Created in 2010 by Cathy and Frédéric Bire, the Association “Les Chiens du Silence” specializes in training dogs to become hearing assistance dogs. These dogs are given for free to people who are hard of hearing or deaf.

The organization works closely with professional breeders, foster families, veterinarians, and its own expert trainers. Their goal is to provide high-quality, well-treated dogs to those in need. They believe that a happy, loved, and well-trained dog is the best help for someone with a disability.

Since 2017, “Les Chiens du Silence” has been officially recognized as a hearing assistance training center by the French Government. So far, the Association has helped more than 120 people by giving them free hearing assistance dogs.
 

Deaf or hard of hearing people face many challenges in their daily lives because of their hearing loss. Their safety can often be at risk, and they may feel emotionally fragile due to the constant stress of missing one of their senses.
While there are technical solutions available, these can only solve part of the problems faced by people with hearing disabilities.
The hearing assistance dog training program is designed to provide well-raised and well-trained dogs to improve the lives of people with hearing loss. These dogs help by performing specific tasks, keeping their handler safe, and offering emotional support.
With the help of hearing assistance dogs, people with deafness feel more confident and regain their independence.
 

“During a trip to Canada, my husband and I learned about the existence of hearing assistance dogs. While this type of dogs has been used in the UK and Canada for over 50 years to help people who are deaf or hard of hearing, there wasn’t anything like this in France.
Upon our return, the Association Les Chiens du Silence was born from our desire to meet this specific need: improve the quality of life of deaf and hard of hearing people.

Since its creation, we have been committed to creating an environment where the well-being of the dogs and beneficiaries as well as the quality of our work are the priority.

Our dogs are handled with love and expertise, adapting the training of each dog to its needs, its personality but also to the requirements of its future handler, in order to best meet the specific needs, he or she might have. Our dogs’ training is based on the bond between dog and human, and all the love that can exist between them: it is the most beautiful way to create an exceptional connection and a long-lasting relationship!”

Cathy Bire Founder of "Les Chiens du Silence" and dog trainer
 

"Axel had a bilateral profound deafness and was diagnosed late at the age of four. This delay had a serious impact on his language, his development, his school learning, social life, and even his nights. His sleep was disturbed by night terrors, and in those moments, he could not stand to be alone in bed. Although he is in a specialized institute, Axel had few friends.

Since he met Rio, his hearing assistance dog, everything is better. Axel still wakes up often at night, but now he is calm. He might get up, but he goes back to bed, near Rio.

At school, there has been a lot of improvement: Axel has more confidence in himself, he is interested in studying, he listens, he works… He also made friends thanks to Rio and learned how to be mindful of others.

Seeing Axel happy and fulfilled is wonderful. Rio is truly his life companion, his playmate, his confidant. He talks to him, trusts him. Axel understood that thanks to his dog, he could live his life."

Thierry, father of Axel, a 15-year-old helped by Rio, his hearing assistance dog