Customer Reviews

Lend Me an Ear: The Temperament, Selection and Training of the Hearing Ear Dog

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book needs to be appreciated as being far more than guidance for a specialized field. The author's insight regarding the balance of reactivity, intelligence and temperament make this a must read for any serious student of animal behavior. Liberal use of photos illustrate the often difficult job of interpreting canine behavior and further discussion of the system used by the author to evaluate suitability and the successful progression of training are so informative.

I bought this bought in anticipation of my husbands hearing loss and only started reading it after it sat on my shelf for months. It has great relevance to every animal I handle, horse and dog, and I only wish I had read it when I first bought it.

This represents a tremendous synthesis of all the best information in the field and more! Highly recommended.

From The "Partners Forum" The magazine of the International Association of Assistance Dog Partners. Lend Me An Ear by Martha Hoffman breaks new ground and would be an outstanding addition to the library of anyone with an interest in the assistance dog field. This trainer who is affiliated with the San Francisco SPCA Hearing Dog Program has evaluated hundreds of shelter dogs over the years. She believes hearing dogs are born, not made. She discusses what what evaluation tests she administers in what order and how to interpret the behavior each candidate displays. If you love books which can expand your knowledge about dogs in general and assistance dogs and teamwork in particular, this one from Doral Publishing is a valuable and exciting find.

I've been training dogs (my own and other people's)for more than twenty years, and also for more than twenty years have been reading all the books I could find relating to dogs in general, different breeds, different types of training, and dog behavior. There are a lot of so so books out there many that are adequate and a few good ones.This is a good book written by a person who obviously has a vast experience with a great number of dogs. I had never before thought about what kind of temperament would be needed to make a hearing dog, but this book explains it beautifully, as well as explaining many other temperament types, and which breeds or mixes might manifest these attributes. This is a very thoughtful book and certainly would be useful for any trainer. The author has illustrated it with photos of actual shelter dogs, and their body language, etc. I felt I really got my money's worth with this purchase!

I read Lend Me An Ear specifically for its huge section that analyzes breed
types (as groups, not as individuals) when selecting a dog for service
(specifically hearing) work. I found the training tips to be very helpful,
as they address some of the more obnoxious personality traits found not only
in what the author termed "reactive" dogs but also occasionally in our own beloved
trained service dogs. The book is hilarious at times with many personal
examples of the trials and tribulations of training hearing dogs to alert
their partners to various sounds

Martha's book is a must read for anyone involved or interested in Service Dog training but is a real find for the dog community in general. The sections on temperment evaluation and breed characteristics are detailed. Dog professionals will gain new insights, but Martha's writing style makes it accessible for anyone with an interest in dogs. Simply the best new dog book on the market today.

I had a servicedog I am training for hearing help so the first 2/3 of the book were of limited use for me though it was very interesting and would be applicable for choosing almost any service dog. The last 1/3 was very good and I look forward to using them to teach my dog while I still have enough hearing to train her.

From Midwest Book Review.Martha Hoffman explains why animal shelter castaways often make the best hearing dogs, and what breeds and mixes have the highest rate of placement with the deaf and hard of hearing partners. Lend ME An Ear is a ground- breaking, informative, and invaluable addition to any personal, professional or community library reference collection

I have to say that Martha has put together an outstanding book. Her attention to detail (particularly the emphasis on the importance of understanding breed behaviors and functions - and temperament of dogs) and the realistic picture portrayed of hearing dog training or partnership makes the book not only a valued tool for those interested in hearing dog training or partnership -- but also a recommended read for those interested in any aspect of assistance dog dog work. Great job, Martha !

As someone who is interested in training dogs for the deaf and handicapped, this book was the perfect find. It spells out exactly what to look for and how to train hearing ear dogs. Thank you so much for this book!

This is an excellent book, not only because of the fascinating insight into what it takes to make a hearing dog, but also for understanding and evaluating dog temperaments in general. It would be absolutely invaluable for someone wanting to pick a dog from a shelter. The author has literally evaluated thousands of shelter dogs in her years of searching for suitable dogs to train as hearing ear dogs. This book would make a great addition to any dog lover's library.