Diabetic alert dog.

[HalfaHuman]

I have recently acquired a new companion. She is a 4yo Akita and I was wondering if she could possibly be trained to be an alert dog?

 

[Resurgam]

It is probably more a matter of training the Human to be aware of how the animal is behaving - my cat was trying to tell us that something was going to happen for several minutes before a visitor had an epileptic fit - I only realised afterwards, of course.

 

[kitedoc]

The answer is tricky @HalfaHuman.
I have a friend, a TID herself, who trains alert or companion dogs.
Many of her dogs are trained to detect low BSLs and high ones in diabetics and to assist their owner.
In Australia, where i live, dogs for this type of work are carefully chosen.
One of the reasons is that about AUD 35,000 goes into the whole process of training, including housing , vet fees and so on.
Many dogs fail to meet the standards and there is no way we on site could tell you whether your dog is suitable.
And of course, only those people whose health condition is deemed medically suitable to need of an alert dog will be granted one.
Other issues such as a potential owner having allergies to dog dander and so on will add to the complexity and possibly cost of the task.

I hope the above gives you an idea of what is involved and why there is no simple answer to your question.
Best Wishes.

 

[Marie 2]

I know several people that have trained their own dog. Nobody has mentioned they couldn't train their own dog, . I would suppose it might depend on the dog though,

 

[Rokaab]

I know several people that have trained their own dog. Nobody has mentioned they couldn't train their own dog, . I would suppose it might depend on the dog though,

And whilst you might* be able to train your own dog, it would not be officially classed as a medic alert dog so would probably not be allowed in most places that don't allow dogs (except for medic alert and guide dogs).

* And that is a very big 'might'

 

[Marie 2]

I don’t know the UK and if they are stricter than the US but a dog trained here doesn’t need certification to be accepted as a medical service dog. It only needs special paperwork if it’s an emotional support animal, and then you only need documents that you need it with you for certain things like flying.

Mostly it just takes time and effort and patience to train. Some dogs are more “Naturals” than others.
It very expensive to buy a trained dog so a lot of people here have taken to training their own. Plus you already are in love with the dog you have.

 

[kitedoc]

The dog will still need to be signed off as official before it and its owner can be certified and thus be under the laws that apply.
Emotional support animals are not the sane classification under the law, as least in Oz..
You may have heard of people being refused to board planes with their self-professed' emotional support creature.
In one such instance the creature was a peacock..

 

[Marie 2]

In the US it does not have to be signed off as anything. Nothing official needed. I do not have a clue about other countries and international travel would probably be more problematic. I know this because I was going to travel with my dog and had checked into it if I had to do anything. I did not, except have a well behaved dog.

I was going to start training my dog, but then she became diabetic too and I figured that would be very confusing for me and her.

I also know people that have taken their self trained dogs with them into jury service and a few other things. Nothing is needed here for that either.

The peacock was just a very stupid thing, I believe they have passed requirements in the type of animals allowed as emotional support companions. But they did start to require documentation from a doctor for emotional support animal travel, but not for medical assistance animals.

This is in the US though, I have no idea about anywhere else.

 

[kitedoc]

To be a medical assistance dog there has to be standrards, certification otherwise anyone could tender a dog, even a very large dog, an untrained dog and then who is liable if that irresponsible owner is allowed a dog on a flight who proceeds to injure someone.
No airline is going to risk that unless the management very unwise. And the first thing the prosecuter in a court case is going to ask is if the dog is certified.
The dog in such instances might be put down.
Or maybe the owner if irresponsible will receive the punishment.
Sounds like a legal nightmare.
And in a plane there are only so many places to hide from a large, not fully trained or certified dog, perhaps confused and disorientated.
Imagine the stress too on a blind person whose dog was not certified as meetung a proper standard of training.
And the dangers if such a dig to a blind person in everyday life?
I am not trying to critiise the noble canid, just the lack of wisdom of authorities for the owner's and the public's safety, thecpossible capriciousness of irresponsible owners etc.

 

[Marie 2]

Medical alert dogs are a huge benefit to some people and the US seems to understand that not every one can afford to buy an already trained dog. In this case the Op was wondering if she could train her dog to alert and I posted where yes you can with a video explaining how and that I know people that have and have been successful at it..

You must not like dogs @kitedoc, and expect every dog is going to be a problem? I did say well behaved dog, they have a right to turn down a dog if they think it isn't well behaved.

Or do you just like to argue for arguments sake?

 

[kitedoc]

The problem has been people taking advantage of the emotional support issue with absolutely no proof that there is a substantiated need.
That is why I raise the issue. I love dogs and what they can do but a dog not properly trained can be a problem to the owner.
That is why I raised the problem of a guide dog for the blind who not properly trained could put the owner in jeopardy.
That is why there needs to be a standard.
Yes shortage of trainers can be an issue but that is why councils, Governments exist, and standards.
A dog can be a beautiful companion but that does not necessarily make them fully competent for dealing the needs of unwell or those at risk of becoming unwell.
I am in regular contact with a lady who is an official trainer of guide and companion dogs for the blind, people with diabetes and epilepsy etc. And in the diabetics are meet each month there are several with alert dogs.
If the US has a less stringent set of laws and standards I wish them well but emotional attachment to a dog is not enough to ensure he or she meets the standards required.

 

[Resurgam]

There seems to be far more written about the paperwork than the effectiveness of an animal's ability to sense something not right. My little cat started doing an unusual sort of ballet dance around the feet of my visitor about ten minutes before the onset of a fit, then went to hide behind the settee. On subsequent visits, without fits, there was no dancing or hiding, but Puzi sat on the arm of my chair and watched intently all the time. I am sure that dogs and cats are able to detect such things, and would learn to respond appropriately to help their Humans.

 

[Seacrow]

I looked into this, talked to a couple of organisations at Crufts. The consensus was it is possible to train your own dog, and get it certified. It's a heck of a lot of work for you and eventually for the organisation. The bare minimum to apply is that your dog is well socialised, no problems with random events and has a KC Good Citizen Bronze qualification.