with the contagious and potentially fatal canine parvovirus. Only after his treatment for that did his hearing disability become evident.

“Once we got him home from the vet’s office from Florida, we realized he had hearing difficulties,” NFR Maine’s Lindsay Powers told Good Morning America. “He had such a rough start to life.”

After getting him healthy, he still had a tough time getting adopted because of his deafness. That was, until Abbott saw the Facebook plea with the dog’s photo in March 2019.

And who could resist this face?!

Abbott told WABI-5:

“I said, ‘Oh, he’s deaf, too. Maybe I can go check him out to see what he’s all about.'”

He made the trip after he simply couldn’t stop thinking about the pup.

And it was clear from their first meeting that their relationship was going to be a good one.

“He came straight to me at the door and sat right away at my feet and stayed there. So you can tell he kind of picked me. And I knew right then and there that we would get along and understand each other pretty good.”

But it wasn’t just the happy ending that made this perfect pair newsworthy – it was the silent training they had embarked upon (no pun intended) after Emerson’s adoption. Abbott is teaching the pup sign language commands.

He said the dog is very smart and started picking up commands within days (and is very food-motivated).

While Abbott was concerned about how his older dog Scout might react to a new puppy, the two became fast friends.

While the little black Lab mix is still learning, he now knows a number of sign language commands: sit, lay down, and stay were the first he picked up (as most dogs do), but he can also give kisses and bark on command.

When the family was visited by local news station WABI in April 2019, Emerson put one new skill on display for the first time. As Abbott swept his hand across in a straight line, the dog finally got the message and laid down.

“Well, that’s a first,” he said, laughing into the camera.

Even a month after his adoption – which was processed immediately because the shelter saw that the two were such a good fit – he was impressing his new family.

“If Nick reaches up and shakes his ear lobe, Emerson will bark — it’s so cute,” Abbott’s mom Richelle told Good Morning America.

Abbott couldn’t be happier with his decision to adopt the puppy and has even started an Instagram page so people can follow their adventures.

“The bond that we have is awesome,” he said. “We understand each other very well. I’d like to think it was meant to be. He’s special.”

The pair has inspired so many that a children’s book about their story – I Picked Him – was published just months after the adoption.

A portion of each sale will go to charity.

Be sure to scroll down to see footage from some of their sweet training sessions.

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Source: CBS News via Facebook, USA Today, WABI News, Good Morning America