Hearing dog

This job is done by touch. When the doorbell, alarm clock or oven timer goes off, a hearing dog nudges or paws its deaf owner and then leads them to the sound. Fire and smoke alarms get a different response, because leading someone towards a fire would be dangerous: the dog lies down instead as a warning. Programmes train a wide mix of breeds and crosses, from spaniels and poodles to Labradors, since the role rewards alertness more than size.