Dogs as Assistants and Hearers to Deaf People - Hearing Dogs

The idea for hearing dogs originated in the United States.

Lee Bustad, Dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine at Washington State University had come over to the United Kingdom in 1979 to give a talk to the British Small Animal Veterinary Association International Symposium.

His mention of the way dogs in the United States were used to help deaf people drew the attention of Dr Bruce Fogle, a veterinary surgeon. He in turn contacted Lady Wright of the Royal National Institue for the Deaf who was keen on the idea. However, funding would be a major problem.

But after visits to the States, funding from generous donors began to appear and then came the offer of premises for dog training in Oxfordshire.

The project began to take shape.

Deafness is not an obvious visible disability, so help and understanding may be harder to elicit. Therefore, having a highly trained dog to be a deaf person’s ears is a major advantage.

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People source their dogs from a variety of backgrounds, including the Dogs’ Trust and the Battersea Dogs’ Home.

The dogs vary in breed and size although the charity has found that in many cases small dogs, such as terriers, make ideal candidates for training. Breeds that are used for guarding as well as border collies are generally not regarded as suitable.

Other breeds deemed suitable are Labradors, Golden Retrievers, Cocker Spaniels, Miniature Poodles and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.

The charity also has its own breeding programme.

These dogs are provided completely free of charge. The dogs are trained to respond to the specific needs of the person they are assigned to - so it is a perfect partnership!

Training a hearing dog is intensive and is divided up into three important stages:

1. During this first stage the dog learns to socialise by  going out regularly with one of the charity’s volunteers. By mingling with  people in crowded places, becoming aware of busy roads and traffic and the accompanying sounds, the dog becomes attuned to the general noise and      hubbub of a chaotic environment.

 2. Then for the next four months the dog learns about  specific sounds which will be tailored to the needs of its future owner, such as an alarm clock, a baby’s cry, the doorbell, etc. By tuning in to      these sounds the dog can alert the owner to take any action necessary.

 3. The last stage is spent in the owner’s home,  becoming familiar with the daily routine and the owner’s needs. The hearing dog will become a vital part of the deaf person’s life – a lifeline to a world  that can often be perceived as fragmented and isolating

When a dog is fully trained and able to accompany its owner on trips outside the home it will be wearing a distinctive burgundy jacket. This will alert well-meaning people who might want to pat the dog that this is a working dog, doing a great job and should, therefore, not be disturbed.

The charity’s headquarters is in a beautifully converted stud farm called The Grange, near Princes Risborough in Buckinghamshire. The public is invited in every Thursday afternoon from February to December when guided tours take place. During the tour the public can meet the dogs, watch them being trained and witness a hearing dog demonstration.

For much more information about Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, including visiting The Grange, various fund-raising activities and information about applying for a hearing dog, visit the charity’s website. Here there is also information about volunteering opportunities.

Source:

"I learnt to listen when I became deaf" by Carole Richardson in Yours (issue 089, May 2010)

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People official website.