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International Hearing Dog, Inc.

Training Other Ears To Hear

Who Qualifies For A
Hearing Dog?

Priority Hearing Dog candidates are adults over the age of 18 who:

* have at least a 65 decibel hearing loss (unaided).
* live alone or with other persons who are deaf or hard of hearing (one hearing person living with applicant will be considered).
* do not have another dog in the home.
* are physically able and willing to care for and continue the training of a hearing dog.

Applicants who feel they do not meet the exact above criteria should not be discouraged from applying, as each application is considered on a case-by-case basis.

Hearing dogs come in many sizes: small (up to 20 lbs.), medium (20 - 35 lbs.), large (35-50 lbs.)
How Much Does a Hearing Dog Cost? Hearing Dogs are provided free of charge to those who receive them. The cost to train and place one dog is $7,000. This expense is paid for through the kindness of individuals and service clubs, foundation grants, and IHDI fund-raising activities, such as Adopt-A-Dog or Silent Partner sponsorships. How Long Does It Take To Receive
A Hearing Dog? There is a waiting list of approximately six months to a year, however, most successful applicants receive their Hearing Dog within one year of applying. Each dog is custom trained to meet the needs of each applicant. Dogs trained for persons with special needs may require more time. Great care is taken to make a good match between applicant and dog. Activity level, lifestyle, and health of the applicant are all considered. Can My Dog Be Trained To Become
A Hearing Dog?
IHDI's by-laws require that all dogs be selected from local animal shelters and evaluated by its trainers. Each dog must meet standards of health, intelligence, youth and temperament. Chosen expressly for these traits, these formerly unwanted or abandon dogs are given a second chance and become the way to a new and broader life for their deaf masters. Due to liability concerns, personal pets cannot be trained nor can we accept private donations of dogs. I Live In Another State. Can I Still Apply For A Hearing Dog? Yes. IHDI’s headquarters and training facility is located near Denver, Colorado, but dogs are placed with persons who are deaf or hard-of-hearing throughout the U.S. and Canada.

What if I don’t qualify for a hearing dog but need the help and companionship of a good dog?
IHDI also chooses and trains Therapy-Companion Dogs to help people who do not have 65 decibels of hearing loss but live alone, are alone many hours of the day or are elderly, and need the companionship of a gentle and well-socialized dog.

How To Apply For A
Hearing Dog
To apply for an IHDI Hearing Dog, please call the office at 303.287.3277 or email ihdilisa@aol.com. Before an applicant can receive an application, some preliminary questions must be asked to see if an individual qualifies on a basic level. These questions can be answered via telephone, mail or email. If answering by mail or email, please answer the following questions here in as much detail as possible. Email this as an attachment or mail the form to our office in Henderson, Colorado.

Are you planning on moving to another residence within the next year?
Are there other people living with you? If yes, are they hearing? And how many? If not, are you planning on moving in with a hearing person in the future? If so, when, and how many?
If you live with hearing people, are they supportive of you getting a Hearing Dog?
Do you have any pets? If yes, how many and what kind of pet?
Are you currently employed? If so, what kind of job is it? Are you planning to change jobs in the next year? If so, what kind of job will you have?
Describe your work environment?
Is your boss aware that you will bring a Hearing Dog to work?
Will you be able to take time off from your job to work with a trainer when your dog is delivered?
Do you go to school? If so, what is your class schedule?
Will the dog be going with you to your classes, some classes, or stay at home?
Does the school approve of Hearing Dogs?
Will you be able to get time off from school during the time the trainer places the dog with you?
Do you have any health problems that might make it difficult for your to work with a Hearing Dog if you’re not feeling well? If yes, please explain.
Are you using a cane, walker, or wheelchair?
15. Please list any other comments, concerns or questions you may have at this time that we may be able to answer before to get the best understanding of your situation before starting the application process.

You will be answered within 5 business days. If you apply, an application can be emailed or mailed to you. The application includes four pages of questions and two pages of instructions. IHDI also requires a copy of the applicant’s most recent hearing test, a photo of the applicant and a general (blueprint-like) drawing or pictures of residence in which the new Hearing Dog will live.

How To Apply For A Companion-Therapy Dog
To apply for an IHDI Companion-Therapy Dog click here, on IHDI Companion-Therapy Dog to download and print a PDF version of the application. The application includes three pages of questions about you, your daily life, your living situation and your medical health. IHDI needs this information to ensure that we choose and train a therapy-companion dog to meet your personal needs and a dog that will fit your living situation.

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