Diabetic Dog Training

[ClareButton]

Hello There,

I am new to this site but have a question.

We are looking to get a dog, we have two type 1 sugar free babies, my son 12 and daughter 10, both diagnosed a year and a half ago, two months to the day apart!

We are looking to get a dog within the next few weeks and are really keen to have the dog trained as a medical alert dog, my daughter is completely hypo unaware, her bedroom is on the second floor and ours is on the ground, i have tried baby monitors, bells etc but we cant hear anything from donstairs and cant change the bedrooms around.

I have done loads of research into medical dogs but cant find anywhere to train them or if i can its through the roof, I have always worked but have had to give up working because i have to be on hand with the schools as i can get 6+ calls a day because of their conditions.

We are fighting for pumps which seems to be a no hope in our area, as we have to meet a certain criteria and we cant afford to fund them ourselves.

I am prepared to put all the work in with the dog and train them, but need extra help for training for diabetes awareness.

Please can anyone help or recommend anywhere, we live in Hertfordshire

Many Thanks

 

[himtoo]

Wow -- my heart goes out to your family !
and hi there as well -- welcome to the forum

this is an area i have vaguely heard of but have no knowledge or experience but...

my instinct is to try contacting Diabetes UK or JDRF.
their carelines would be a starting point and they may have some tips on how to proceed or charities that might have a dog just waiting for you ( fingers crossed.)


all the best !

 

[Indy51]

There is an Australian mother of a diabetic son who has posted on her blog about training a border collie using scents on cotton wool. The blog can be found here: http://diabeticalien.blogspot.com.au/

The dog's name is Maya, so if you search the blog for her name (top right hand corner), you may be able to pick up some hints from there.

Good luck with it

 

[Mike d]

Conduct a google search ... lots on information that will give you a great head start.

Best of luck

 

[noblehead]

@ClareButton, contact the following charity that works with medical detection dogs:

http://medicaldetectiondogs.org.uk/

Best wishes.

 

[Robbity]

I was also going to suggest the Medical Detection Dogs link, but they seem to have very long waiting lists.

There are a number of videos on You Tube which may (or may not!) be helpful - have a look at this one:

I think the most important thing is to make sure that you get the right kind of dog for its future job, and try to make sure that your daughter and the pup bond well and that she has a big hand in all its training.

It may be worth contacting your local dog training classes as more advanced obedience work includes scent training, and there may be puppy walkers for Guide Dog and Hearing Dog puppies attending - we had both when I used to go years ago, and they may have a few useful tips on general training and socialising of "specialised" dogs.

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

Robbity

 

[magjanereer]

riveting account , and very interesting,,,Such a help for the family to have the dog

 

[arbore]

Hello There,

I am new to this site but have a question.

We are looking to get a dog, we have two type 1 sugar free babies, my son 12 and daughter 10, both diagnosed a year and a half ago, two months to the day apart!

We are looking to get a dog within the next few weeks and are really keen to have the dog trained as a medical alert dog, my daughter is completely hypo unaware, her bedroom is on the second floor and ours is on the ground, i have tried baby monitors, bells etc but we cant hear anything from donstairs and cant change the bedrooms around.

I have done loads of research into medical dogs but cant find anywhere to train them or if i can its through the roof, I have always worked but have had to give up working because i have to be on hand with the schools as i can get 6+ calls a day because of their conditions.

We are fighting for pumps which seems to be a no hope in our area, as we have to meet a certain criteria and we cant afford to fund them ourselves.

I am prepared to put all the work in with the dog and train them, but need extra help for training for diabetes awareness.

Please can anyone help or recommend anywhere, we live in Hertfordshire

Many Thanks

I bought an excellent book on Amazon. I understand that the dogs are specially bred for training. Look for a book, and ask your local vet. Our dog so far licks my husband when he is hyper....he must be like a lolly to the dog!
Arbore

 

[encore1332]

HI, you can train any dog to do this but may not be able to get them officially declared as a diabetic assistant dog. I have a old rescue terrier who i started to train and he did quite well but I stopped when I found I couldn't get him officially recognised so I can take him with me to more places, got impression he didn't cost enough was too old and wrong breed being a Heinz 47. But im hypo aware so it isn't a massive issue. There are a few articles online about training. Have a look at this site as its quite interesting http://www.owner-trained-service-dogs.com/Medic Alert/Diabetic_Alert_2.html . I followed this mostly just adapted it to my dog. Not easy to start with but with lots of praise and treats

 

[Libby1726]

Hi Claremont welcome to the forum. Try contacting the kennel club. We were at Cruffs in March. There was a medical alert stand. A lady we were talking to trains dogs to help diabetics. She herself is T1. Good luck

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