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pek1 · 10-18-2007, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keanusmom

Awwww, sorry to hear that syxp.

But very happy to hear that I (my son) can sign to the dog.
This is going to be GREAT!!

I will still use voice commands (one child deaf, one hearing)

Any particular dog breed that is better at learning (you know how beagles and German shepherds are good police dogs) ?

Keanusmom,

I have some good news for you! First of all, I'd recommend you search all my posts regarding hearing dogs, but there are too many. So, I did the next best thing . . . just for you, my dear. I have gone back through some posts that I think will help you and give you some direction. You son may be tickled pink to know that, since he's deaf, his dog can be used as a hearing dog for him, just like Snickers is to me. Let me emphasize something, however. Having a dog be a hearing dog (which is a service dog), he must be trained specifically for hearing for your son. You can even do the training if you want to, as there is no such thing as a national "certification" program for them. If there was, I'd be fighting it tooth and nail, because I don't believe in national certification for service animals whatsoever. There are books out there that help with training. One book, which I've had two a couple years ago trains hearing dogs and I can't find the link for it. There is a training dog website Train Your Own Dog. Dana is really cool and she'll help you out, answer any question you have, as well as the swell people on that site.

Once the dog is at a level that he alerts your son to noise he needs to know about, he can (the dog) start going in public with him. Now, I'm giving you a lot of information on short order and the links are at this website; I'm also recommending you go to the Department of Justice website and obtain a cd, which you can order (it's free). You, as the parent, need to crash course educate yourself regarding the ADA (The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990) and get up to speed, especially for accomodations in school for your son. If you need assistance, please don't hesitate to pm me and send it via my email and I will respond. Here are the links I told you about and good luck! ADA publications, when you get to that page, are on the right side and, the document you want regarding service animals is the 12th one down from the title "Businesses and Non-Profit Service Providers."

By the way, Snickers is an eight-year-old female Akita-German Shepherd cross. I think she was an FBI agent in a former life.

ADA Home Page - ada.gov - Information and Technical Assistance on the Americans with Disabilities Act

http://www.alldeaf.com/american-disa...aring-dog.html

http://www.alldeaf.com/american-disa...tml#post483123

http://www.alldeaf.com/american-disa...tml#post464685

http://www.alldeaf.com/american-disa...rvice-dog.html