This is a great place to ask questions or share ideas about scent training. Remember, training never stops! http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/list.php?6 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 09:45:06 -0700 Phorum 5.2.11 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?6,2406,2406#msg-2406 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?6,2406,2406#msg-2406
There have been some missed lows (or else I missed the alert-- that is definitely possible) and there have been some alerts that did not correspond with a low (however, I could feel that my blood sugar was fluctuating, and it may have momentarily gone low before going back up). He is just pretty reliable though-- more reliable than my own feelings.

We've still got daily work to do, so that this becomes and stays a habit. I also want to teach Indy to bow to alert me to a low, since that will be a very specific signal for me to recognize. Unfortunately I don't always connect that he is being super annoying (shoving his head under my arm, shoving against my hand, gnawing against the side of my hand) with my blood sugar. I get distracted, especially when my blood sugar is low, and sometimes catch myself about to get after him for acting that way. So an additional signal will help. Then, once all of that is perfected, on to teaching to alert for a high.

I am so proud of him for all that he has learned, in so short a time! So proud it hurts. I loved him before, but this-- is a whole new level.]]> Melissa S. SCENT TRAINING Sun, 05 Sep 2010 18:34:27 -0700 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?6,2359,2359#msg-2359 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?6,2359,2359#msg-2359
So... we'll just keep working on it, and I will absolutely not assume that I know what my blood sugar is gong to do, and reward until I AM sure.]]> Melissa S. SCENT TRAINING Tue, 07 Sep 2010 07:46:53 -0700 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?6,2301,2301#msg-2301 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?6,2301,2301#msg-2301
It was such an exciting moment! I can not believe that this is coincidence-- I really think he is getting it!]]> Melissa S. SCENT TRAINING Fri, 27 Aug 2010 07:20:42 -0700 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?6,2290,2290#msg-2290 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?6,2290,2290#msg-2290
When I test, I say "let's go test" and he follows me to my nightstand, where I keep my meter. He watches, I test, and then if it is low I hold out my palm which he sniffs and touches with his tongue, and let him sniff the meter. When it is low I praise and give him a treat. Otherwise, a brief pat on the head. When Indy licks my palm it is more like gingerly touching with his tongue, not a true lick. UNLESS...

He comes over to me, excited, and starts licking both hands alternating back and forth, hopping from one foot to the other, anxious for me to follow him (at least that's sure what it looks like). This evening he actually took a tiny bit of my jacket sleeve between his front teeth and lightly tugged for a split second. None of this is normal behavior for him, especially that.

So I test, and it is either normal or slightly high. So I show him my palm again, which he licks profusely-- pat him on the head, and since yesterday morning (the first time he did this sort of thing) I have then been checking 15 minutes later. Well, my blood sugar isn't low, but-- it has either increased or decreased a significant amount during that 15 minutes. So I really suspect he is picking up on that change.

It's a start! I want to praise him, but at the same time-- I'm trying to teach him to first alert to a low, not to a swift change in one direction or another, and eventually to highs as well. So am I doing right to only profusely praise and reward when my blood sugar is either low or in the near-low range I have decided I want to be alerted to? I can tell he is mulling it all over, surprised at being treated part of the time and not being treated for the times that he is expecting to be.]]> Melissa S. SCENT TRAINING Wed, 25 Aug 2010 13:17:26 -0700 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?6,2275,2275#msg-2275 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?6,2275,2275#msg-2275
So later, about 15 minutes later, he is nosing my hands like crazy. I did not know what to do, because-- I did not know what my blood sugar was! I went and tested, and it wasn't low-- so whew, that I didn't praise him for that.

There is my question though, how do you handle it when your dog starts giving the alert-- and you don't know what your blood sugar is? Do you go test, then either reward or not? Or give faint verbal praise, "good boy" then test and offer him your palm again and THEN big praise and reward?]]> Melissa S. SCENT TRAINING Mon, 23 Aug 2010 18:00:29 -0700 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?6,2242,2242#msg-2242 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?6,2242,2242#msg-2242
I have been thinking about the various issues of scent training...night time alerts, public alerts, etc. In pondering reasoning behind missed alerts I am thinking that we often miss some very key training with our dogs. When doing scent training I think it is CRITICAL that scent training is done in every possible venue that the team will be exposed to during the life of the dog. For example go out in public and do scent training....work on night time alerts at various times during the night.

This same applies to obedience....PRACTICE EVERYWHERE!

The more time and effort you put into it the better it is going to be! 3 to 5 minutes of scent training at various times during the day, very impromptu is FAR BETTER than 1 hour of repeated formal training a day. Keep it short simple and fun.

As diabetics we often live by a rigid schedule and life(I get it...we often have to to maintain good BG control).....if you are rigid about things, your dog will be also. I ask someone the other day about their scent training........they told me their whole process. Get the sample out let it thaw. Practice once or twice a day and put it up. I get a sample out daily....carry in a tight container that can be resealed and practice MANY times throughout the day...while watching TV with dog sleeping at feet, at work dog sleeping at feet, while playing video games, at the movie, at a dock jumping event, training for hunt tests, WHATEVER I am doing.


Learn to think outside of the box.....if your dog isnt do something right you havent framed the question in a way that they understand.

Just my 2 cents and some things to ponder!

KC]]> FetchExpress SCENT TRAINING Thu, 19 Aug 2010 20:25:58 -0700 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?6,2241,2241#msg-2241 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?6,2241,2241#msg-2241
BUT, I want to preface the conversation on this topic with a reminder that what these DADs are doing has not been "proven" scientifically . . . of course, we have plenty of "anecdotal" evidence, but no clinical studies. Further, no one knows what the dogs are smelling!! Sure, they smell a "low", but ?what is that? ?What exactly are we capturing in the breath or the spit or the sweat of a diabetic during a low event? No one knows! We DO know that we CAN effectively use these 3 methods of capturing scent thrown off by your body . . . But, no one has found the "signature" odor !!!

Everything being done in diabetic alert dog training - by any organization - is sort of like fumbling around in the dark . . .groping for that which we cannot see. Fortunately, we have navigated down the dark passage with success, but- we have limited knowledge of the journey . . . !!!How I wish that someone would turn on the lights to enlighten us, that someone would give us all the answers - or at least START the research!!!!

Having reminded everyone of that background info, I'd like to start a discussion about what we "know" about night time alerts-

There are a few things I have learned by observation:

In MOST instances, night time alerts begin AFTER there is a history of consistent day-time alerting
MOST DAD-teams have to put a lot of effort into building night time alerts
Relationship matters, and relationships - even between man and dog- require a significant investment of time

Soooo, with those "givens", what can be done to "nudge" your dog in that direction?


~dogs are place-oriented and do not generalize well. You might have to do some training in your bedroom, in your bed. Do scent training at random times and in various places. Do PLENTY of exercises in your bed. Give lots of praise when your dog finds scent in bed. Snuggle in your bed when you know you have a real-time low, too.



~condition your dog to wake at designated "check times" during the night. Dogs are creatures of habit. In fact, the majority of dog training is sort of boring - merely deliberate formation of habits. I can give you an example. My pet Golden, Sam, wakes up every AM at 6:00. EVERY morning - without exception. ?!why?! Because morning after morning after morning, I got up at 6:00, aired her, and fed her. Now, after almost 8 yrs, she gets up at 6:00 and walks around moaning and groaning like she is gonna DIE - until someone feeds her. Sooooo, you can CONDITION YOUR DIabetic Alert Dog TO WAKE AT CERTAIN TIMES. If day time or "waking alerts" are consistently in place, and if you have taught your dog that alerting should happen in bed, too- THEN, we can assume that your dog would alert when awakened. To condition your dog to wake at your designated check times, set an alarm, wake, wake your dog, use the SAME words/ same routine as usual to check your BG. Pause and give your dog a chance to get awake enough to sniff you. If an alert is warranted, but your dog missed it, use positive / happy / rewarding tones to lure him into the process . . . Make every "low BG" event to be an event that your dog looks forward to. Low BG might not be any fun for you, especially in the middle of the night, BUT, it is the "fun party" or "high value reward" that invites your dog to look forward to and search for the low.
Nope, it's not easy! Nope, it's not "natural" to act happy about lows in the middle of the night, - but having a DAD is NOT EASY!!

~take a sealed low sample to bed with you. Don't cue your dog. Stick it under the covers or under your pillow or in your pocket. Pretend to go to sleep. Watch your dog - when he gets comfortable - BEFORE he goes to sleep, open the sample NEAR his nose. Reward his response. Give the most subtle of cues if he does not respond. Do this for many nights. Build difficulty - perhaps don't put it so close to his nose - Progressively wait for the first minutes of light sleep, then a little longer, and EVENTUALLY (but don't rush things), try the exercise when he is totally soundly sleeping-
Do this lots, but vary the exercise . . .keep him guessing, vary the presentation, the time, etc

~try different sleeping locations for your dog - perhaps he is so comfy under your covers that he thinks he is on vacation!! If he enjoys your fluffy bed too much, move him! Put him on a platform next to your bed - crate him but leave the crate door open

~consider how air flow affects his scenting. ?where is the AC vent? Is there a fan? An open window? Plan to set your dog up for success. Then reward and build a habit - THEN incrementally add difficulty or distractions


Any other ideas?]]> nobodybutjustme SCENT TRAINING Thu, 19 Aug 2010 20:23:34 -0700 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?6,2086,2086#msg-2086 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?6,2086,2086#msg-2086
Let me start by saying that Gracie has gone almost everywhere with us since we brought her home the first week of May. She does really well in public. She always places and never makes a peep unless Abbie is out of range or she has to potty. She has been to church several times and also attended VBS. We have never had a problem...........until today!

Today during the worship service, we made the mistake of sitting on the back row of the church.....near the senior section. As soon as everyone sat down and service started, Gracie's nose went into OVERDRIVE! Her nose went into the air, she started sniffing, wagging, nipping my arm, and wanting to go on a scent hunt. I told it was okay and that Abbie was fine (she was in her class downstairs). She glared at me me with those intense eyes and started whining like crazy.......nose was still going and she was trying to get the bringsel off of my bag. I left the service and went out into the foyer. One of the pastors came over to check on Gracie and I told him what had happened. He informed me that we were sitting in "Diabetic Heaven". Most of the people sitting to the side of us and in front of us were Type 2 Diabetics. While talking to him, Gracie started whining, sniffing, and pulling to a chair across the room. The pastor then informed me that a Diabetic had bottomed out during the service and had been sitting in that chair drinking juice trying to come up just a few minutes before. WOW! It was an experience! SOOOOOO........I ended up taking Gracie outside for a short walk.....away from "scent heaven" to allow her to calm down.

Other than sitting in a different area of the church, does anyone have any other suggestions? I tried to ignore her, but she was SO intense about alerting. I would love feedback on this!


Thanks!]]> Shana Eppler SCENT TRAINING Sun, 08 Aug 2010 13:30:29 -0700 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?6,2046,2046#msg-2046 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?6,2046,2046#msg-2046 Shana Eppler SCENT TRAINING Fri, 06 Aug 2010 20:00:56 -0700 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?6,2028,2028#msg-2028 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?6,2028,2028#msg-2028 I am trying to collect as many lows as I can to send to WR for Journeys scent training and have been told that it is expensive to ship them so I would like to send as many as I can at one time.I would also like to do this ASAP because Journey does know my low scent and I would like her to be able to train with my low samples as soon as possible.]]> Kimmer SCENT TRAINING Fri, 06 Aug 2010 19:50:50 -0700 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?6,2020,2020#msg-2020 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?6,2020,2020#msg-2020
I am constantly watching Gracie to read her behavior. Some alerts during a real time low are very subtle......she may nibble fingers, lick feet, sniff ears, or lick Abbie in the mouth. At other times, she about knocks Abbie over!

When Abbie's blood sugar is in the normal range, I hide low scent samples on her. We take turns taking Gracie outside or upstairs to a different room when this is done. As soon as Gracie comes back into the room, she ALWAYS goes straight to Abbie and finds the scent immediately! We switch rooms, times of day, what we do while she is out, who takes her out, where we take her, so she doesn't associate leaving with looking for a low. She gets VERY, VERY excited with the scent samples! Her alert is VERY strong.

How can I transition the excitement from a low scent sample to a real time low? I'm using the same high value treats, same tone of voice, body position, ect. There has to be a big difference between the two scents. I know in the end we want a calm alert, but I would like a little more excitement on the real time lows right now.

Oh, I have started having her sit and hold the bringsel when Abbie is low. She will hold it for a few seconds, then she wants her treat! She is very excited when she gets her treat!

Any suggestions?]]> Shana Eppler SCENT TRAINING Tue, 24 Aug 2010 08:25:57 -0700 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?6,1891,1891#msg-1891 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?6,1891,1891#msg-1891
I've been working on basic obedience with her, and she's picking that up super quickly. I'm lucky that she's both food and toy motivated, so keeping her attention isn't too hard as long as we're not working on anything too long.

Is adding in some nosework this early going to cause any problems? I've actually feared that the opposite might be true... that by not doing it, I'm essentially reinforcing that it's okay to "ignore" those changes in my body chemistry, but I've heard that trying to do "too much" with puppies can confuse them.. should I worry about that much?

I ask, because early this morning I had a mild/moderate low, and she was just going nuts, whining and barking (like she wanted to go out, but she'd just been out) and it took her forever to settle down. I know I'd like to *think* that there's a reason and the low was why, but I haven't honestly had her long enough (less than a week) to truly know that she's picking that up on her own - it may be my own wishful thinking, but if it's not too soon to reinforce that, maybe we'll start working on it too. It's been the first low that I've had though, so maybe she was just picking up on the "something's different" aspect of it. Would it be difficult to move from a vocal alert to more of a physical one? I'd prefer to be able to get her to target instead of whine :) We've already been working on "touch" but I don't think she really gets it yet.]]> sarahspins SCENT TRAINING Sat, 29 May 2010 16:44:44 -0700 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?6,1876,1876#msg-1876 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?6,1876,1876#msg-1876
We have collected High and Low BG samples to send to Glennis at WR for Alfie. Although I know these samples need to be sent frozen with dry ice (presumably) - I am not sure how long the dry ice can be expected to keep the samples frozen. Does anyone have experience sending these? Does it need to be overnight? overnight by first delivery in the morning? 2-day?

Just trying to determine the most cost feasible approach while maintaining the integrity of the samples...thank you in advance for any advice you can offier.]]> longhorn.tim SCENT TRAINING Tue, 18 May 2010 07:46:07 -0700 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?6,1831,1831#msg-1831 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?6,1831,1831#msg-1831 Jwatson SCENT TRAINING Sat, 21 Aug 2010 18:43:47 -0700 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?6,1776,1776#msg-1776 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?6,1776,1776#msg-1776
LeeLee]]> leeleerose SCENT TRAINING Sat, 17 Apr 2010 18:57:58 -0700 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?6,1719,1719#msg-1719 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?6,1719,1719#msg-1719
I told him I thought that Bear was alerting again, and he should go check his sugar. He checked and it was 133. I told him that I still thought Bear was alerting, and that it was mentioned on here that the dogs can alert before the meter shows. I got the usual, I'm not waiting up, I'll check it in the morning. I meant to stay up to recheck him, but fell asleep. Well, sure enough, a few hours later, he's at 62. (BTW - he had put Bear out of the room because Bear wasn't leaving him alone, but Bear was back whining/scratching at the door a little later).

So, my question is: can a dog seem to be more in tune with one person instead of another? I know he loves me and follows me around more than anyone else. However, he's NEVER missed a low that Dave has had when he's around. But only alerts to some (maybe 15% or less) of Iris's even though she's the one whose lows we use whenever we train. Dave's sugar is a lot more steady, whereas Iris's seems to go all over the place on a regular basis.

Is this just something that should be counted as a good thing, and as we keep working with Iris, he'll start focusing more on her? Or should I start thinking along the lines that Bear should be Dave's DAD, and I might need to get a different dog for Iris? I know he's also really young, so maybe that factors in?

I also told Dave that after last night, he needs to trust Bear no matter what the meter says from now on when he does that. He seems to be getting more excited about the DAD stuff this morning. I sort of get the idea that he figured this was just a way I was messing around with the dog, but nothing was going to come of it. Now, he's starting to see the difference it could make for him - with the advanced warning.

GOOD JOB BEAR!!!]]> mindi SCENT TRAINING Sun, 04 Apr 2010 11:27:12 -0700 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?6,1701,1701#msg-1701 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?6,1701,1701#msg-1701 Concerning the vials, I am using small glass jars. They used to have baby food in them but I have boiled them. I am planning to get some sample vials from the health centre but that means I have to get our (rather old and old-fashioned) nurse to understand what we need them for 
But please share your experiences, it would be very helpful]]> Moddey SCENT TRAINING Mon, 22 Mar 2010 04:13:55 -0700 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?6,1685,1685#msg-1685 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?6,1685,1685#msg-1685
Today, my older daughter was working Bear with "heel" on a leash. Iris was sitting at the table doing schoolwork. I told her go ahead and grab the low sample and pop it open and stick the vial in her pocket. Becca came in with Bear and plopped into her chair at the table. Bear immediately went to Iris and started sniffing until he got to the low sample/pocket at which point he started licking that area.

My question is... how long do we keep doing it just this way, once per day, more than once/day, less than once/day? I know we eventually need to add other elements to this.

Should I start perhaps working on the bringsel separately, like have Iris hand him the bringsel and say "Find Mom" or something like that? And if so, should this also be a "liver treat" time, so he starts to connect the two?

Thoughts of where we should go, or how long we should stay just doing this (scent work)? or starting on other steps at another training time or same training time? etc.]]> mindi SCENT TRAINING Wed, 17 Mar 2010 07:53:13 -0700 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?6,1585,1585#msg-1585 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?6,1585,1585#msg-1585
Iris goes back to the endo on Monday, and I'm going to ask them if they'd consider a pump, but ideas?]]> mindi SCENT TRAINING Sat, 06 Mar 2010 21:25:41 -0700 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?6,1491,1491#msg-1491 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?6,1491,1491#msg-1491
The vials are good to use for training. I like to give a vial to Ella so she can put it in her pocket or sock and then get Jude's attention off of her and the vial (if he even sees me get in the freezer to get it) and I tell Ella to uncap the vial while I am either outside with Jude or in the other room with him. Then after a few minutes I will take Jude into the same room with Ella and let him find the low on his own and not give him the command to "check Ella".]]> Jwatson SCENT TRAINING Sat, 27 Feb 2010 18:00:06 -0700 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?6,1480,1480#msg-1480 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?6,1480,1480#msg-1480
I'm not so sure how much of a low scent he is catching off of her hand. I think if you have her blow gently in the direction of his face he is going to smell. Even if he doesn't look directly at her, you can have her blow towards his face gently and then say Good low.

Just keep training and it will come. Jude still does not alert consistently to Ella's lows. Sometimes we have to tell him to check her and then he will alert.]]> Jwatson SCENT TRAINING Thu, 25 Feb 2010 11:10:29 -0700 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?6,1399,1399#msg-1399 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?6,1399,1399#msg-1399
What you said on your other post about keeping the sausage as the best (drive them wild) treat, for only the lows is a good idea as eventually (but not yet) you will need to stop the clicker as Bear should have the idea that it is the smell of a low that gets the reward and not the clicker (the clicker is there to reinforce what you wanted him to do originally).
As it is your daughter that is the diabetic, it would also possibly be an idea that the smell of a low, only occurs when she is about so that bear has someone to focus his attention on. A new game you could try would be to hide the pot on Iris and get bear to find the low for the reward, this will encourage him to start stiffing Iris more often to find the low to obtain the treat.

I hope some of what I am saying is useful?

Star told me I was dropping today on an 144, I thought she was being silly and just trying to get a treat but 15 minutes later I had dropped to a 108. All right not a Hypo but heading that way. :S]]> littlekie SCENT TRAINING Thu, 18 Feb 2010 11:35:33 -0700 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?6,1339,1339#msg-1339 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?6,1339,1339#msg-1339 I apologise if some of this stuff doesn't make sense, I have tried my best and I am also working out the bloods from UK to USA on a UK x 18 = USA conversion which according to the net is correct!!!?????

Firstly:
I agree with Shana Eppler. Only teach one scent at a time as it is very much like teaching a basic command, to many at once can be confusing.

Secondly:
When I started to teach Star the 'check' command. I made sure I had my reliable clicker (if you don't have one I highly recommend them, as they reinforce to the dog exactly what you want). Star off by having Bear sit in front of you and while you’re standing, make sure Bear watches you put your hand out to one side, palm facing Bear (I will explain this a little later). Naturally Bear should be interested in that hand, so the theory is they will get up and come and smell your hand (checking it), if not and they understand 'what’s this/that' point to the hand at the side with your free one. As soon as they come over and check your hand out, click the clicker and reward (you do not need to have a verbal command to get them to do this as the visual command of your hand going to the side is enough). I reckon being a GSD this will take no more than five attempts to crack this command to an understood level. Keep doing this every day about 5 mins a day for a week roughly. Once this command can be done without the clicker start putting your hand out to the side palm facing Bear with a treat between the thumb and finger just enough for it to encourage Bear to click your hand without being able to get at the treat straight away. This reinforces that checking comes with a reward. Once this is under wraps Bear will now know check without any training and you should be able to put your palm out everywhere and anywhere and he should check you instantly....... Once you have got this far the rest is where it starts to become a challenge for you both.

I should point out at the stage that if Bear is going to mainly be for your daughter, it would be a good idea to get her to do most of this training with Bear. As through smell and licking your daughter's hand he is picking up her scent more than usual and it forms a stronger bond between them.

First the hard part for Bear.... NO MORE TREATS UNLESS FOR HYPOS!!!

Now for the hard bit for you (possibly), you need to pick which one of your daughter's bloods you want Bear to pick up on first (I am guessing the lows by your first post, so I will write this on that bases). Every time from now on that your daughter checks her bloods and Bear is with her, get Bear to check her at the same time (for your daughter this would be probably easier to do after she has done the test (I do it before). When your daughter is normal or high praise Bear with a toy (or whatever makes him happy) for the check. If she is low say from a 90 (5.0 UK) this is when you give Bear the treat!!! This then reinforce to him he get a food reward when your daughter is low or nearing a low.

Now to explain the hand 'thing', I do not breathe on Star and never have, I would probably as star is still a puppy get the same air biting that you do if I tried. The palm and the back of a hand seem to work just as well, the same as licking your daughters face would. I firmly believe that on a low, the body’s chemical balance goes out of wack and will show everywhere not just on the breath but taste as well (hence the licking). If Bear doesn’t like having his face blown on this could be the way to go alternatively you could adjust the above so to teach Bear that being blown on a smelling get a click then a reward?

As far as the alerting, in the UK there is no fixed way a dog has to alert (it just has to) some jump on people, others bark, some whine and a few of them sit and stare etc, I am not sure if that is the same in the USA? I had to be aware of the signs star was giving me to alerting me otherwise I would have never noticed. Stars alert came as a development of the above she went from licking my hand once when I was asking her to check to licking obsessively both hands with no treats in either, when I was on below a 7.0 (126) and dropping.
I am sure Bear will develop his own unique way of alerting too, you will just have to at the final stage start looking for consistencies on his actions to the checks on a low, as this will be his developing alert.

Once you have completed this stage (I am still here, got a couple more weeks of the reward stage first) start breaking out the real goodies i.e. smoked sausage, bits of dried fish (not the best to carry around with you), small pieces of cheese or anything you know Bear would even risk getting told off for and when the hypo start to happen and your daughter is getting Bear to check give him this reward. The idea being Bear gets the biggest reward for a low and his eagerness to do this will prompt him in to alerting your daughter before she tests. If your daughter doesn't feel herself dropping you could try testing his reaction before you do the blood test and then see if Bear has alerted your correctly this is a good way to gauge his progress (this is what finally confirmed for me star had grasped what I was teaching her this week).

Hope this helps, it seems to be working for me and I wish best of luck in training Bear to become a D.A.D]]> littlekie SCENT TRAINING Fri, 12 Feb 2010 17:38:21 -0700 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?6,1300,1300#msg-1300 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?6,1300,1300#msg-1300 Jwatson SCENT TRAINING Tue, 09 Feb 2010 23:07:27 -0700 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?6,1297,1297#msg-1297 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?6,1297,1297#msg-1297 when Hailey ( 4 yo granddaughter who is also type 1) was here last weekend, she and Sage (5 yo British lab who is visiting our house) played a fun game of hide-n-seek. When Hailey was low, Hailey and Sage did 3 quick breathing excercises together. then, I told Hailey to go hide somewhere in the room, while I distracted Sage. When Hailey was hidden, I asked Sage, "where's the low?" and she had to find the low : HAILEY. both Hailey and Sage enjoyed this game a lot. It was a nice way to help reinforce a 'real-time low' for Sage . . .
Each time she found Hailey, we worked thru her alert chain and then sent Hailey to hide again. Both Hailey AND Sage really had a good time with this game!]]> nobodybutjustme SCENT TRAINING Fri, 12 Feb 2010 16:19:51 -0700 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?6,1296,1296#msg-1296 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?6,1296,1296#msg-1296 nobodybutjustme SCENT TRAINING Tue, 09 Feb 2010 20:29:32 -0700 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?6,1253,1253#msg-1253 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?6,1253,1253#msg-1253 wolfy01 SCENT TRAINING Wed, 15 Jul 2009 19:40:35 -0700 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?6,1250,1250#msg-1250 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?6,1250,1250#msg-1250 Bridget SCENT TRAINING Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:43:40 -0700 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?6,1147,1147#msg-1147 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?6,1147,1147#msg-1147
I've already bought a harness, to start getting him used to a leash being attached at his back. Also will be starting basic obedience work. My question is: are there things I should start doing NOW perhaps a few times/day to ease him into scent training and/or anything else he will be required to know/do as a service dog. Any help/tips would be appreicated! Also, feel free to email me at echo_mindi@earthlink.net with any tips or help.

Do we have a specific list of all that is required in a GOOD service dog:
such as (guessing here) heel, sit/down when handler stops, not barking at other animals, or whatever.

Thanks all!

Mindi]]> mindi SCENT TRAINING Wed, 03 Feb 2010 17:02:51 -0700 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?6,1124,1124#msg-1124 http://diabeticalertdog.com/forum/read.php?6,1124,1124#msg-1124
So here is our scent work with Trigger over the past 8 weeks. It is shared in the hope that beginners and those wondering if this is right for them will see that it’s not magic, but it is possible with total dedication and very hard work.

The scent training started separate from Michael. (But always when he’s low we’ll have him play with Trigger and gently blow on him and say “low.“) We had cotton puffs with Michael’s saliva, blood sugar sample under 80. They were kept frozen, individually, in doubled up freezer Ziploc bags. We left them out for at least an hour to “cook.” All other dogs were put away and Trigger was crated while we placed the samples. Had treats ready in sealed Ziplocs and hands washed to eliminate treat smell on anything. One challenge here was to get a “clean sample.” I think brushing without toothpaste and rinsing with filtered water is as clean as we can get. I’m thinking clothing samples may be more pure.

In the very beginning, I would leave out a Ziploc bag on the floor with a sample in it and tell him to find the low. He’s naturally curious about what’s on the floor, so when he went to sniff, I would click, treat and say “good low.” Lots of praise. I found, like you with Bear, that he’s extremely enthusiastic and picks up on my energy instantly, so if I’m overly excited, he gets overly excited. In the beginning, this manifested itself with him mauling the baggy or feigning a sniff just to get the treat, or just acting frenetic. So I backed off on the physical and vocal excitement when he “found” the low and increased the treat value, i.e., moved to liver treats or chicken meat. I changed my voice to a stronger, deeper tone, but still lilty. He was more focused after that. Then I added a Ziploc bag with a plain cotton in it and made him differentiate. This was all done in a very relaxed setting, no distractions, and only once or twice per session.

We worked very hard daily on obedience and self-control, and also making him toy focused, before intensifying the scent work. Lots of ball play, retrieve, catch, etc. Lots of fun with Frisbee, kong, and snowballs! But not a tennis ball. The tennis ball we saved for scent reward only. We hid plain samples and low sugar samples in several places in one room, down low so he could easily find them. Jim had him follow him around the room saying “find the low.” He’d look all around the place, naturally, wondering what the heck he’s talking about. Then Jim would circle again and herd him in the right area, “find the low,” then point if necessary and then Trigger would sniff it, grab it, obviously excited about finding this item, click, liver treat, lots of praise. The point here not to have him independently find the low, but to understand that this is the scent we want you to find, and you will be rewarded handsomely for it!

Repeat that for a few days, different rooms, and move the scent higher up on a cushion or shelf, but where he can still reach it with his nose. Mix them up with plain cottons so you train him not to find cotton balls, but find the low bs scent. Never let him see you set up the samples.

Next: eliminate food reward and work on the sit and get paid with the ball. Don’t let the dog see the tennis ball at all. Then, Trigger, find the low. Once you see the recognition (Trigger’s tail waves crazy side to side and his shoulders stiffen) then right away: Trigger, Sit. Then, you might have to at first, Trigger, Watch Me. (That will be eliminated as he understands the process. He's looking for a treat and he's excited so he has to be re-focused) Then as fast as you can, throw the ball, good boy! Lots of play with the ball and lots of praise. Eventually, he will detect the target, turn to you and sit, and wait for the ball. Then praise, good boy, and all fun and games. You must be very fast with the ball to make that connection.

Next: eliminate the room samples and only put the sample on Michael. I started with Mike on the floor playing with Trigger. The tennis ball will be under a cushion or somewhere out of sight but within reach. He’ll put a sample in his pocket, slightly sticking out. Find the low. Trigger knows that command now and will start searching. He is still impatient to find it and looks over to me for direction. I just point to Michael and say: find the low, and he does. Then Trigger, Sit. Pay with Ball. Lots of fun. Trigger is getting good at this and will be a good ball reward dog.

I know it sounds very cut and dried , but it wasn’t. There is always experimenting going on and nothing is written in stone. Jim would probably add more (and maybe subtract some too) but he’s not here right now so you’ll have to go by me and my memory!

So that’s where we are and we’re looking forward to our week off in February when we’ll dedicate ourselves to night alerts.

As you can see, I’m not a very good chatter. I usually take long breaks and then write volumes. But I am looking forward to the new chat room and will check in next time. I’m sorry I missed the first one.


Kathy, mom of Mike, 16, type 1 since 2007.]]> islanddogs SCENT TRAINING Sun, 31 Jan 2010 09:28:20 -0700