Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
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How does someone obtain a Hearing Ear Dog Guide from the Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides?
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At what age does the Hearing Ear Dog Guide start their training?
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How does the Hearing Ear Dog Guide alert the deaf or hard of hearing person to a sound?
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How is the Hearing Ear Dog Guide rewarded for their sound work?
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Can the Hearing Ear Dog Guide play with other dogs who are pets?
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How long does the deaf or hard of hearing person work with their Hearing Ear Dog Guide?
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What are some other Dog Guides besides Hearing Ear Dog Guides?
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Are Dog Guides allowed in public places such as restaurants, stores, hospitals, etc.?
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Are Dog Guides allowed on the plane, bus, train, boat, and taxis?
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Where does the Dog Guide sit on the plane, bus, train, boat, and taxi?
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How can you help out with Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides?
Answers
- How does someone obtain a Hearing Ear Dog Guide from the Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides?
- What are the requirements for a Deaf or Hard of Hearing applicant to apply for a Hearing Ear Dog Guide?
- What are some common breeds of Hearing Ear Dog Guides?
- At what age does the Hearing Ear Dog Guide start their training?
- How long is the Hearing Ear Dog Guide training program?
- How does the Hearing Ear Dog alert the deaf or hard of hearing person to a sound?
- What sounds is the Hearing Ear Dog Guide trained to respond to and alert the deaf or hard of hearing person?
- Kitchen timer
- Door bell
- Door knocking
- Telephone ringing
- Name calling
- Wake up alarm
- Fire alarm detector
- Carbon monoxide detector
- Baby crying
- Tea kettle boiling/whistling
- Dropping of keys, wallet, or items
- Other household and danger sounds
- How is the Hearing Ear Dog Guide rewarded for their sound work?
- Does the Hearing Ear Dog Guide have play time?
- Can the Hearing Ear Dog Guide play with other dogs who are pets?
- How long does the Hearing Ear Dog Guide work with the deaf or hard of hearing person?
- What happens to the Hearing Ear Dog Guide when it retires?
- What are some other Dog Guides besides Hearing Ear Dog Guides?
- Canine Vision Canada (CVC) Dog Guides for Canadians who are blind or have a vision loss.
- Special Skills Dogs (SSD) of Canada for Canadians who have a physical or medical disability.
- Hearing Ear Dogs (HED) of Canada for Canadians who are deaf or hard of hearing.
- Seizure Response Dogs (SRD) of Canada for Canadians who have epilepsy.
- What are the “Do’s and Don’ts” when meeting a Dog Guide Team?
- Smile at the person with a Dog Guide.
- Always ask for permission to pet a Dog Guide.
- Respect the person and their Dog Guide.
- Allow the Dog Guide Team to be independent by waiting for instructions from the handler, if necessary.
- Do not pet a Dog Guide when it is in a harness or jacket. Always ask the handler's permission if you can pet the Dog Guide or not.
- Never feed a Dog Guide.
- Do not distract or interfere the Dog Guide as they are working.
- Do not stare into a Dog Guide's eyes.
- Are Dog Guides allowed in public places such as restaurants, stores, hospitals, etc.?
- Are Dog Guides allowed on public transportation?
- Where does the Dog Guide sit on the plane, bus, train, boat, and taxi?
- How can travelers identify a Dog Guide?
- Hearing Ear Dog Guides wear a bright orange vest/jacket.
- Special Skills Dog Guides wear a royal blue vest/jacket or a monogrammed (SSD) black leather harness.
- Canine Vision Canada Dog Guides wear a monogrammed (CVC) black leather harness.
- How can you help out with Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides?
Interested applicants must fill out an application form from Dog Guides that includes a medical examination, an Audiology report, and character references. An application form can be downloaded online here.
After receiving the completed application, an in-home assessment is completed by the "Lions Foundation Acceptance Committee." This assessment provides the commitee with unique needs of the applicant as well as provides the applicant with more information about the Hearing Ear Dog Guide program.
Approved applicants will be put on a waiting list and when a Hearing Ear Dog Guide becomes available, the approved applicant will participate in a 12-day training program at the school where they will live and work with their Hearing Ear Dog Guide everyday.
Upon successful completion of the training program, the Hearing Ear Dog Guide will graduate with the recipient and become a “Certified Hearing Ear Dog Guide” with Hearing Ear Dogs of Canada.
The applicant must be at least seventeen years of age, live independently, and have full responsibility to be able to care for a dog financially.
Hearing Ear Dog Guides are provided to the successful applicant at "no charge." All travel to and from Oakville, as well as room and board, are provided by the Lions Foundation of Canada for approved applicants. The successful applicant is responsible for future care and maintenance of the Hearing Ear Dog Guide following graduation. The cost of care and feeding a Hearing Ear Dog Guide is the same as any pet dog.
The Hearing Ear Dog Guide program usually trains small to medium sized dogs. Dogs must show that they are friendly, active, and willing to work at the age of one year old. The most common breeds are Labrador Retrievers, Standard Poodles, and Golden Retrievers.
At the age of one year, formal training begins in a stimulated home environment at the training centre for six to eight months after living with a foster family to learn basic house manners and socialization in different environments. Recipients are then matched shortly after to learn how to work with their new Hearing Ear Dog Guide.
Eligible applicants receive "hands-on experience" training for twelve consecutive days (two weeks) at the Lions Foundation of Canada training centre where they will live and work with their Hearing Ear Dog Guide every day. This allows the recipient and the Hearing Ear Dog Guide to bond and work together as a Hearing Ear Dog Guide Team as well as learn all aspects of dog handling, care, health, and obedience issues.
When a Hearing Ear Dog Guide hears a specific sound or an unusual noise, he/she will make physical contact with the deaf or hard of hearing person by pawing/touching their leg/arm or licking them then take them to the sound.
There are common sounds that the Hearing Ear Dog Guide is trained to respond and can learn new sounds in the home environment:
Praise, pets, treats, and playtime are given by the recipient. It is important that "positive rewards" are given for each sound work to enable the Hearing Ear Dog Guide to establish a loving and working relationship with the recipient.
Yes, of course! All Hearing Ear Dog Guides
have play time everyday when they are not working. A half hour per day is set aside for the
Hearing Ear Dog Guide to play and relax outside of the home.
Yes, they can if the pet dog is friendly, well behaved, and not aggressive. It is up to the deaf or hard of hearing recipient to decide who their Hearing Ear Dog Guide can play with during play time.
Most Hearing Ear Dog Guides work for approximately 8-10 years until retirement.
In some cases, the deaf or hard of hearing recipient may keep the dog as a pet or it can be adopted by someone else as a pet if the deaf or hard of hearing recipient wants to obtain another Hearing Ear Dog Guide.
Dog Guides provides four programs that are specific to the needs of four main client categories:
Do’s:
Don’ts:
Yes, definitely! There are very few places where Dog Guides are not allowed. Each Dog Guide Team from the four programs will have specific places where they can and cannot go.
Some places where the Hearing Ear Dog Guide is not allowed to go to are: ICU, bars, casinos, zoos/farms, and amusement parks where there is a lot of noise and other animals.
Yes, absolutely! Hearing Ear Dog Guides fall under the same category as Service Dogs and Canine Vision Canada Dog Guides.
Usually, the Dog Guide will sit on the floor by the person’s feet or under the seat. In an airplane, it would be the bulkhead where there is a lot of leg room. Transportation companies try to give as much room as they possible can for the Dog Guide and will usually provide a seat space for the Dog Guide. Dog Guides are not charged for a seat.
The Dog Guide will be wearing a harness and/or a vest/jacket of a specific colour.
Since Dog Guides are always provided to recipients free of charge, all costs are funded entirely by donations. Dog Guides rely solely on the support of many groups and individuals, including, corporate sponsors and donors, foundation grants, volunteers, service clubs, Lions Clubs, and participants in the Purina Walks for Dog Guides, volunteers, foster families, and breeders who donate puppies. There are many ways you can help support Dog Guides and make a difference.