What is a Hearing Service Dog?
Sam Simon Charitable Foundation is proud to offer specially trained Hearing Service Dogs to qualifying residents of California and including San Diego County. These incredible companions are much more than pets—they are life-changing partners trained to assist individuals with hearing loss. By alerting their handlers to essential sounds such as doorbells, alarms, and even a baby’s cry, these dogs empower their owners to live more confidently and independently.
Hearing Dogs Changing Lives
What sets our program apart is our mission to transform the lives of both humans and dogs. We focus on rescuing homeless dogs and providing them with specialized training to become skilled Hearing Service Dogs. Carefully matched with qualifying recipients, these dogs bring a sense of security, freedom, and companionship to those who need it most—all provided at no cost.
Take the next step towards independence. Contact us today to learn more about applying for a Hearing Dog!
Hearing Dogs are trained to alert people who are deaf or hard of hearing to common household sounds, such as doorbells, phone calls, appliance chimes, and smoke alarms.
Acting as an extra set of ears and providing increased environmental awareness, Hearing Dogs give their owners a sense of independence and security as they navigate their everyday world. As a constant companion, Hearing Service Dogs can also help improve the mental health of their owners, combating feelings of isolation and loneliness that often accompany living with profound hearing loss.
Our Approach
We primarily focus on evaluating and training shelter dogs. Dogs that complete in-house training with us go on to be matched with deaf or hard of hearing adults on our applicant waiting list. Being a part of a Hearing Dog team provides a second chance for a shelter dog and can offer independence, security, as well as companionship for their human partner.
What can a Hearing Dog do for you?
A Hearing Service Dog acts as a second set of ears for you. At home, Hearing Dogs will alert you to important household sounds by pawing or nudging and leading you to the sound. In public settings such as grocery stores, they will give cues with their body language to provide increased awareness of your surroundings.
For some, Hearing Dogs are primarily helpful in the home. We named these dogs Home Hearing Dogs. They are ideal for the person who misses common household sounds such as a door knock or smoke alarm but don’t need a dog for sound awareness in public settings such as shopping centers.
Is a Hearing Dog the right choice for you?
A Hearing Dog requires your time. They need a daily care and exercise routine. They need daily practice of their skills to stay reliable. They need frequent attention and praise to reinforce their learning.
A Hearing Dog requires your patience. They may make mistakes. They need time to adjust to their new home. They need continued and consistent training to stay sharp and well-mannered.
Who is eligible for a SSF Dogs hearing dog?
Eligible applicants meet each of the following criteria:
- Resident of California.
- Diagnosed with severe to profound or total hearing loss in both ears.
- Age 21 years old or older.
- No pet dogs living in the home.
- Ability to walk for 30 minutes without use of mobility aides.
- Able to provide a personal reference upon request.
- Financially able to provide all care for a dog.
- Physically and mentally able to ensure their dog maintains all training.
How to apply for a SSF Dogs Hearing Dog
Applying for a Hearing Dog is a decision that should be thoughtfully considered. After establishing that you meet our eligibility requirements, please take the time to review our Readiness Checklist and learn more about the application process before submitting your application.