A dog for many things

I think I need a hearing ear dog. According to Dogs for the Deaf, they are trained to alert you to sounds such as the telephone, a door knock, oven timer, even a baby's cry. Just think, I could have a dog to keep me company at work. He could nudge my knee whenever the phone rings, or tug my sleeve whenever someone comes over to talk to me...

Not that my own animals are inept. Pope always perks up whenever someone comes to the door, or when the phone rings. My old dog would bark and pace in front of the door. I didn't even have to train them for this.