Helpful Companions: Hearing Dogs

Contra Costa Hearing Blog

By now, the chances are good that everyone has heard about seeing-eye dogs. These specially trained animals can help people who are blind navigate their lives with some form of certainty. Over the last decade, there has been a renewed focus upon using the same form of help animals to aid people with hearing loss and deafness. As a result, breeds such as Labs and Retrievers have been trained to identify sounds in a deaf individual’s daily life. We will examine the dog’s training as well as how they can help their partner.

How They Help Their Partner

There are many benefits that are offered by having one of these hearing dogs with you throughout your day. However, they need to have personalized care that is specific to helping them provide the service that is needed in a particular situation. They can alert their partner to several different sounds around the home as well as convey the effects of other sounds.

If you are walking through a city or town, the chances are that you will happen upon some form of unfamiliar sound that your dog will not be able to identify. Yet, as their owner, they will show you a specific change in their behavior or body language that will let you know that something is amiss. Once you can look at their reaction to new situations, then you will be able to use your new friend for all different manner of help around the home.

Training

The training course that all dogs are put through is meant to make them attentive to their partner’s needs while making them very gentle and tame. The training program lasts for anywhere between four and six months and helps the dogs learn many different sounds so that they can help their partner respond to them. Some of the most important sounds that are learned are microwaves and ovens as well as smoke alarms. This brings about better safety and in-home coordination.

How To Get A Dog

Of course there are some requirements that you need to meet so that you can be labeled a proper owner. The first is that you must be 18 years old to file an application. The application process also examines your home to make sure that it is somewhere that the dog will be safe and comfortable. The final step of the process is to go to canine training and yearly hearing dog training so that you can keep getting the most out of your daily interactions with your friend. It also helps if you have someone you know help you with the initial dog training.

The site information is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Schedule an appointment to see if hearing aids could benefit you.