Role of a Hearing Dog
Hearing service dogs are trained to support hard of hearing and deaf individuals by alerting the individual of sounds they cannot hear or have a hard time hearing on their own. Examples of sounds hearing dogs can be trained to distinguish are alarms, crying babies, door knocking, and the handler’s name being called.
Once the hearing dog hears the sound, they make physical contact with their master. There is a different physical contact for each different sound. For example, when the hearing dog detects a baby crying, they would nudge the owner with their nose; in contrast, when the hearing dog detects the handler’s name being called, they’d place a paw on their thigh. Hearing dogs can also lead their handlers to the source of the sound.
Here is a hearing dog in action alerting their owner of the alarm clock.
Benefits of a Hearing Dog
With a hearing dog, handlers can have an increased sense of security knowing that they will always be linked to the world of sound around them. A hearing dog can give people a sense of safety and independence that other assistive devices cannot provide.
Some deaf and hard of hearing individuals can feel slightly isolated from the hearing world and a hearing dog can be a wonderful companion, a source of emotional connection, and a working partner.
Common Breeds of Hearing Dogs
Hearing dogs are often rescued from shelters and tend to be mixed breeds. The most important characteristics of a hearing service dog is its trainability and temperament. The dogs should also be motivated, alert, attentive, focused, and obedient. Hearing dogs need to be ready to work at any given time.
Most hearing dogs are small to medium dogs so they can accompany their owners wherever they go. Common hearing dog breeds are Labrador Retrievers, Terrier mixes, Poodles, Crocker Spaniels, Shih Tzus, and Chihuahuas. However, hearing dogs can come in all shapes and sizes!
Image source: Petlife.ca
Training Required to Become a Hearing Dog
In Canada, there are two “program trained” service dog providers: PADS in British Colombia and Lions Club in Ontario. Due to the limited number of training facilities, there is over a two-year waitlist to receive a hearing dog.
Steps for Hearing Dog Training:
Initial Training – Consists of basic socialization and obedience training such as stay, sit, and come.
Audio Response Training – Responding to specific sounds in a home such as smoke alarms, telephone, doorbell, and knocks at the door.
Pairing – A hearing dog is paired with a deaf or hard of hearing person.
Team Training – The pair works together, and the dog is trained on specific sounds in the persons home such a specific household appliances and their masters’ name.
The entire process can take a few weeks to several months. If the potential hearing dog fails at any point during the training, they will not become a registered hearing service dog. Of all the hearing service dogs that start training, only 20% of them successfully complete it. Successful hearing dogs must be the best of the best.
Image source: Pads.ca
Perspective on Hearing Dogs
Many culturally Deaf people choose to not have service dogs for various reasons. These individuals have made the appropriate adaptations to their life to not need a hearing dog. They utilize flashing light doorbells, bed vibrating alarm clocks, and other technologies to alert them to relevant sounds around them. Most Deaf/ Hard of Hearing people don't use hearing ear dogs because most of the time, technology is more than enough to give them independence but some might prefer the use of hearing ear dogs over technology.
For people who have grown up most of their life being able to hear but for some reason have a form of hearing loss later in life tend to not only rely on technology but also have hearing ear dogs. Often, they feel they are missing a connection to sounds around them and feel more comfortable with a hearing dog to assist them. The choice to have or not to have a service dog is very personalized.
Some people feel like they do not necessarily need the alerts from the hearing dog, but they do feel safer in their homes if they own a dog. Many deaf or hard of hearing people own dogs that are not formally trained as hearing dogs but provide a link to the sounds around them. Most dogs bark at doorbells and run to sources of sound which can provide them with the desired cues they seek.
Image Source: hearingdogs.org
There are many personal reasons to have or not have a hearing dog. These hard-working hearing service dogs are more than just a cute face; they can bridge a gap, be great supports, and even better companions.
What other sounds do you think hearing dogs should be able to identify? Comment below!
References
Dog Guide Programs - Hearing. (n.d.). Retrieved November 20, 2020, from https://www.dogguides.com/hearing.html
Hearing Dog Program: Hearing Dog FAQs. (n.d.). Retrieved November 20, 2020, from https://www.hearingdog.org/hearing-dog-program/hearing-dog-faqs.html
Staff, A. (2018, May 22). Hearing Dogs: Service Dogs for the Deaf or Hearing Impaired. Retrieved November 20, 2020, from https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/hearing-dogs/
Under what circumstances would a deaf person who speaks ASL and adapts effectively also need a hearing service dog? (n.d.). Retrieved November 20, 2020, from https://www.quora.com/Under-what-circumstances-would-a-deaf-person-who-speaks-ASL-and-adapts-effectively-also-need-a-hearing-service-dog
Wilson, W. (n.d.). Hearing Dogs 101. Retrieved November 20, 2020, from https://www.chha.ca/hearing-dogs-101/
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