Dogs for the Deaf is committed to providing the very finest quality of training for both the dogs and our clients. This begins with an initial screening of dogs and applicants and continues with our commitment of support and help throughout the life of the team.
Typically, our Trainers travel to shelters within one day's drive of our facility to screen dogs that are up to 65 pounds and up to 3 years of age. Our Trainers look for friendly, confident dogs that show an interest in people, toys, and treats. Dogs meeting the criteria are brought back to Dogs for the Deaf. They spend the first two weeks in our quarantine building. During this time, they are spayed/neutered, vaccinated, micro-chipped, and receive full medical screening. Any additional procedures, surgeries, and tests are done as needed. Healthy dogs with good temperaments then begin training in our training program.
We Place Four Types of Dogs:
Hearing Dogs
Miracle Mutts (Special Dogs for Special People)
Harmony's Hounds (Dogs with Special Needs)
Career Change Dogs (Wonderful Dogs that make loving pets and companions)
Hearing Dogs:
Hearing Dogs are trained to alert people who are deaf/hard of hearing to household sounds that are necessary for everyday safety and independence. The dogs are trained to make physical contact and lead their person to the source of the sound. They are taught to work for toys and affection. They are also obedience trained and extensively socialized.
Training:
Training generally takes four to six months of temperament evaluation, obedience training, socialization, and sound training for the Hearing Dogs.
When ready for placement with an approved applicant, the Trainer travels to the Client's home for one-on-one training with the client and all family members. Placement training is generally three to five days in length.
Dogs for the Deaf provides Follow Up Training for the life of the team. Follow-up Training includes continued coaching, consisting of verbal contact, written contact, in-home visits, and advice.
Miracle Mutts (Special Dogs for Special People):
Miracle Mutts (Special Dogs for Special People) are special furry friends who provide companionship, motivation, and emotional support to people who need a helping paw. These dogs help with depression and loneliness; they provide a reason to get up in the morning and motivation to exercise; and they generally make life more worth living.
Harmony's Hounds (Dogs with Special Needs):
Harmony's Hounds (Dogs with Special Needs) are dogs who have a special physical or emotional need and are looking for someone willing to provide a stable, loving home and any special care they might need with things like on-going medical concerns, old age, anxiety issues, allergies, and seizures. In the right, special environment, these dogs can thrive and provide lots of love.
Career Change Dogs:
Wonderful dogs that make loving pets and companions.
ACHIEVEMENTS: Our Hearing Dogs have been credited with alerting a woman to a fire in her kitchen, pushing a man out of the way of an oncoming car, and leading a young mother to a child with a dangerously high temperature during the night. Nacho, a little Chihuahua mix, was killed by burglars after awakening her master and mistress. For her heroism, Nacho was awarded the coveted Stillman Award by the American Humane Society. All of the Hearing Dogs trained and placed by Dogs for the Deaf, Inc. are everyday heroes by providing sound awareness, independence, freedom, and security.
Even though our dogs are placed free of charge, Dogs for the Deaf's investment in each dog includes:
Finding and evaluating dogs
Providing all dogs any medical treatment deemed necessary
Training, socializing, and further evaluating each dog
Placing the dog with the client and working with the team
On-going follow-up support for the life of the team.
On average, Dogs for the Deaf's investment in the above amounts to about $25,000. The funding to cover the cost of this special work comes from donations from individuals, service clubs, bequests, and businesses.
All dogs rescued, are trained, placed and followed up on FREE OF CHARGE.
"D.J. is my electric blanket, my vacuum cleaner, my Activities Chairman, my alarm clock, my protector, my significant other." Jane F.
"I am so happy I got Bam Bam after my stroke a couple of years ago. I would not be alive today if it weren't for Bam Bam." Earle T. Oregon
Dogs for the Deaf is committed to providing the very finest quality of training for both the dogs and our clients. This begins with an initial screening of dogs and applicants and continues with our commitment of support and help throughout the life of the team. 
