Frequently asked questions

These are just some of the questions asked. Either click on the question below to take you directly to the answer or simply scroll through all the questions and answers.

• Are you the only organisation that trains hearing dogs?
• Where do you get the dogs from?
• What breeds do you use?
• Are dogs better than bitches?
• How do you train the dogs to stop barking?
• What happens if the phone and the doorbell ring at the same time?
• What happens to dogs which don’t make the grade?
• How old are dogs when they retire?
• What happens to retired dogs?
• Do you have to de-train dogs when they retire?

Are you the only organisation that trains hearing dogs?

We are the only charity registered to train hearing dogs in the UK and are considered to be the leaders in our field internationally.  Students from Italy, Japan and New Zealand have studied with us and taken a foundation course.

Where do you get the dogs from?

Our dogs go to their volunteer puppy socialising homes between 8-12 weeks and come from our breeding scheme, breeders around the country and rescue centres.

Donated dogs - Breeding scheme

What breeds do you use?

The majority of our new recruits are Cocker Spaniels, miniature Poodles, Labradors and other Retrievers. We also have a small number of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Bichon Frise and Shih Tzus.

Are dogs better than bitches?

There is no difference as all dogs and bitches are neutered.

How do you train the dogs to stop barking?

We don’t actively stop the dogs from barking, instead we do nothing to encourage barking.  In the training centre the dogs' desire to bark in response to a sound is very low as they have no possessive feeling about a building which is used by so many different dogs.

What happens if the phone and the doorbell ring at the same time?

The dog will choose the sound he enjoys most or the one which is nearest.  Once that has been responded to, then he responds to the other sound.

What happens to dogs which don’t make the grade?

Dogs that don’t quite make the grade to be a hearing dog are found suitable homes through our rehoming scheme. We have a waiting list of people offering to rehome a retired or rejected dog. For more information on rehoming a dog from Hearing Dogs please click here.

How old are dogs when they retire?

There is no set retirement age for a hearing dog because they are all so different. We visit all our working hearing dogs at least once a year and this is one way of keeping a check on their work and health. At these annual assessments we will observe the dog's work and talk to the recipient. The decision to retire a hearing dog is discussed with the recipient once a dog is working less than 50% of the time. 

What happens to retired dogs? 

When a hearing dog is retired there are a number of choices open to the recipient depending on whether they:
A - want another hearing dog as soon as possible
B - would prefer to wait
C - do not want another hearing dog. 

The training centre offers a full support service to recipients making these decisions and we can if necessary find a suitable retirement family for a retired dog. For example the original puppy socialising family may have expressed an interest in caring for one of ‘their’ retired dogs.

Do you have to de-train dogs when they retire?

No.