If you haven’t had the opportunity to learn about hearing dogs, you’re in luck with this article. You’ve probably heard how helpful seeing eye dogs can be, which assist the blind or sight-impaired in their daily lives. But in the last 10 years, there’s been more focus on hearing dogs who are capable of helping individuals gain more freedom within the hearing-impaired community. What has happened is that many different breeds of dogs, mostly Labradors and Golden Retrievers, are put through a training regimen to help people who suffer from hearing losses.
Training Regimen: What’s Involved
Hearing dogs are very patient dogs, and therefore make great hearing dogs. That’s because they take part in a training program lasting between four and six months to develop the temperament that’s right for this job. They are specially trained to perform tasks to alert individuals with hearing damage, and as such respond to various sounds, like telephones, door knocking and smoke alarms. When matched up with a partner, the dogs are further trained to pick up on sounds that are specific to their environment.
Dogs Helping Hearing-Impaired People
Personalized care training is held to determine a good match which allows the dogs to offer many services to hearing-impaired individuals once they complete the training course. They thus have the ability to let their owners know of various sounds around the house, plus they can communicate in several other situations.
For example, hearing dogs aren’t necessarily trained to alert their owners to the loud sound of a fire engine coming down the road, but their hearing-impaired partners will know in no uncertain terms from their dog’s body language that something is going on. Upon being matched with your dog for a few weeks, you’ll start to understand more sounds and situations based on the reaction to your dog, who will soon be able to detect many different situations for you. As time goes on, you will find that your dog will pick up on even more sounds pursuant to your everyday life, making the bond that much stronger.
How to Get a Dog: Requirements
There’s much more involved in procuring a hearing dog than just filling out an application. To ensure you’re a good candidate, you have to be at least 18 years old and have a friend or family member willing to assist you with in-home training. Your home will also be evaluated so that it’s known you can provide your dog with a proper living space. Attendance at canine training, with annual training and tracking follow-ups, is also mandatory to keep the dog on his toes and learn new things. You will soon be living on a daily basis with a hearing dog whose mission is to make your everyday life easier. You’ll also find you have a brand new companion with whom you can enjoy daily living.