Episode 7:

Ralph's super soundwork

Posted by Elizabeth Murphy

Welcome back to Ralph’s Puppy Pen! As a hearing dog, Ralph will alert his future deaf partner to sounds that they may not be able to hear. This unique skill is what we call soundwork and it is what makes hearing dogs so special. In this episode, we are going to show you some exclusive training videos of Ralph practising his soundwork with Janice, his Volunteer Dog Trainer.

A lot of deaf people struggle to hear their alarm clock, which can make them feel anxious about oversleeping and being late for work or appointments. This is where clever Ralph will come to the rescue, as he has learnt to jump on the bed when he hears the alarm clock. Being woken up by a cute and cuddly pup seems like a lovely way to start the day!

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You will notice that when Ralph alerts Janice to the alarm clock, he receives lots of praise and a tasty treat. Through this style of reward-based training, Ralph is learning that soundwork is like a fun game.

Another sound which Ralph has been practising is the doorbell. Many deaf people are nervous about not hearing the doorbell and then missing visitors or deliveries. But thanks to Ralph's super soundwork, he will be able to happily and confidently lead his future deaf partner to their front door.

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What a superstar!

As you can see, Ralph gives Janice a gentle but noticeable nudge with his nose. The ‘nose nudge’ will be Ralph’s way of telling his future deaf partner that there is a sound they need to know about.

Clever Ralph has also learnt how to alert to the smoke alarm. This sound requires a slightly different response, known as the ‘danger alert’. Ralph will still nudge his partner with his nose to let them know he has heard a sound, but instead of leading them to the sound, he will lie down on the floor. This is because we don’t want Ralph leading them into a potentially dangerous situation. Let’s watch him practise it with Janice.