written by Ida McCabe, Alert Dogs for Diabetics
At the start of any search for a diabetic alert dog, most folks do not even know what they are looking for. They have usually just recently heard that there is even such a thing as a diabetic alert dog, and are excited to get more information as to just what all is involved with this new help for those sudden lows that could actually take their life or that of a loved one, or at least alter it.
So that we will be sure that all who read this will understand just what a diabetic alert dog is, I will explain what they do. A diabetic alert dog (DAD), is a fully obedience trained dog that is also trained to detect and alert his/her person when their blood sugar levels drop below the recommended safe level. That is usually 80.
Because of a dog’s incredible sense of smell, they are capable of detecting any changes in our body chemistry. A DAD is specifically trained to the scent of blood sugar, and in fact they will usually detect a high blood sugar level as well as a low.
I believe that all dogs have the ability to detect these changes, the difference between a trained DAD and an ordinary dog is that they have been trained to let their person know that this is happening. Since dogs pick up on these changes so rapidly, some people believe that a dog is actually more accurate than their meters. A friend of mine who has an alert dog says that she is about 20 minutes ahead of her meter.
There are a few facilities today that are training dogs for this purpose and there seems to be others that are just beginning that venture.
My suggestion would be to explore all the options available to you. Make sure that you make an informed decision about something that will affect a good portion of your life.
In your search, you might want to make a list of questions to ask when contacting a particular training facility. These questions would be on my list.
1. Are your dogs raised in your home or in a kennel? This is important because a DAD is going to be living in your home and you want to be sure that it has learned what I call “house manners”. Does the dog know how to ask to go out to potty? Or will he/she just hold it until you routinely take it out? Is it crate trained? Sometimes these dogs must be left at home alone, and it might be better for all concerned, to know that the dog is safe while you are not there to watch after it. It is also a good thing to have a place where he/she can go to be alone and just “chill”.
2. How many dogs do you train and place at a time, and how often do you make placements? In my opinion, if a trainer is mass producing DAD’s, (holding classes and or placing dogs) at a rapid pace, the training is likely to be incomplete, and you just may take on more problems than you need.
3. How many trainers do you have? This question should be used in conjunction with the previous one. The ratio of trainers to dogs should be very low. In my opinion, each dog should be trained in an in home setting. By this I mean that they should be brought into a home as part of a family. In order to be able to achieve this for optimal results, only one or two dogs should be brought into the home at a time for training, preferably one. This is a very important element in the socialization of a dog. While in the home, a dog can and should receive not only basic obedience training (sit, down, stay, etc.), but house manners training as well, and how to get along with the family which might include other pets. (I have a cat that runs our household, and is essential for my dogs to understand “don’t hurt the cat”
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To qualify the previous statement I must say that if a trainer has a litter of puppies that they have raised in a kennel setting while working daily with them, the socialization element of training may be achieved on an ongoing basis prior to bringing a particular animal into the home to finish the process.
4. What kind of training methods do you use? There are a variety of training methods, and each dog may require a different method in order to obtain the best results. Fear based methods should be used only as a last resort, if at all. Some breeds are a bit more reliable as alert dogs by virtue of their strong willed temperament and therefore may require a more patient or even stronger will than their own in order to achieve the desired results. I would recommend that you study the breeds before making a decision. After all, ultimately, you will be the trainer.
5. Where do you get your dogs? A dog does not necessarily have to be pure bred “anything” in order to make a good alert dog, but it’s background should be a good one. A dog acquired from a shelter is no less a good candidate for an alert dog than one that has been obtained from a breeder. Since dogs acquired from shelters or the pound are usually ones that have been neglected at least, or surrendered voluntarily, I would recommend that you ask the trainer how long they have had the dog in question. If they have only had the dog for a short period of time, I would wonder if they have addressed all of the issues surrounding the neglect or surrender of the animal. It has been said that dogs live in the present, and past behaviors can be corrected with the right training. I believe that is true, but it takes time to achieve this.
In my opinion, for optimal results, a dog that has been raised from a puppy by the trainer, or trainers assistant, or even by you, is the best option of all. Some times that is not possible, but it is still my preference of all the options.
6. Will the dog be fully obedience trained? It is important that a dog be fully obedience trained for a number of reasons. First of all, you will most likely be taking this animal everywhere that you go, and in order to do this he or she must be public access certified and capable of controlling it’s behavior in any setting. It is also a necessary element in the consistent alerting of a DAD. You must be willing and capable of maintaining the obedience training of your alert dog. You might also want to ask about what kind of training you will receive from the trainer at the time of placement with your dog. If you feel that you might need more training I would suggest that you either attend obedience classes yourself or at least purchase a training video so that you will have a good idea about how to proceed once you have your DAD. In an effort not to confuse your DAD I would recommend that you try to closely match the training style of your DAD trainer.
7. Will you, the trainer, be available to me if I have issues with my dog after I have him/her at home with me? A good trainer should be available by telephone, at least, in order to help you deal with any issues that might arise during the first year that you have your dog. In that amount of time you should have a good idea about how to deal with your dog yourself.
8. What is your return policy if my dog does not work for me? A good trainer should offer to at least replace a dog that does not work out for a family. Most trainers care enough for their dogs that they would not want to leave a dog in an environment that is not a good match for them.
9. How do you select the dogs that you will train as alert dogs? Some trainers will tell you that any dog can be trained for any purpose. Most good trainers will take their dogs through a screening process. During this process they will assess their dog’s temperament. This should tell them how suited the dog is for the intended purpose.
For our purposes you do not want a dog that is so laid back that nothing seems to inspire them to action. It makes for a good, unobtrusive, family pet, but they may or may not pay enough attention to alert at critical times.
On the other hand, you do not want a dog that is distracted by every movement, and the smallest thing can set them off. An unforgiving dog that holds a grudge might snap at any moment.
A dog that is alert to its surroundings, and curious enough to investigate with confidence, not easily deterred, with acceptable pain tolerance, not easily insulted, and very forgiving, might just be the start of a good DAD. These are just a few of the characteristics that a good trainer would look for before even starting with training.
A good trainer should also be willing to wash a dog out at any time if they feel that the dog is unsuited to the job. This might mean that there would be a delay in placement, but rather that than taking a dog home and finding disappointment after such high expectations
With these questions in mind, you should be at least partially armed for your search for your DAD. I wish only the best for any and all who embark upon this journey. The more time you take to make an informed decision the better the outcome should be. Included in your search should be past experiences from others who themselves have made this journey.
Diabetic Alert Dog team: Valerie and Lucy, Toledo, Ohio
