We are glad that you are thinking about applying for a Hearing Dog from Dogs for the Deaf (DFD). Before you begin the application process, it is very important that you read this information and give it some very serious thought. This information is given to you so that you realize everything that is involved in applying for and having a Hearing Dog.
Once a Hearing Dog is ready for placement, we select the applicant on our waiting list that we believe is the best match for that dog - the place where the dog's skills and personality will enable it to be the most successful in helping the applicant. We do NOT automatically place the dog with the person who has been waiting the longest.
If you are not willing/able to wait (maybe up to 4-5 years) for us to find the right dog for you, if your dog's appearance is more important to you than the sound awareness and companionship he/she will provide, or if you are not willing to put in the work and time necessary to maintain the dog's training once it is in your home, then we suggest you check out other options.
Please Carefully Consider the Following Points:
Do you want a Hearing Dog or a Pet? Some similarities...
They will be your best friend and companion
They will require lots of time, attention and exercise
They will be destructive if they don't get time, attention and exercise
They will leave hair all over your house
They will poop in your yard
They will be expensive
They will be worth all of it...
In addition, a Hearing Dog will ALSO require:
Minimum of one full year as a "Training Year" for both of you
Total commitment to working with your Hearing Dog daily
Willingness to put practice sessions ahead of other pressing demands
Willingness to stop whatever you are doing to work with your Hearing Dog when he/she is confused or lazy and does not work properly: willingness to do this again and again and again throughout your first "Training Year" and beyond
Willingness to be frustrated but always deal patiently and positively with your Hearing Dog
Willingness to practice obedience commands and soundwork daily
Willingness to take the time to play with and reward your Hearing Dog for a job well done each and every time he/she works a sound for you
Willingness to provide lots and lots of exercise for your young, active Hearing Dog
Willingness to commit to the full time job of working with your new Hearing Dog
Taking sole responsibility for the care and exercise of the Hearing Dog so he/she will bond with you
Family members to refrain from giving the Hearing Dog attention until he/she has completely bonded with the recipient
We require a fenced area attached to the home. A common use area will not qualify.
We do not place Hearing Dogs in homes with other dogs, except possibly retired Hearing Dogs.
We do not place Hearing Dogs with children under sixteen except in special situations, on a case by case basis.
Exercise:
Our dogs are young and energetic. They need a lot of physical exercise and mental stimulation on a daily basis. If you are unable to provide the exercise necessary for a young, active dog, then a Hearing Dog is not the right choice for you.
Other Pets in the Home:
If you have a cat/s, we can place a dog with you that does well with cats, but your cat's life will be disrupted. There will be a significant period of adjustment as your cat adjusts to the new dog in your home. Other animals such as rabbits, ferrets, iguanas, birds, etc. are more challenging for a Hearing Dog to work around. If you have animals other than cats and are not willing to re-home them, your application may be denied due to the difficulties of having a dog work around those types of distractions.
About Our Dogs:
Hearing Dogs who work only in the home environment are referred to as Home Hearing Dogs. Hearing Dogs who work in the home and accompany their person into public places are referred to as Hearing Dogs certified for public access. The only difference is the level of confidence the dog has in new environments, new situations, and meeting new people. Very few dogs have the confidence necessary to be happy, relaxed, and comfortable in any and all situations they will encounter in public places such as malls, stores, airports, etc. Hearing Dogs that work only in the home have exactly the same sounds training as a Hearing Dog that goes into public. The wait time for a Hearing Dog certified for public access will be significantly longer than the wait for a Home Hearing Dog.
A Hearing Dog Certified for Public Access:
Is allowed to accompany you into public places where pets are not allowed.
Will naturally provide greater environmental awareness by his/her reactions to the world around him/her.
Will require much more work to keep up its training than a Home Hearing Dog
Requires "Training Trips" into public places 3 times a week.
Is NOT trained to alert you to sirens, approaching cars, horns, etc.
Applicants may qualify for a Hearing Dog certified for public access if they can show significant NEED. Most applicants do not truly need a Hearing Dog certified for public access. Traveling once or twice a year and/or wanting to take a dog into stores or on airplanes for the sake of convenience is not NEED and will not qualify you for a Hearing Dog certified for public access.
Review: What you must do to have a Hearing Dog work for you.
Immediately stop whatever you are doing when the dog alerts you and follow the dog to the sound.
Reward the dog if it worked well. Repeat the sound when it does not work well.
Be willing to miss phone calls while the dog is learning to work for you.
Be willing to make visitors wait outside and repeat the doorknock/bell.
Be physically able to get up and down and move quickly enough to follow a dog to sounds.
Be physically able to withstand the physical alerts the dog makes.
Set up soundwork practice sessions on a daily basis, asking people for help as needed.
Be the person to feed, exercise, and care for your dog. If someone else does those things, the dog will bond with them and not with you.
Patiently work through problems. The first year is a training year for both of you.
Note: Our dogs came from animal shelters and lived in a kennel environment while in training for 4-6 months. They are not housetrained. With the help of our Training Staff, you will be the one responsible for continuing the work on housetraining your dog.
Note: You will be required to attend obedience training classes or hire a private obedience trainer as prescribed by your Dogs for the Deaf Trainer.
Note: Our Hearing Dogs alert you to sounds by making physical contact (jumping on you, pawing you, or nosing you) then leading you to the sound. Physical alerts can be painful and/or cause bruising at times.
Note: We select dogs from area shelters based on temperament and age, not size, sex , or appearance. If your dog's appearance/sex is more important to you than the sound awareness and companionship he/she will provide, we suggest you explore other options.
