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Hearing Dog Points to Consider

Before you begin the application process, it is important that you read this information and give it some serious thought. The following information is given to you so that you realize everything that is involved in applying for and having a Hearing Dog.

Important

• We typically require a fenced area attached to the home.
• Due to the difficulties of having a dog work around distractions, Hearing Dogs must be the only dog in the home.
• Hearing Dogs are only placed with clients over the age of 18 years.
• You will be required to attend obedience training classes or hire a private obedience trainer as prescribed by your Dogs for Better Lives professional trainer.
• We select dogs from area shelters based on temperament and age, not size, sex, or appearance.

Please carefully consider the following points

Our professionally trained dogs require:

• Minimum of one full year as a training year for both of you
• Total commitment and willingness to work with your dog daily
• The ability to place practice sessions ahead of other pressing demands
• Stopping whatever you are doing to work with your dog when he/she is confused or does not work properly
• Being patient and positive with your dog
• Play time and rewards for a job well done each and every time they work for you
• Exercise and mental stimulation on a daily basis
• Taking sole responsibility for the care of the dog so that the dog will bond with you
• Family members to refrain from giving the dog attention until the dog has completely bonded with you

About Our Dogs

All of our Dogs receive extensive program work and obedience training. Hearing Dogs are trained to alert to sounds by making physical contact then leading you to the sound. Additionally, our Hearing Dogs are also trained and certified for public access. Our standards and criteria for determining whether or not a dog is suitable for access to public places are very high. Only dogs that can ignore other dogs, handle being exposed to busy, noisy and crowded environments as well as comfortable with all types of people are appropriate to be in public. When we match a Dog with a client, we look at a variety of factors:  the needs of the client both for work at home and in public, lifestyle and energy level and the confidence the dog has in new environments and situations.

Hearing Dog Application Requirements

Home Environment

There can be no other dogs in the household with a Hearing Dog with the possible exception of a retired Dogs for Better Lives Hearing Dog. If you have other pets and are not willing to re-home them, your application may be denied due to the difficulties of having a professionally trained dog work around those types of distractions.

We typically require a fenced area attached to the home.

It is crucial to have full cooperation and support of all household members for a successful working team to develop.

Financial Commitment

The cost of feeding and caring for one of our professionally trained dogs could be over $1,000 per year. This includes but is not limited to food, toys, vet care, etc. This does not include any unforeseen illness or injury. The client is financially responsible for the dog’s care once the dog is placed with the person.

Personal Skills

A client must be willing and able to physically, mentally, and emotionally care for the dog without assistance.

The Hearing Dog is a trained working animal, not a pet. The entire training program is based on rewarding or playing with the dog every time they work. Consistent practice, patience, and praise are necessary for the dog to succeed.

Please remember that our dogs are not trained to be guard dogs. They are friendly, stable dogs that help people with different challenges and provide companionship only.

Hearing Dog Application Requirements

Home Environment

There can be no other dogs in the household with a Hearing Dog with the possible exception of a retired Dogs for Better Lives Hearing Dog. If you have other pets and are not willing to re-home them, your application may be denied due to the difficulties of having a professionally trained dog work around those types of distractions.

We typically require a fenced area attached to the home.

It is crucial to have full cooperation and support of all household members for a successful working team to develop.

Financial Commitment

The cost of feeding and caring for one of our professionally trained dogs could be over $1,000 per year. This includes but is not limited to food, toys, vet care, etc. This does not include any unforeseen illness or injury. The client is financially responsible for the dog’s care once the dog is placed with the person.

Personal Skills

A client must be willing and able to physically, mentally, and emotionally care for the dog without assistance.

The Hearing Dog is a trained working animal, not a pet. The entire training program is based on rewarding or playing with the dog every time they work. Consistent practice, patience, and praise are necessary for the dog to succeed.

Please remember that our dogs are not trained to be guard dogs. They are friendly, stable dogs that help people with different challenges and provide companionship only.

Testing for points to consider

Dogs for Better Lives places Assistance Dogs with qualified individuals who will benefit from the loyalty and companionship of a professionally trained dog. Applicants are screened carefully to ensure they will benefit from receiving one of our dogs and that they are willing and able to maintain the dog’s training and care for the dog after the dog is placed with them.

There is no application fee or deposit required. For information on our adoptable Career Change Dogs, click HERE.

Pre-Screening

If you are considering applying for one of our professionally trained dogs, please go over this page carefully, along with Application Requirements and Points to Consider, prior to taking the pre-screening questionnaire. You can access the questionnaire by clicking the Get Started button. If you are having difficulty with the pre-screening, please contact us at info@dogsforbetterlives.org or 541-826-9220.

Application

If you meet the eligibility requirements, you will be emailed a link to fill out the application. Be sure to answer all of the required questions and submit your application. As part of the application process, you will need a physician’s assessment to confirm the ability to handle a dog as well as verification of audiogram. [Due to the fact that there are many different aspects to hearing loss, there is no exact degree of loss that can be given as the minimum for qualification.]

In-Home Interview

In-home interviews provide us with additional information on the applicants’ needs and lifestyles. A Dogs for Better Lives associate, from the applicant’s area, conducts this interview. All members of the household must be present for this interview appointment.

Acceptance or Denial

After the interview is completed and returned to us, the entire application packet will be carefully reviewed and a final decision made as to whether or not one of our professionally trained dogs is suitable for the applicant.

Hearing Dog Application Process

Dogs for Better Lives places Assistance Dogs with qualified individuals who will benefit from the loyalty and companionship of a professionally trained dog. Applicants are screened carefully to ensure they will benefit from receiving one of our dogs and that they are willing and able to maintain the dog’s training and care for the dog after the dog is placed with them.

There is no application fee or deposit required. For information on our adoptable Career Change Dogs, click HERE.

Pre-Screening

If you are considering applying for one of our professionally trained dogs, please go over this page carefully, along with Application Requirements and Points to Consider, prior to taking the pre-screening questionnaire. You can access the questionnaire by clicking the Get Started button. If you are having difficulty with the pre-screening, please contact us at info@dogsforbetterlives.org or 541-826-9220.

Application

If you meet the eligibility requirements in the pre-screening, you will be directed to a form to fill out the application. Be sure to answer all of the required questions and submit your application. As part of the application process, you will need a physician’s assessment to confirm the ability to handle a dog as well as verification of audiogram. [Due to the fact that there are many different aspects to hearing loss, there is no exact degree of loss that can be given as the minimum for qualification.]

In-Home Interview

In-home interviews provide us with additional information on the applicants’ needs and lifestyles. A Dogs for Better Lives associate, from the applicant’s area, conducts this interview. All members of the household must be present for this interview appointment.

Acceptance or Denial

After the interview is completed and returned to us, the entire application packet will be carefully reviewed and a final decision made as to whether or not one of our professionally trained dogs is suitable for the applicant.

Hearing Dog Application Process

Dogs for Better Lives places Assistance Dogs with qualified individuals who will benefit from the loyalty and companionship of a professionally trained dog. Applicants are screened carefully to ensure they will benefit from receiving one of our dogs and that they are willing and able to maintain the dog’s training and care for the dog after the dog is placed with them.

There is no application fee or deposit required. For information on our adoptable Career Change Dogs, click HERE.

Pre-Screening

If you are considering applying for one of our professionally trained dogs, please go over this page carefully, along with Application Requirements and Points to Consider, prior to taking the pre-screening questionnaire. You can access the questionnaire by clicking the Get Started button. If you are having difficulty with the pre-screening, please contact us at info@dogsforbetterlives.org or 541-826-9220.

Application

If you meet the eligibility requirements in the pre-screening, you will be directed to a form to fill out the application. Be sure to answer all of the required questions and submit your application. As part of the application process, you will need a physician’s assessment to confirm the ability to handle a dog as well as verification of audiogram. [Due to the fact that there are many different aspects to hearing loss, there is no exact degree of loss that can be given as the minimum for qualification.]

In-Home Interview

In-home interviews provide us with additional information on the applicants’ needs and lifestyles. A Dogs for Better Lives associate, from the applicant’s area, conducts this interview. All members of the household must be present for this interview appointment.

Acceptance or Denial

After the interview is completed and returned to us, the entire application packet will be carefully reviewed and a final decision made as to whether or not one of our professionally trained dogs is suitable for the applicant.

Before you begin the application process, it is important that you read this information and give it some serious thought. The following information is given to you so that you realize everything that is involved in applying for and having a Hearing Dog, Autism Assistance Dog, or Facility Dog.

Important:

• We typically require a fenced area attached to the home.
• Due to the difficulties of having a dog work around distractions, Hearing Dogs and Autism Assistance Dogs must be the only dog in the home. This is not applicable to Facility Dogs.
• Hearing Dogs are only placed with clients over the age of 18 years.
• You will be required to attend obedience training classes or hire a private obedience trainer as prescribed by your Dogs for Better Lives professional trainer.
• We select dogs from area shelters based on temperament and age, not size, sex, or appearance.

Please carefully consider the following points:

 Our professionally trained dogs require:

• Minimum of one full year as a training year for both of you
• Total commitment and willingness to work with your dog daily
• The ability to place practice sessions ahead of other pressing demands
• Stopping whatever you are doing to work with your dog when he/she is confused or does not work properly
• Being patient and positive with your dog
• Play time and rewards for a job well done each and every time they work for you
• Exercise and mental stimulation on a daily basis
• Taking sole responsibility for the care of the dog so that the dog will bond with you
• Family members to refrain from giving the dog attention until the dog has completely bonded with you

About our Dogs

All of our Dogs receive extensive program work and obedience training. Hearing Dogs are trained to alert to sounds by making physical contact then leading you to the sound. Additionally, our Hearing Dogs are also trained and certified for public access. Facility Dogs can provide a calming effect, allowing the professional to better serve or treat their clients. These dogs do not have public access except when accompanying the professionals and their clients in order to provide assistance to the clients.

Our standards and criteria for determining whether or not a dog is suitable for access to public places are very high. Only dogs that can ignore other dogs, handle being exposed to busy, noisy and crowded environments as well as comfortable with all types of people are appropriate to be in public.

When we match a Dog with a client, we look at a variety of factors:  the needs of the client both for work at home and in public, lifestyle and energy level and the confidence the dog has in new environments and situations.

Dogs for Better Lives places Assistance Dogs with qualified individuals who will benefit from the loyalty and companionship of a professionally trained dog. Applicants are screened carefully to ensure they will benefit from receiving one of our dogs and that they are willing and able to maintain the dog’s training and care for the dog after the dog is placed with them.

There is no application fee or deposit required. For information on our adoptable Career Change Dogs, click HERE.

Pre-Screening

If you are considering applying for one of our professionally trained dogs, please go over this page carefully, along with Application Requirements and Points to Consider, prior to taking the pre-screening questionnaire. You can access the questionnaire by clicking the Get Started button. If you are having difficulty with the pre-screening, please contact us at info@dogsforbetterlives.org or 541-826-9220.

Application

If you meet the eligibility requirements, you will be emailed a link to fill out the application. Be sure to answer all of the required questions and submit your application. As part of the application process, you will need a physician’s assessment to confirm the ability to handle a dog as well as verification of audiogram. [Due to the fact that there are many different aspects to hearing loss, there is no exact degree of loss that can be given as the minimum for qualification.]

In-Home Interview

In-home interviews provide us with additional information on the applicants’ needs and lifestyles. A Dogs for Better Lives associate, from the applicant’s area, conducts this interview. All members of the household must be present for this interview appointment.

Acceptance or Denial

After the interview is completed and returned to us, the entire application packet will be carefully reviewed and a final decision made as to whether or not one of our professionally trained dogs is suitable for the applicant.

Waiting Period

Dogs are matched with individuals based on the temperament of the dog and the lifestyle, personality, activity level, health, and environment of the person. We do not place dogs based on breed, size, hair length, or sex.

For a Hearing Dog, the waiting period is approximately 12 to 24 months from the time the person is accepted to receive a Hearing Dog.

Placement

Hearing Dogs, accompanied by a trainer, go to the home of the client. The trainer teaches the client how to keep the dog working consistently and how to maintain the dog’s obedience training in the client’s home.

Follow-Up

Following the placement, regular communication is required. The client reports regularly on the progress of the dog. When problems arise or the client has any questions, the trainer offers help and answers questions. In-home follow up is also done.

Dogs for Better Lives provides follow-up support for the life of the team.