Our Dogs

Dogs for the Deaf rescues/trains/places six types of dogs to help with different disabilities, challenges, and needs:

• HEARING DOGS are trained to alert people to household sounds that are necessary for everyday safety and independence... read more
• AUTISM ASSISTANCE DOGS are trained to enhance the safety of children with autism by acting as an anchor and preventing the child from bolting... read more
• PROGRAM ASSISTANCE DOGS go to work with and assist professionals such as physicians, teachers, counselors, and court room advocates... read more
• MIRACLE MUTTS (special dogs for special people) are wonderful, loving dogs who can provide companionship, motivation, and emotional support... read more
• HARMONY'S HOUNDS (dogs with special needs) are dogs we rescue from shelters and, during the medical evaluation or later in training, are found to have a special physical or emotional need... read more
• CAREER CHANGE DOGS are wonderful dogs who are happy and healthy but just not suited to working for a living... read more

Dogs for the Deaf is committed to providing the very finest quality of training for both the dogs we train and the people we help...

This begins with an initial screening of dogs and applicants and continues with our commitment of professional training, support, and help throughout the life of each dog we bring in from a shelter.

Our trainers travel to animal shelters...

on the West Coast to evaluate dogs for suitabilty for one of our programs. They look for dogs that are confident and friendly and bring those dogs back to our facility for medical care, spaying/neutering, and microchipping.

Then the dogs begin their training...

After 5-6 months of training, each dog is matched with the best applicant for that dog, and then trainer and dog travel to the client's home to spend 3-5 days training the person how to maintain the dog's training.

Our dogs have been credited with:

• Alerting a woman to a fire in her kitchen
• Alerting parents to a heart monitor beeping because their infant stopped breathing
• Giving a severly depressed man a reason to live
• Helping a stroke victim recover by making exercise and rehabilitation more fun
• Enabling a physician for children with autism to treat her patients more easily and without restraint
• Lessening a trauma victim's panic and anxiety attacks