14 Jul 2026
Charity Hearing Dogs for Deaf People has made an urgent appeal for at least 13 dog lovers in St Albans to consider becoming a volunteer puppy trainer and radically transform the life of someone who is deaf or has hearing loss.
According to the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID), around one in three people in the UK are now deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus. In the city of St Albans itself, this equates to 27,000 people.
Many of these people struggle to take part in conversations – even with friends and family, leading to social withdrawal, isolation and an increased risk of anxiety and depression.
In addition, the fear of missing important and often life-saving sounds, such as smoke and fire alarms, intruder alarms, the alarm clock and even baby monitors, can leave deaf people feeling vulnerable and unsafe.
When fully trained, hearing dogs not only provide practical assistance by alerting deaf people to these important sounds, but also offer love and emotional support to help reduce isolation and loneliness.
The charity is fortunate to have a nationwide network of dedicated
volunteers who help train the puppies, but in St Albans it has an urgent need for 13 more volunteers and more people who would be prepared to offer short-term holiday cover.
For Trudi Waterhouse and her family, who live in Harpenden, volunteering as a puppy trainer for Hearing Dogs was a way to support the charity’s work, but also have a dog without the cost.
Trudi explained: “We thought a lot about having our own dog but with so many other living costs to consider this was a perfect compromise.
“For a family like us, who are prepared to put in the time to train a puppy, we get the joy of a dog without the financial commitment.”
Volunteering as a trainer involves caring for a puppy in your home for between six and 18 months at a time and getting them started on their training journey – from basic cues like ‘sit’, ‘down’ and ‘wait’ to experiencing different sights, smells and environments.
All volunteer puppy trainers are fully supported by a dedicated member of the Hearing Dogs dog training team, and all costs are covered by the charity.
Anyone who wants to find out more about becoming a volunteer puppy trainer, visit http://hearingdogs.org.uk/volunteer-puppies, contact the volunteering team directly at volunteer@hearingdogs.org.uk, or call 01844 348129.
