What breed of dog could support hearing loss? Advice needed please.

[DogQuestion]

I wondered if any dog expert could advise on two things:

Firstly, what breed of dog do you think would best suit a healthy and very active newly retired person with a hearing loss who can finally embrace and enjoy responsible dog ownership? i.e. a dog who will respond to doorbells/ noises suggesting someone has entered the house etc? I’m not suggesting a full blown hearing dog but intelligent breeds which would be more inclined to be alert and responsive to noises.

Walks would be up to 8-10 miles a day at weekends, 3-4 miles a day during the week, at least while we both were up for it.

And how easy would it be to train a dog to do a few simple things like this? Could a fully grown rescue dog be trained to do this? Or would you need to start with a pup?

Thanks and yes, this is starting from a place of relative ignorance but nothing will be done towards it for a year or so, no jumping in without plenty of time and energy put in to consider all aspects and to research things properly.

My Labradoodle is great for this. I'm not deaf but I'm mobility impaired and he can tell me between someone just putting a leaflet through the door and a parcel needing a signature (or my 18yo's most recent deliveroo order!!).

He hasn't had specific training for this but we've figured it out between us. He doesn't bark at the phone but I'd think it would be easy to train him to do so. He does know to alert me if he hears the window cleaners down the street, and when the gardener arrives to cut the grass (both need paying!).

He's also up for as long a walk as you like (though has been known to dramatically slow down on the way home from some long walks!). He also doesn't shed.

I know poodle crosses aren't popular on here, but he's great for our family and especially me!

Yeah - we're the same age as you with a 14 yo 12 kilo dog who I can easily port up and down stairs at the moment, but starting over would be foolish.

My phone streams to my hearing aids so no one hears it but me! But the door thing has left me in tears before - waiting in all day, hovering by the door for someone to arrive to mend something and then find out I still missed them because I had the kettle on or was in the loo. And I get a bit scared when I’m in on my own as I can’t tell the difference between a house-settling-down type noise and a someone-is -downstairs type noise.

All your dogs sound awesome. Very envious!

Have you tried doorbell with vibration pager OP?

No - I guess when I retire I should look into things like that. I have a vibration pager at work for the fire alarm just in case I’m out of hearing (I can hear it generally but maybe not in some corners)

One would be useful if I were waiting for a delivery - I’ll look into it. But not as nice as a dog which I’d love anyway!

My staffie barks and runs to sit at the top of the stairs (front door is at bottom - I am in upper flat) so it is easy for me to see that she thinks someone is coming (she can see out of the window so is forewarned).
She also rushes up to me and looks at me and rushes away again so, even if she didn't sometimes bark, it is obvious by her change of behaviour and urgency that something is afoot. I never trained her to do this but I did train her to wait away from the door when I go to open it so she doesn't alarm any dog-wary callers.

I have had many breeds (mainly rescues) over the years but always wanted a Bouvier de Flanders because of their amazingly calm and gentle nature. They are popularly used as therapy dogs around the world and they are very good with people and other dogs. They even intuitively know how to be gentle with small kids. I would suggest reading about these gentle giants. They are hypoallergenic and don’t shed too!

My family socialised a miniature poodle for Hearing Dogs. The early training was fairly easy, hand, voice and whistle and anyone could do it. A PP is correct they not only train full hearing dogs but also a range of support dogs that don't quite make the grade for one reason or another. Poodles are great dogs, non shedding, clever, easily trained, vocal at alerting but very affectionate too and you can pick them up!

The Bouvier looks gorgeous but my house and garden are too small. And I’m not sure a miniature poodle could manage 10 mile walks? I have met some immensely intelligent ones though, I agree. A staffy is a possibility - seem to be lots in rescues - but have heard they’re not always great with other dogs?

I don't know about poodles, but some smallish dogs can definitely do 10 mile weekend walks. Perhaps particularly those originally bred to work - eg some terriers, but also standard dachshunds.

Mini Poodles aren't that small and can see do long walks. Ours helped to round up cows and ran alongside the quad

@Mydogsnotfat

Mini Poodles aren't that small and can see do long walks. Ours helped to round up cows and ran alongside the quad

Impressive - I hadn’t realised. Maybe I’m thinking of Toy poodles.

My mum has a Springer spaniel from a working line. He loves long walks and notices everything, super lovely dog with people, kids and other dogs and easy to train (much easier than the dachshund we used to have - he was a stubborn little bigger).

@FredaFrogspawn

Sorry - I do know what a cocker is, just not what show type means.

Have a look at the online forum cockersonline. It’s full of information on cocker spaniels. Show and working type versions are worlds apart. Show type dogs are still super active little dogs, working type are bred to work. All day in the field. Super fit little pocket rockets.

My border collie black lab mixed was a wonderful dog and am deaf myself. He was a guard dog.

But you have to do some basic training at a young age

Poodles requires a lot of maintenance and are very sensitive dogs, if you want a dog that’s more protective, border collie are great and they are very active but they can get bored easily

What about a Shetland sheepdog they’re meant to be a good medium sized breed but one of the most intelligent and could definitely take the walking