Think about it, have you ever noticed that your pet seems to know when you are not feeling well? Maybe your dog comes to sit beside you when you are trying to recover from a bout with a migraine. Or maybe he lays beside you on your bed while you are fighting the flu. It just seems that they know you are not feeling well and are just waiting to see if there is something they can do to help.
Your dog may have acted this way because they have recognized a scent that your body puts off when you are indeed ill. Because their sense of smell is so well developed, they literally can detect any change in our body chemistry.
Not so long ago, people began to experiment with the idea that dogs might just be able to detect the scent of a diabetic's low gulcose levels just as they have been detecting the scent of drugs and tracking humans for many years. As it turns out, not only do dogs make wonderful companions, they also make excellent tools to use in the management of diabetes.
After I became interested in the concept of diabetic alert dogs, I was talking with a friend about it. She had recently been diagnosed with diabetes, and related the story of how her dog had started spending more time by her side. She had heard about diabetic alert dogs and wondered if this might be what Susie was doing. She took her clues from her pet and began checking her blood sugar levels when Susie was more attentive. Sure enough, most of the time she was low and it appeared that Susie was able to recognize this.
As you may have noticed, there are more people advertising as diabetic alert dog trainers. This is a good thing. That means that there are more trainers to choose from to produce an alert dog that is just right for you. It also means that there will be more people overlooking the process. That is a good thing also.
Another very important element to this is that the more people involved in the development of the perfect diabetic alert dog, the greater the possibility that this new enterprise will gain more respectability in the medical community, and hopefully the insurance industry as well.
Since a diabetic alert dog will be expected to live directly with the person that it will serve, actually going everywhere they go including to work, shopping, school, doctors offices, etc., the dog will necessarily need to be not only perfectly obedience trained and scent trained, it will also need to be perfectly house trained and socialized. This is the part that should take the most of the training time.
A dog that loves to play ball, and retrieve, and has perfect recall are great assets for a diabetic alert dog to possess, but without that time spent in a home atmosphere, (the type that he will be spending the rest of his life in) making sure that he is ready to begin his new adventure, comfortable with his surroundings and respecting all aspects of it, the dog is not ready to be placed with a new owner.
This is where the cottage industry aspect of the diabetic alert dog business comes in. This type of training can only be accomplished in an in home setting. That means that the dog will live in the home of the person that is training it. The dog will be house trained. Yes they will learn manners, ( use the bathroom in appropriate places, no begging, no eating off counters or tables, no jumping on people) you get the picture.
All of this takes time just as it would a child. The dog must learn what is expected of him and have time to practice it. He also needs to have all of his training reenforced in order that it has enough time to become habit with him. Therefore, the time a dog spends in the home setting is some of the most critical part of the training process. Not only does a dog learn to enjoy the love of a human companion, he also learns how to become a good companion.
To all the entrepreneurs out there who are embarking on this new journey as diabetic alert dog trainers, best of wishes, and let's make these dogs the best of the best.
To all those looking for the best diabetic alert dog you can find, because you need the assistance to optimize your health. Pay close attention to who you choose to train that perfect dog. Make sure you explore all your options. The best choice may not be from those who mass produce diabetic alert dogs, although they should have more experience by virtue of the volume they train. Likewise, someone just starting in the business may not have the experience to produce the best dog, while at the same time their passion for the job may cause them to produce the better animal.
While financial considerations are very important, as most of us know, just because you pay the higher price it does not always mean that you get the best product, neither does paying the least mean that the quality is not as good. Just take your time and make sure that when you choose you have the option of returning for a replacement in the event that it becomes necessary.
As always God bless you and happy hunting.
