#alert dog

[beenovel]

Me: *has to pee*

My alert dog: GET YOUR STUPID DISABLED ASS BACK IN BED. WHAT DO YOU THINK YOURE DOING, ARE YOU TRYING TO DIE

[paw-tism-blog]

Got a new bag from my sister for a dog supplies / meds carrier and had Betus's first PA test today! He doesn't have a vest yet, nor any patches/sdit identifiers besides his tag, so please donate and boost our gofundme (link) so we can get gear!

[danny-darkness]

Dark

[generalstardust]

My service dog has officially achieved Mom Mode, I swear. Her favorite thing to do is help me do laundry, so when my dirty clothes pile starts to grow, she randomly brings me dirty clothes to tell me to do my laundry. Tonight, I waited way too long to eat dinner (and take my meds that go with dinner), so she got up from where she was snuggled against my legs, jumped off the bed, groaned, and then laid down directly in front of the bedroom door. Every few minutes she would grumble at me until I got up to make dinner and take my meds. Now, it’s after 1 AM and I’m still awake, so she’s doing the same routine because I’m not asleep. “Do your laundry, silly human.” “Go eat and take your meds before you pass out or have a seizure.” “GO THE FUCK TO BED”  But she also has mischievous toddler perfected as well. Today, I thought she was napping on my legs until I felt teeth nibbling my toes. For no reason at all, she pulled my socks off and handed them to me. She’s a dork and I love her. >:)  <3  

[trainingfaith]

Adorable double paw alert ❤️ Thank you Faith! Off to take my meds I go.

[whatshouldwecallchronicillness]

When I must. not. pet. my friend’s service dog...

[trainingfaith]

I adopted a dog who began alerting me to migraine attacks. in the car when the sunlight reflecting off vehicles and fast movement around me made it hard to that discern I was having a visual aura. After Shea died I adopted another dog who now also alerts. My local Animal Services will not certify her because her alerts are during the first minutes of the pre-migraine aura but are not yet before the visual aura begins. Is this legal?

Hi Anon!

There’s a lot of debate in the service dog world about exactly what constitutes as an “alert dog” vs a “response dog.”  Most people will say an alert is the dog warning the handler of a physical or psychiatric change BEFORE it actually occurs, and a response is the dog warning the handler of a physical or psychiatric change AS it is occurring. By that definition, your dog would be labeled as a “medical response dog” because she’s alerting to the aura as it’s happening.

HOWEVER… as you mentioned, you may not know you are having an aura depending on the situation you are currently in. If you’re driving with bright sunlight reflecting off of moving cars, you might not notice you have an aura occurring. In which case, you could miss the critical window for taking medication to try and prevent a migraine. That’s where the line between an alert dog and a response dog becomes blurred. 

For example, Faith alerts to my panic attacks. I’ve trained her to pick up on subtle changes of my breathing rate which typically corresponds with the start of a panic attack. Technically speaking, this is a response, as she’s warning me of a physical change as it is occurring– she’s telling me I’m breathing faster. However, this change in breathing is something that I do not notice 99% of the time. So… is she simply responding, or is she alerting? I’d say she’s alerting.

Are you located in the US? If so, Animal Services does not have to certify your dog, as certification/registration does not exist here. If you are outside of the US, I’d speak to your doctor about what is going on, and see if you can get him on the same page. Maybe he can write a letter or have a phone chat with Animal Services about your current situation. 

Good luck with everything!

~ Lex (& Faith)

[trainingfaith]

Hi Lex and Faith! I have debilitating auras and about 15 minutes before it strikes my dog naturally alerts and if I take my prescription then the effects are much less. I've told my doctor about these alerts and shes fully supportive of me listening to my dog and taking the meds when she alerts. My issue is that I don't know how to bring up to my doctor that I'd like to try to train my dog to be my SD. I have no idea how she feels about them, so I'm a kinda nervous. Any advice? Thanks!

Hi Anon!

Wow! That’s so cool that he naturally alerts like that! I’d wait a few weeks and see if you can get a solid alert on him. You can also begin heavily focusing on his socialization and obedience training during this time. Train for the AKC Canine Good Citizen, Community Canine, and Canine Good Citizen Urban exams. If he does well and shows promise as a service dog prospect, tell your doctor this! Bring in some information about service dogs and medical alert dogs in particular, and discuss your options. If she was supportive of at home alert training, she may be supportive of service training! 

Good luck! Let me know if you have any further questions <3

~ Lex (& Faith)