hearing dogs
I share my life with a Belgian Sheep Dog. Chance, being a herding dog, is naturally alert and watchful. His ears are like radar 
He seldom barks; his alert is poking me with his pointy nose.
I trained him myself with the help of professional trainers. Chance has been a hearing dog for about 2.5 years.
I frequently drop things. He will automatically give me my wallet or keys, but does a nose poke for other items I drop.
I cannot hear the fire alarm and have been left in the work place many times. They won't do anything about it - we have wimpy strobes that cannot be seen over room lights. So, after many years of trying, I decided to be proactive and get my hearing dog to alert me to alarms.
Being a Belgian Sheep Dog, Chance thinks . . . sometimes he outthinks me. I may teach him to read . . .
