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My Certified Hearing Dog Sunny
All about My Hearing Dog
I received my hearing dog named Sunny on November 12, 2004. He is Carin Terrier mix and weights 22 pounds and is 4 years old. Sunny was trained at International Hearing Dog, Inc in Henderson, Colorado. It hard to believe that we have been a team almost 3 years now but it seem and feels longer than that to me.
He is a cute dog and everyone loves him but they want to pet him but they can't because he is a working dog. Although I do allow people that i know to pet him once in while. He has so much personality and he response well to the sounds that he is trained on and other sounds that he not trained on.
Sunny is well behaved in public. Of course, he like his play time too, he loves soft squeak toys and treats. But since he is getting older he does not play as much when he was younger.
My Hearing Dog's Life
My current hearing dog, name Sunny, is a hearing/service dog since I have a severe to profound hearing loss in my left ear, and moderate-mild-severe hearing loss in my right ear.
Sunny helps me to everyday sound like phone ring, door knock, doorbell, and the fire alarm. Out in public, he will alert me people coming up behind me, as people riding their bike, and other loud sound such as the fire alarm.
Hearing Dogs and American Disabilities Act of 1990
Hearing dogs are allowed by federal law to go anywhere the general public can go, he can go with me. For examples, he goes with to stores, restaurants, colleges, movie threates, zoos, doctor offices, and city bus with me.
Thank You
A really big thank you goes to Elizabeth Grote in Colorado. She sponsored Sunny's training and placement with me.
Also big thank you goes to my placement trainer, Martha Foss, and Valerie Foss-Brugger and the other trainers at IHDI who trained Sunny for me.
About International Hearing Dog, Inc
IHDI has trained more than 1,000 hearing dogs since 1979 for persons who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. All of the dogs selected for this special training come from local animal shelters. The dogs are generally mixed breeds, six months to a year in age, in good health, with aim-to-please, energetic personalities.
Who Qualifies For A Hearing Dog?
Priority hearing dog candidates are adults over 18 years old 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 (35-60 lbs.)
International Hearing Dog, Inc website:
http://www.ihdi.org
Other Hearing Dogs Programs:
http://www.deltasociety.org/ServiceTrainersTrainers.htm
This webpage last update on October 6, 2007.
Sunny other webpages:
Send E-Mail to: sunnydogcollege@aol.com
Copyright © 2007 Amanda Smith. All Rights Reserved