About Hearing Dogs

A hearing dog can help a deaf person deal with some of the difficulties associated with being deaf.

A hearing dog provides practical help by alerting the deaf person to sounds and alarms, and becomes a friend by building confidence and opening up opportunities for social contact to deaf people who may have become withdrawn and isolated by their invisible disability.

A hearing dog uses its paw to touch and gain attention before indicating where the sound is coming from by either:

• leading to it (as in the case of a doorbell ringing)
• lying down to warn of potential danger (if a smoke alarm or a fire bell rings)

Most hearing dogs are selected from rescue centres or are donated to the Charity and are chosen because of their excellent temperament and friendly, outgoing characters.

The dogs are trained at one of the two training centres belonging to Hearing Dogs. Training is specially planned so that the hearing dog meets the specific needs of its deaf partner.

The result of matching a trained hearing dog with the right person is the perfect partnership. The deaf person gains a friend and partner, which enhances their quality of life. The dog gains a sense of fun, purpose and belonging. Everybody wins!