Are you searching for a DAD? Unsure of where to look first or what to ask? Perhaps youd like to ask a question of one of the DAD teams . . . http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/list.php?20 Wed, 08 Sep 2010 17:51:04 -0700 Phorum 5.2.11 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?20,2087,2087#msg-2087 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?20,2087,2087#msg-2087
I've been reading this forum for quite a while and now I finally have joined. I have a 13 YO son w/ T1. For the past 18 months or so I've been considering switching my profession from horse training to dog training and have decided I would like to train DADs in the non -profit sector. This is a long term goal. My short term goal is to attain a DAD for my son. Starting in September I will be working toward my Karen Pryor Academy dog training certification.

I am located up in Vermont, and have not yet found anyone in this area who can mentor me as far as training service dogs and DAD's. I'm still not sure I want to self train for my son as it's a huge responsibilty that I don't want to screw up. I have a three year old. It doesn't make it easy to keep training consistent.

I guess I'm needing support and advice. I want to know how long is the wait if I were to apply for a fully trained dog from WR? Are there agencies that have started DADs they place? Does anybody know of an agency in my neck of the woods who may be willing to mentor me? I have contacted Service Dogs of Virginia, but it's still a bit of a trip from Vermont, although I'm willing if that is my only option. We are having a big fundraiser this Saturday to raise money for a DAD and I'm feeling nervous and excited!]]> maureenbrown considering a DAD Tue, 31 Aug 2010 08:19:17 -0700 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?20,1651,1651#msg-1651 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?20,1651,1651#msg-1651
I think that would be helpful for people trying to self-train, to know if there's a good trainer near them, or even within driving distance. As well as those looking for a partially trained dog, to have safe options to look into.

From personal experience, every trainer I checked with to see if I could get some hands-on help, says something to the gist of "I didn't even know you could do that" or something about it being "something some dogs just do, and can't be trained for" etc.]]> mindi considering a DAD Fri, 12 Mar 2010 23:53:45 -0700 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?20,1640,1640#msg-1640 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?20,1640,1640#msg-1640 there is no hiding the fact that there a quite a few DAD owners who are not satisfied with the dog that they received. I have tried earnestly to maintain this site as 'no man's land' in the midst of this battle. YET, the VERY reason that I maintain this site is to help people AVOID the situation we found ourselves in 3 yrs ago. . . .
It has become impossible not to talk about 'the elephant in the room' . . . .

In opening this 'jar of worms', i do NOT want to bring the battle ground here, I only want to open a discussion of what new DAD teams should expect when being matched with a future dog - what expecations are just and which are unjust?

There are NO standards in this industry - I strongly feel that the DAD world needs to be cleaned up. Since there are no industry standards, it is supremely important for shoppers to do thier homework, educate themselves and MAKE SURE they know that they are getting . . . .

as I see it, there basically 3 types of DADs:
self-trained (start with a puppy)
'started DAD'
'fully trained DAD"

(obviously, these ideas would not apply to "Self-training')

so, we are left to think about 'started dogs' and 'fully trained dogs' . The more I dwell on the idea, the more i realize that unless you are working hand-in-hand and training closely with your trainer/ dog on a very regular basis, the idea of 'fully trained dog' is misleading for several reasons:

1. for many dogs, there is a 'jump' from scent samples to real time scent work

2. there are SOME aspects of DAD training that canNOT be accomplished by the trainer . . .
('finding mom' and nighttime alerts cannot be fully trained without the diabetic team being intimately involved . . .)

3. no team is ever 'fully trained' - all of us are still learning, still training, still growing in 'teamship'

however, there are certain things that SHOULD BE expected of any Diabetic Alert Dog -
Whether it is a 'started dog' or a 'finished dog', the dog should have -

1. sound temperament
2. proper drive / work ethic
3. housebreaking completed
4. completely crate trained
5. all vet records should be in place
6. scent work shoud be WELL STARTED , with a CLEARLY DEFINED SIGNAL

I'm sure there are other "common denominators" to look for. Y'all jump in here. . . .
but, please tread carefully - the purpose here is to help those who are considering a DAD to be better educated and more informed as they begin their journey :)]]> nobodybutjustme considering a DAD Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:55:54 -0700 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?20,1495,1495#msg-1495 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?20,1495,1495#msg-1495
PS My biggest reason for needing Lucy is to wait me up in the middle of the night to prevent seizures and endless hours of 300+ bloodsugars. I've never woken up to a pump alarm and when my bloodsugar is out of range I don't wake up to clock alarms either. If I can't wake up to an alarm then having a CGM is not going to help me one bit when my bloodsugar is 60 at 3am.]]> Valliegirl considering a DAD Sun, 05 Sep 2010 21:41:42 -0700 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?20,1465,1465#msg-1465 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?20,1465,1465#msg-1465
Everywhere I go with my diabetic alert dog I am approached by people who wish to share with me their story of diabetes. It doesn’t matter whether it is church, a grocery store, a department store, the mechanics, the doctor’s office, or simply walking down the street I am sure to be approached by someone who wants to find out what this dog does for me and to share how diabetes has ravaged either their life or the life of someone they love. Diabetes is a nasty disease….and it doesn’t matter what type it is. So who better to be of assistance than the greatest friend to humankind…. a dog!

Always after listening to the story the conversation turns to the dog and how he does what he does. This is a very new area and there are many unknowns of the exact science behind all of it but the short version it is smell. Most people with diabetes can tell you when they go high they get a sweet fruity taste or smell about them and when you go low you get a metallic taste or smell…if us humans can detect it imagine how powerful it must be to the dogs. “A dog's sense of smell is said to be a thousand times more sensitive than that of humans. In fact, a dog has more than 220 million olfactory receptors in its nose, while humans have only 5 million. (http://www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/U/UNP-0066/) Where it starts getting trickier is how do we teach a dog to tell us what they smell…that is where training comes in. That of course brings humans and all their many perspectives with it.

The next question that arises is “Where can I get one of these dogs?” The human factor quickly comes in now. There are many people who profess to know what they are doing and are willing to sell you a dog…most of these dogs are going for around $7000 to $10000. However horror stories abound about people who paid that kind of money only to get a dog that had little or no training and was defiantly not suited to being a service dog. Talk about broken hearts and broken dreams…..not to mention unscrupulous ethics!

I want to believe the best of people….I want to believe that no one would stoop that low for the almighty dollar but as with anything in life, there are some who just aren’t good people! I understand no one is perfect but this practice makes me mad! Many times it is the desperate parent(s) of a young child who wants ANYTHING to work to make the child’s and their lives easier that allows these unscrupulous practices to keep happening. Hey I cant blame anyone for hoping, but hope needs to be tempered with caution and common sense. Ask a lot of questions…….if it sounds to good to be true it probably is. Just so you know….this is not a fast process! No matter whether you buy a started or a finished dog or if you work with a trainer to train your own puppy it is not going to be a quick processs. It could be up to 2 years or more!!!!!!!

I am fortunate to have entered into this arena with a natural alerting dog. I believe that he started alerting because of the many venues of competition I have played in the dog sport world. He is a very well trained dog and he knows me as well as I know him. He knew something was wrong with me and he chained the sense of smell to my behavior and then he “told” me through his training. As with most things in my life I tend to do things backwards…the event happens then I want to know why and how it happened…so I started searching out the answers. Dogs are fairly simple creatures but they like us don’t do much with out a reason…we just need to understand the communication! Then we need to figure out how to teach other dogs that same communication. Teaching my other dog how to alert solidified some of my own personal thoughts about why my first dog started alerting naturally from a dog training perspective. I have been around working animals my whole life and yet everyday I learn something new! No 2 situations are exactly alike.

So why am I writing all of this??? I want you to hope, dream, and work to find yourself a dog that will work for you and with you to make your or your loved ones life easier. I want you to know what an amazing thing it is when a dog saves your life or helps aid you from feeling crummy. Many of these dogs alert faster than a BG monitor can pick up…often 15 to 30 minutes ahead of what the meter says. I want you to have the joy of having a working partner but I also want you to know that it isn’t easy and it isn’t without a price. You still have to be RESPONSIBLE about your own care. You will still have to do all the things that come along with the diagnosis of diabetes. A diabetic alert dog is not the end all he is simply another tool in the arsonal against diabetes. He is also a friend, a companion in some rough times but YOU have to take care of all of his needs as well! You also have to be willing to work at the relationship he is not a soldier to be ordered around. He will be doing important work and needs to honored for doing so! You also have to ask questions find people you can work with…build a team just like you have to with your diabetes care. Ask lots of questions, learn all you can, and be patient! Good things come to those who will show patience!]]> FetchExpress considering a DAD Mon, 30 Aug 2010 08:12:25 -0700 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?20,1424,1424#msg-1424 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?20,1424,1424#msg-1424 As i was 'cleaning out the forum', I found the following 2 posts - anyone considering a diabetic alert dog needs to read this conversation and understand this concept, so i'm moving those posts here . . ..

IF you are considering training your own dog, you will need to check your BG MUCH MUCH more often so that you can 'capture' BG swings and translate them into training events with your pup.
IF you are gettting a dog that is started for you, there will STILL be a transition period where the same concept applies - lots of checking initially so that you can point the dog to any BG drops!

IF you already have a DAD, you are probably smiling right now - knowing full well that you are checking MUCH more than you did prior to having your dog. As you and your dog improve as a team, the range of his alerts will become tighter. . .and, each time he alerts, you must check! Can't ignore your dog ;)]]> nobodybutjustme considering a DAD Mon, 30 Aug 2010 07:32:56 -0700 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?20,1229,1229#msg-1229 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?20,1229,1229#msg-1229 mama_papa81 considering a DAD Mon, 08 Feb 2010 03:20:41 -0700 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?20,1086,1086#msg-1086 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?20,1086,1086#msg-1086 I am a homemaker with 2 children 12 &17 , I am the T1 diabetic so the dog will be with me at all times, but I do lead a busy life and am out in public alot.So it is very important to me the the pup learns how to alert in public.
My confusion is this...Starting with a pup that is moderately trained that I will pay an arm and a leg for or starting with a pup myself and doing all of the training, mind you I have no dog training experience.I realize that it will be very difficult and time consuming and I am afraid that I will do it all wrong.
I see that some of you have dogs that were already DAD trained and some of you have/are starting out with puppies so I would love to hear any and all advice from both sides...up and downs.
I am also wondering if any of you have gotten a moderately trained DAD and how that worked out for you all.
ANY info is welcomed.
Thanks a bunch
sk6771@comcast.net]]> Kimmer considering a DAD Thu, 21 Jan 2010 10:46:00 -0700 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?20,1054,1054#msg-1054 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?20,1054,1054#msg-1054 I am open to ALL suggestions,Puppy training /moderately trained / fully / trained.Any opinions are welcomed.]]> Kimmer considering a DAD Thu, 14 Jan 2010 13:53:43 -0700 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?20,1040,1040#msg-1040 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?20,1040,1040#msg-1040 Thank you all!]]> momoftwo considering a DAD Wed, 16 Jun 2010 11:38:51 -0700 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?20,1027,1027#msg-1027 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?20,1027,1027#msg-1027
This next part might need to be under a different topic but.....
I couldn't imagine how younger children would handle this at school. For all you parents of young children, I admire your dedication & hard work because this is A LOT to take on for young children. Brady was diagnosed at age 4 so the diabetes world isn't anything new but Brady taking on a parental role at age 15 is definitely a big deal for him. He adores Tammy but he's still a teenager. "Soufsfr" gave me a heart-to-heart about this before we got a DAD. Amy....you described teenage boys with DADs perfectly. I wouldn't change any decision we've made so far but I'd like to tell all parents reading this who are still trying to decide if the DAD world is for you..... ask lots of questions & think slowly. Also, Brady is in high school so he takes on all of the responsibility of his SD so, unless you are homeschooling your young children (elementary & middle school), this puts a lot of work on teachers, teacher assistants, school nurses, and bus drivers. None of us would trade Tammy for anything. She's taken a huge stress off of the entire family but added a lot of work, too. (sorry to get on a soap-box)]]> Bridget considering a DAD Thu, 02 Sep 2010 19:38:33 -0700 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?20,996,996#msg-996 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?20,996,996#msg-996
1. Do your dogs have a TRAINED alert signal?
2. Do you use primarily positive training methods?
3. From where do you get your dogs?
4. At what age are your dogs placed?
5. What type of follow up / continued help do you offer?
6. Will I ownership of dog be transferred to me upon placement?
7. will the dog be delivered to my home?
8. How much time will you spend helping us learn to become a team?
9. Will my training time be one-on-one or do you have 'group' classes?
10. what additional costs are associated with purchase/ delivery of my dog?]]> nobodybutjustme considering a DAD Sun, 03 Jan 2010 09:00:42 -0700