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Everyone has heard of guide dogs that provide mobility assistance to the blind. Many people, however, are unaware that there are also 'Hearing Dogs for the Deaf'. These dogs help provide deaf and hearing impaired individuals with a sense of independence, and safety. As with guide dogs, hearing dogs are legally allowed full access to any public place.

• Hearing dogs are trained to listen for certain sounds such as their owner's name being called, the ringing of a doorbell or telephone, the sound of a buzzer, an alarm clock, a smoke alarm, a baby crying, or any specific sounds that their owner wishes to be notified about.

• When they hear these sounds they are trained to alert their owner by running back and forth between their owner and the object making the noise. For noises that are likely to occur when the owner is asleep, such as an alarm clock or smoke alarm, the dogs receive additional training in how to wake their owner up.

Although this is not a concrete rule, a dog being trained to be a hearing dog should be between six months and two years old. A dog that is younger than six months is usually not mature enough to learn more than a few basic commands. Older than two years, and you might have to spend a great deal of time teaching the dog to unlearn old habits before you can begin teaching it new ones.

• Hearing dogs are trained through positive reinforcement. Although hearing dogs do not need to be professionally trained, consulting with a dog trainer may be helpful

• There is not a standardized period for training a hearing dog. The time it takes to train the dog will depend upon its temperament, the amount of time you work with it each day, and how many sounds you want to train the dog to respond to.

• Currently, there are only a few formal training schools for hearing dogs. In most cases, people wishing to have a hearing dog must either train them themselves or hire a dog trainer.

• The best hearing dogs are simply dogs that are attracted to sounds.

• They should be calm, nonagressive dogs that like to be around people.

• You also want a dog that likes to eat enough to be willing to work for food. This is because as part of their training, hearing dogs are rewarded with treats for doing well.

In addition, when selecting a dog, the question of what breed to pick often arises. Most hearing dogs are mixed breeds as purebreds seldom have all the qualities required in a hearing dog.

• Mixes that tend to have a high level of desirable qualities are Terriers, Spaniels, and Retrievers mixed with either a Poodle or a Pug. However, looking for the right qualities is much more important than looking for a specific mix of breeds.

• The type of dog chosen will also depend upon the lifestyle of its intended owner. Someone who is living in a small apartment would not want a large dog. You also need to take into account that this will be the dog that will jump into bed with you every morning to wake you up when the alarm goes off. That might not be a consideration if you are looking at lap-sized dog, but it is definitely something to think about if you planning to get a Saint Bernard.

A hearing dog is just like any other dog, with the exception that they have received additional training. Consequently, the care of a hearing dog is the same as a nonworking dog.

Unfortunately, many people are unaware that hearing dogs are, under the law, afforded free access to all public places. This has caused many users of hearing dogs to be hassled and needless delayed by having to stop and explain, and sometimes to argue that they have the right to take their dog with them onto an airplane or into a restaurant. It is hoped as public awareness grows to the presence of hearing dogs, and as the number of hearing dogs increases, that these inconveniences will cease.