A: Other than the $50 application fee, Hearing Dogs are placed free of charge. When an applicant has been approved to receive a Hearing Dog and is ready to be placed on the waiting list, we require a $500 Good Faith deposit, which is returned after the person and the Hearing Dog have been together for one year.
Q: How much can I expect to spend on my Hearing Dog during an average year?
A: You can expect to pay approximately $750 - $1,500 per year for your dog's food, toys, and other expenses. This does not include emergency veterinary treatment.
Q: What sounds are the dogs trained to respond to?
A: Dogs are trained to respond to a variety of household sounds, including: the doorbell/knock, smoke alarm, alarm clock, telephone, name call, and oven timer.
Q: Am I required to have a fenced yard?
A: Yes, a fenced yard attached to the house is required. A common use area will not qualify.
Q: How will Dogs for the Deaf help me when I have behavioral concerns or training challenges with my dog?
A: During the first year that your Hearing Dog is with you, you send us regular progress reports, and the trainer who placed your dog with you responds with advice or suggestions. After that first year, we keep in contact with clients through yearly reports or visits for the duration of the working life of each team. Additionally, a Trainer is always available by phone or e-mail to respond to questions, concerns or problems.
Q: How do I apply for a Hearing Dog?
A: Before applying for a Hearing Dog, you need to decide if you would benefit from having a Hearing Dog in your life. Please see 'Points to Consider'.
Q: What is the age requirement to be considered for a Hearing Dog?
A: We generally do not place Hearing Dogs with children under the age of sixteen.
Q: How long do people typically wait before a Hearing Dog is placed?
A: The expected wait time is 4-5 years.
Q: Can you train my dog to be a Hearing Dog?
A: We do not train privately owned dogs to be Hearing Dogs. In order to be a working dog, the dog must have just the right temperament in addition to the desire to do the work.
Q: Where do you get the money to train and place the dogs?
A: Dogs for the Deaf is totally funded by donations from individuals, service clubs, and other groups who want to help the dogs and the people. We also are very fortunate to be included in many people's estate planning, and we receive bequests from these generous people. Dogs for the Deaf does NOT receive any government funding.
Q: How can I become a trainer?
A: Dogs for the Deaf hires Assistant Trainers on an as-needed basis. Assistant Trainers spend approximately six months to a year learning basic kennel and medical procedures. If suited, they may be offered an Apprentice Trainer position. The Apprentice Trainer position is two to three years working with the Certified Audio Canine Instructors on staff. After attaining the needed skills and passing the Certification Test, the Apprentice Trainer becomes a Certified Audio Canine Instructor. Excellent communication skills and teamwork are required. The ability to communicate in sign language is preferred. Please e-mail us at info@dogsforthedeaf.org for a job description and an application.
Q: What happens to dogs that are not able to complete the Hearing Dog training?
A: Dogs that are not able to complete Hearing Dog training become Miracle Mutts (Special Dogs for Special People), Harmony's Hounds (Dogs with Special Needs), or Career Change Dogs (Wonderful Dogs that make loving pets and companions). They help in many ways, and we place them with people who will benefit from their training and companionship. For more information, click on the links below.
Q: Why would a person who is deaf need a dog in public?
A: Deafness is invisible and many people feel more secure and confident in public with their dog beside them. The dog helps others realize that the person is deaf and might need help in an emergency and that a bit of extra effort may be necessary in order to communicate with the person. By paying attention to the dog's natural reactions to the world around it, the person may gain greater environmental awareness.
Q: Where do you get the dogs that you train?
A: Most of our dogs come from shelters and humane societies in Oregon, Washington, and California. Our trainers visit the shelters on a regular basis looking for dogs. A variety of different sizes of dogs are used. The dogs must be three years old or younger and very friendly, energetic, and confident. Finding the appropriate combination of age, size, and temperament combination is an ongoing challenge that takes time and expertise.
By using shelter dogs, we are able to help alleviate some of the vast population of homeless dogs. These dogs are then trained and placed in loving homes.
Q: Can you certify my dog?
A: We do not certify dogs that we have not trained.
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