Hearing Dogs for Deaf People select certain dogs suitable for this job and then train these dogs to alert severely, profoundly or totally deaf people to everyday sounds which hearing people may take for granted such as:

Alarm clock Doorbell Telephone Cooker Timer       Smoke alarm Fire alarm Baby alarm

Certain dogs which possess high intelligence and friendly disposition, showing keen responses to sound and willingness to please will be chosen by a skilful dog trainer. These dogs are selected from many sources; they may be offered by breeders or come from Rescue Centres. This is a great advantage as unwanted and abandoned dogs can be trained to lead active and useful lives in return for good appreciative homes.

These dogs are trained in a specially created home-like environment to recognise and react to the sounds chosen to simulate those in the home of their new owner's environment (after all, not all telephones or doorbells sound the same.) Our skilful dog trainers then take the dogs through their rigorous four month programme, encouraging the touch and lead response through kindness and reward. One week before training is completed, the dog's new owner is invited to spend the remaining time at our guest flat to familiarise themselves with their new hearing companion. Further acclimatisation and training then takes place in their owner's own home.