Hearing ear dogs alert their partner to important sounds

Hearing ear dog, Shobi, with her partner, Ana at the Baltimore, Maryland convention center.        Photo used with permission

The sounds that a hearing ear dog is trained for will depend on the specific needs of their partner.  Examples of sounds that a service dog may be trained to alert their partner to are:

	Sirens
	Fire alarms/smoke alarms
	Doorbell or knock at the door
	Dropped objects
	People or things approaching from behind or from the side

There are advantages to both small and large breeds of dog for this type of work.  Large breeds do better in public places because they are less likely to be stepped on by other people, but small breeds can jump in your lap and are easier to care for.  Many breeds have served as hearing ear dogs, and I am sure that many people are happy with a breed that is not on this list.  Some of the breeds that have been used successfully are:

Small breeds:

	Boston Terrier
	Jack Russell Terrier
	Papillon
	Pomeranian
	Pug
	Shetland Sheepdog
	Yorkshire Terrier

Large breeds:

	German Shepherd
	Rottweiler

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