Golden Ears for the Deaf
Hearing Dogs, identified by an orange collar and leash and/or vest, assist
deaf and hard of hearing individuals by alerting them to sounds such as a door
knock or doorbell, alarm clock, oven buzzer, telephone, baby cry, name call or
smoke alarm. They are trained to make physical contact and
lead their deaf partners to the source of the sound. When Golden Randi hears the alarm clock ring,
she jumps up onto the bed and goes to work. Bill Kerr has to get up. With 65 pounds of persistent retriever pawing gently at his chest,
he doesn’t have a choice. Randi is a certified Hearing Dog who assists
Bill, who is severely deaf, and Rhonda, who wears aids due to a
moderate hearing loss.
Trained by
Paws with a
Cause®, Home of Ears for the Deaf, Randi has given Bill & Rhonda the
freedom that they never would have been able to enjoy because of their hearing problems.
Randi will respond to 7 alert sounds: the telephone, an alarm clock, door bell or knocker,
the smoke alarm, a baby’s cry, and the subtle sounds of a twisting doorknob or window
raising or breaking, the threatening sounds of an intruder. At any of these noises, Randi
turns deadly serious. She will run to Bill or Rhonda and stand and stare demandingly until
she makes eye contact. Then, she will take them to the source of the sound. Before
Randi’s training, the Kerrs were dependent on remote-controlled equipment that was
hooked up or carried from room to room.
Randi was a family pet before earning her official degree
as a Hearing Dog in 1989. But, she had to be temperament tested before she was accepted
into the training program. Then she attended hearing dog school at Paws headquarters and
training center in Grand Rapids. She was there for four weeks of
“sound” training. Because she had already successfully completed an obedience
class, her course did not include the basic four to six weeks of obedience training that
is included in the standard program. Randi completed her last six weeks of training with a
Paws® field trainer who came to the Kerr’s home twice a week to train the dog for
the specific sounds and situations within their house. Once Randi was certified, she was
issued an official ID card, an orange collar, and a short orange leash with “Hearing
Dog” on it. Like Leader Dogs, Randi has legal access everywhere. This includes public
buildings & transportation, restaurants, hotels, and shops that normally exclude dogs.
This is Florida Dog Guide Teddy, a wonderful Golden who is lovingly remembered by
Darren & Rebecca Osgood. Teddy faithfully served Rebecca, as a
signal dog for over five years before dying of unknown
causes at about six years of age.
At about a year of age, Teddy was rescued in 1991 from a dog pound in Vero Beach by Florida Dog
Guides For The Deaf He came to Darren &
Rebecca's home, quickly becoming a member of the family. Golden Teddy passed his testing
for Guide Dog status on his first attempt and quickly took on other duties, as well. He
enjoyed getting the paper and also playing Frisbee. Teddy even proved to be an excellent
watch dog and was highly alert when he was alone with Rebecca. Teddy especially loved
children and attention, and would “purr” his approval when he was happy. Although Teddy had to take medication twice a day for
seizures, he did so willingly as he had always done. Teddy has been missed by one and all
that had the pleasure of meeting him, but especially so by his family.
ADI Minimum Standards
for Training Hearing Dogs
1.
A minimum of 3 months/60 hrs of
training must take place under supervision of a program's trainer.
During this time, at least 20 hrs.
of regularly scheduled training must be devoted to city work,
obedience, and socialization training during the dog’s entire training time.
2.
Basic obedience skills the dog must
master with voice and/or hand signals are: sit, stay come, down, heel
and off leash recall.
3.
The dog must show social behavior skills of no
aggression, no inappropriate barking, no biting, no snapping/growling, no inappropriate jumping on strangers, no begging and no sniffing of people.
4.
Sound awareness skills-Upon hearing a
sound, the dog must make physical contact with the recipient and then
specifically indicate or lead the
person to the source of the sound. All dogs must be trained to at least three (3) sounds.
5.
The placement of the Hearing Dog must
last at least four (4) days/32 hours. By the end of the placement, the
recipient will be able to correctly praise and discipline the dog, care for the dog, practice sound work with the
dog, control the dog and enforce obedience skills. During the placement, the trainer will
go with the recipient and the dog to do city training and go to stores and a restaurant. Also, during the placement, the trainer, recipient and dog will practice sound work and
obedience every day.
6.
The training facility must require
recipient to complete a follow-up progress report once monthly for first
6 months following placement.
Personal contact is to be done by qualified staff or program volunteer within
12-18 months of graduation and annually thereafter.
7.
Identification of the Hearing Dog and
recipient will be accomplished with a laminated ID card with a photo of
the dog and partner and names of
both recipient and dog. The dog must wear a blaze orange collar and leash, approved by Assistance
Dogs International, with Hearing Dog printed/stitched on it and a cape with the program's logo whenever
in public.
8.
The staff of the training center must
demonstrate knowledge of deafness, deaf culture and hearing impairment.
A staff member or agent must
know basic sign language. Organization shall make available educational material on
different disabilities.
9.
The recipient must agree to abide the
Minimum Standards for Assistance Dog Partners.
10.
At the onset of training, every dog
will be spayed or neutered and will have a thorough medical evaluation
to determine that the dog does not
have any physical problems that would cause difficulty for a working dog.
American Sign Language Want to have some fun? Here's a way to learn the
American Sign Language alphabet
make physical contact and
lead their deaf partners to the source of the sound. When Golden Randi hears the alarm clock ring,
she jumps up onto the bed and goes to work. Bill Kerr has to get up. With 65 pounds of persistent retriever pawing gently at his chest,
he doesn’t have a choice. Randi is a certified Hearing Dog who assists
Bill, who is severely deaf, and Rhonda, who wears aids due to a
moderate hearing loss. 
ndi has legal access everywhere. This includes public
buildings & transportation, restaurants, hotels, and shops that normally exclude dogs.
TaleTell: Your own Stories of Hearing Goldens