Best Dog Breeds for People with Hearing Loss

If you suffer from moderate to severe hearing loss, a pet dog can become a vital part of your life. That’s the case for John from the UK, who received his dog from an organization named Hearing Dogs for Deaf People. Before receiving his dog, John felt “trapped by deafness.” It wasn’t until his dog Theo came into his life that John felt confident enough to escape his self-isolation. In this article, we’ll explore the best dog breeds that improve the lives of the hearing impaired.

Man’s Best Friend for Those with Hearing Loss?

Dogs are considered man’s best friend. But they can be a deaf person’s best friend as well. If you or a loved one suffer from hearing loss, a hearing dog can make a world of difference. Pet dogs provide several benefits for owners with hearing loss. These benefits include, but are not limited to, the following:

Companionship

Hearing loss can make a person feel lonely and frustrated. These feelings often lead to depression and social isolation. A pet dog is the perfect companion to encourage an owner to become more confident, active, and socially engaged.

Emotional Support

Constant silence can be stressful, exhausting, and sometimes scary. A pet dog can alleviate these feelings by providing a sense of safety and security to their owner. In essence, a pet dog can offer emotional support for those dealing with the tribulations of hearing loss.

Hearing Service

It is impossible for those with severe hearing loss or deafness to hear important sounds, such as smoke alarms, alarm clocks, crying babies, and honking cars. Not being able to notice these sounds can stifle independence. Hearing dogs are great at providing hearing services for their owners, allowing owners to regain their independence.

The Best Dog Breeds for Companionship

A dog is truly a person’s most loving, non-judgmental, constant companion. The companionship a dog provides can be a great relief to someone suffering from loneliness and isolation, encouraging owners to remain active and engaged with life. The following breeds are considered the best for companionship. Our list focuses on breeds that are small and easily handled. This is ideal for owners who want to take their dog everywhere or for owners who are advanced in years.

Toy Poodle
Yorkshire Terrier (Yorkie)
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Pug
French Bulldog
Bichon Frise
Maltese
Pomeranian
Shih Tzu

The Best Dog Breeds for Emotional Support

This list is for those looking to relieve anxiety and provide a sense of safety and security. These are dogs that are able to keep calm in any environment, and dogs that are affectionate breeds, relying on physical contact and cuddles even under difficult conditions. The following breeds are considered the best for emotional support when one is coping with hearing loss. For our list, we have only listed dog breeds that are larger in size and are highly trainable. This is beneficial for those with hearing impairment who feel safer and more secure with larger sized dogs.

Labrador Retriever
Golden Retriever
Standard Poodle
Cocker Spaniel
Greyhound
Pembroke Welsh Corgi

The Best Dog Breeds for Hearing Service

Caroline Fowler is a UK resident that learned the hard way that she needed help with her hearing loss. It took two missed fire alarms and a near collision with a speeding car to get her to apply for a hearing dog. A hearing dog is a type of service dog that is specifically trained for hard of hearing or deaf owners. Hearing dogs are trained to alert their owners to certain sounds, such as the doorbell, alarm clock, and fire alarm. They go through intensive training and must be carefully matched with applicants. Hearing dogs not only offer hearing service for their owners but also companionship and emotional support. The following breeds are considered the best for training as a hearing dog:

Labrador Retriever
Golden Retriever
Miniature Poodle
Cocker Spaniel
Cockapoo

Tips for Having Hearing Loss and a Dog

Having hearing loss does not instantly qualify a person to become a dog owner. A dog owner must possess a natural love for dogs and a temperament to care for their dog for years. It is also recommended that those with hearing loss train their dogs to alert them after hearing certain sounds. Training centers can help with these training exercises if necessary. An example of a training exercise is to set off an alarm clock and reward the dog when they nudge you in response to the sound. Keeping up with these training exercises over time is good advice for maintaining a healthy relationship with your dog.

Dogs can be a deaf person’s best friend. Dogs can help their owners overcome feelings of isolation, depression, and anxiety. They can also be trained to alert their owners to important sounds. If you or a loved one suffer from hearing loss, consider our lists of the best dog breeds for the hearing impaired before conducting your own research.

Sources

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Derrington, Ashley. “Hearing Dogs: A Service Dog for People with Hearing Loss.” Jun. 3, 2020. https://www.hearinglikeme.com/hearing-dogs-for-people-with-hearing-loss/. Accessed May 19, 2022.
DogsforBetterLives.org. “Hearing Dogs.” https://dogsforbetterlives.org/hearing-dogs/. Accessed May 19, 2022.
Hearing Dogs for Deaf People. https://www.hearingdogs.org.uk/about/. Accessed May 19, 2022.
Lannin, Tina. “How Hearing Guide Dogs Help Deaf People Live Happier Lives.” https://www.121captions.com/2017/07/04/5-benefits-hearing-guide-dogs/. Accessed May 19, 2022.
Stregowski, Jenna. “12 Best Dog Breeds for Senior Citizens.” May 17, 2022. https://www.thesprucepets.com/best-dog-breeds-for-seniors-4138298. Accessed May 19, 2022.
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