Breed dogs for hearing dogs for deaf people: breeds, puppies and training? Advertise here
Buyers and trainers use this page to find breeders whose lines do this work. List your kennel free, tick the industries your dogs work in, and advertise litters and stud dogs from proven working lines.
No breeders are listed here yet, so the first profiles get the page to themselves.
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Is it free to advertise here?
Yes. A breeder profile and your litter and stud dog adverts are free. Premium profiles, featured placement and sponsored articles are optional paid extras; see pricing.
Do I need a licence to advertise puppies?
In England you need a dog breeding licence from your council if you breed three or more litters in 12 months or breed and sell dogs as a business, and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own schemes. Licensed breeders show their licence number and issuing council on every advert. Puppies must be at least eight weeks old before they go to new homes.
Is my listing already here?
We add licensed breeders from councils' public registers. Search for your kennel name; if it is listed you can claim it and edit everything.
About hearing dogs for deaf people: breeds, puppies and training
Hearing dogs for deaf people alert their partners to everyday sounds and give them the confidence to get out and about. This page explains who breeds and trains them in the UK, which hearing dog breeds are used and what that means if you are looking at a breeder’s litter. Trained hearing dogs are not sold, and the breeders on Canine Breeder do not supply them.
What this work involves
At home, a hearing dog alerts a deaf person to important sounds such as the smoke alarm, the alarm clock and the doorbell, and some are trained to respond to a baby’s cry. Out and about, a hearing dog wears a burgundy jacket, which shows it is a working assistance dog.
Hearing Dogs for Deaf People offers three roles:
- Hearing dog: works inside and outside the home and has full assistance dog access rights.
- Sound support dog: a sound alert dog that works only at home, for adults with moderate or deteriorating hearing loss. It does not wear the jacket or go where pet dogs are not allowed.
- Companion dog: gives companionship and emotional support to people with hearing loss.
According to ADUK, hearing dogs are available to adults and to children aged seven and over. The work suits a dog that notices sounds, is keen to go to its person and settles quietly in public.
Who trains and supplies these dogs in the UK
Hearing Dogs for Deaf People was founded in 1982 and is based at The Grange in Saunderton, near Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire. In 2023-24 it supported 1,141 hearing dog partnerships. It is a member of Assistance Dogs UK (ADUK), the coalition of charities accredited by Assistance Dogs International and/or the International Guide Dog Federation.
The charity runs its own breeding scheme. Its breeding bitches live with volunteer brood fosterers, who look after each litter until about eight weeks, when hearing dog puppies start their training. From then until about 18 months old, each puppy lives with a Volunteer Dog Trainer, attends sessions with the charity’s Dog Training Instructors and works towards its “Puppy Star” awards. Training is reward-based throughout.
Hearing Dogs has also said that, alongside its own breeding, it carefully sources puppies from reputable external breeders when required. Breeders interested in this should ask the charity directly. Hearing dogs are matched with people who apply to the charity; they are not sold to the public.
Breeds and lines
After 40 years of training, Hearing Dogs names its “fantastic four” hearing dog breeds:
- Labrador Retriever
- Cocker Spaniel
- Miniature Poodle
- Cockapoo (Cocker Spaniel x Poodle)
The charity says all four have the traits needed to become hearing dogs. Individual temperament matters as much as breed. A private breeder’s litter may share these breeds, but only the charity’s own assessment decides whether a puppy suits the work.
What to ask a breeder
- Which health tests have both parents had? Ask for a current BVA/RKC eye certificate, breed-relevant DNA results such as prcd-PRA, and hip scores for Labradors. For a Cockapoo, ask about both parents.
- Are the parents from working or show lines, and what are they like at home?
- How do the puppies react to everyday household noises, such as the vacuum cleaner or doorbell?
- Has a puppy from your litters been selected by an assistance dog charity, and how do you know?
- If you hold a council breeding licence, can I see it?
Legal and welfare notes
In England, Scotland and Wales, the Equality Act 2010 means people with trained hearing dogs can use almost all premises and transport with their dogs. Its taxi rules specifically cover a dog trained to assist a deaf person, and drivers must carry it at no extra charge. In Northern Ireland the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 applies. Sound support dogs work only at home and companion dogs provide companionship, so neither is placed for public access work. There is no UK register of assistance dogs; ADUK members issue their own ID.
Frequently asked questions
Which breeds make the best hearing dogs?
Hearing Dogs mainly trains Labradors, Cocker Spaniels, Miniature Poodles and Cockapoos. Individual temperament matters more than breed alone.
Can I buy a hearing dog puppy?
No. Hearing dog puppies are bred or sourced, trained and matched by the charity, then placed with people who apply. A puppy you buy is a pet, even if it is the same breed.
What is a sound alert dog?
It is an everyday term for a dog trained to tell its owner about sounds. Hearing Dogs calls its home-only version a sound support dog.
If you breed Labradors, Cocker Spaniels, Miniature Poodles or Cockapoos with steady, people-focused temperaments, you are welcome to list your breeding on Canine Breeder. Please describe your dogs’ aptitude honestly and only mention links to assistance dog charities you can evidence.
Breeds used for hearing dogs for deaf people
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