Hearing and Service Dogs of Minnesota
Hearing and Service Dogs of Minnesota Hearing and Service Dogs of Minnesota Hearing and Service Dogs of Minnesota Hearing and Service Dogs of Minnesota
Hearing and Service Dogs of Minnesota
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On this page you will find information about our Hearing Dog program, including information about the application and training process, applicant criteria, and how to apply for your own Hearing Dog.

 

Program Overview

image of client Jean with her hearing dog LexieWe train Hearing Dogs to alert a deaf or hard-of-hearing person by making physical contact and then leading the person to the source of a sound. Some of the sounds a Hearing Dog may be trained for include:

  • a door knock or doorbell
  • an oven timer
  • a smoke detector
  • an alarm clock
  • an individual's name being called
  • a phone ringing
  • the sound of an intruder
  • a baby crying

Some dogs can be trained to alert to sounds as well as perform physical tasks for the client. These are called Special Skills Dogs.

Typically, the application and training process for a Hearing Dog can take up to a year before you are certified as a Hearing Dog team.

Thanks to our generous supporters and volunteers, all of our dogs are provided to clients at no charge!

 

Applicant Criteria

Applicants must meet the following criteria to be considered for our Hearing Dog program:

  • Must be a resident of Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Illinois or Missouri.
  • Must be deaf or have a severe-to-profound hearing impairment.
  • Must be physically and financially able to take full responsibility for the dog after certification.
  • Must be at least 18 years old.
  • Must not currently own a dog unless applying to owner-train their pet.

If you wish to have your pet dog trained as your Hearing Dog, the dog must meet all the same requirements for health, training and temperament as our own Assistance Dogs. You will need to supply information about your dog - such as breed, age, temperament, etc. - when you apply.

For more information:

 

Application & Training Process

After requesting an application from Can Do Canines, you will receive an application packet in the mail that includes information about the program, the application forms, and a medical release and reference form.

Once Can Do Canines has received your application materials and contacted your physician and references, you will be sent a letter of notification and your application will be given a preliminary review by the training team. If your application meets our requirements, the training team will contact you to set up an in-home interview.

If accepted into the Hearing Dog program, training will be conducted in-home over the course of approximately four months.

 

FAQs and Fact Sheets

If you have trouble opening these documents, you may need to download the latest version of Adobe Reader.

 

How To Apply

To apply for a Hearing Dog, please email or call us at 763-331-3000, ext. 157, and provide the following information:

  • Name
  • Address
  • E-mail address and/or phone number
  • Whether or not you are applying for an owner-trained Hearing Dog

We will mail an application packet to you within 24 hours. An application fee of $50 must accompany your completed application (this is the only cost to you during the application and training process).

Hearing and Service Dogs of Minnesota Special Skills Dogs

We train Special Skills Dogs who assist individuals who have physical disabilities, in addition to being deaf or hard-of-hearing. These dogs combine the assistance of both a Hearing Dog and a Service Dog in one animal.

Typically, the application and training process for a Special Skills Dog can take up to a year before you are certified as a Special Skills Dog team.

Thanks to our generous supporters and volunteers, all of our dogs are provided to clients at no charge!

 

Applicant Criteria

Applicants must meet the following criteria to be considered for our Special Skills Dog program:

  • Must be a resident of Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Illinois or Missouri.
  • Must be deaf or have a severe-to-profound hearing impairment.
  • Must be physically and financially able to take full responsibility for the dog after certification.
  • Must be at least 18 years old.
  • Must not currently own a dog unless applying to owner-train their pet.

If you wish to have your pet dog trained as your Special Skills Dog, the dog must meet all the same requirements for health, training and temperament as our own Assistance Dogs. You will need to supply information about your dog - such as breed, age, temperament, etc. - when you apply.

For more information:

 

Application & Training Process

After requesting an application from Can Do Canines, you will receive an application packet in the mail that includes information about the program, the application forms, and a medical release and reference form.

Once Can Do Canines has received your application materials and contacted your physician and references, you will be sent a letter of notification and your application will be given a preliminary review by the training team. If your application meets our requirements, the training team will contact you to set up an in-home interview.

If accepted into the Service Dog program, training will be conducted in-home over the course of approximately four months.

 

FAQs and Fact Sheets

If you have trouble opening these documents, you may need to download the latest version of Adobe Reader.

 

How To Apply

To apply for a Special Skills Dog, please email or call us at 763-331-3000, ext. 157, and provide the following information:

  • Name
  • Address
  • E-mail address and/or phone number
  • Whether or not you are applying for an owner-trained Special Skills Dog

We will mail an application packet to you within 24 hours. An application fee of $50 must accompany your completed application (this is the only cost to you during the application and training process).