Hello Brittany, First, there are two general ways to teach seizure detection - the first is by taking saliva samples right after a seizure (or probably in your case, those samples can be taken while your son has a fever at any point), while the body's chemistry is still different than usual, freezing those samples, and using the frozen samples to practice with often. The other way is by teaching pup to recognize body language associate with the seizure - in your case it sounds like that would be the way to go to train initially if your son doesn't run a fever often. For body language detection, pup is taught an alert on cue, like barking when you say speak, or nudging when you say "touch". Then you act out the seizure while saying "Speak", and practice it until pup will bark before you say Speak, when you just pretend to have the seizure, so the acting itself becomes the cue. There is a lot of practice then that takes place, helping pup be able to do it reliably and only when the sample or situation mimics a seizure, and not at other times. This includes planting the sample on the person, like in a pocket, practicing at random times and in various locations, and generally changing the distraction level and variables until pup is reliable no matter what's going on. If his seizures or fever are often enough to get samples and do scent detection also, for scent detection, pup is taught an alert on cue like Speak, then pup is given that command when they sniff the seizure saliva sample, rewarding pup with a treat whenever they do it correctly, practicing until pup will Speak automatically when they sniff the sample before you say Speak. If you train with the fever sample and your son doesn't have a seizure with every fever, just be aware that pup's alerting is just alerting you to the presence of a fever and there isn't necessarily a seizure also. You would need to use samples from saliva after a seizure for the detection to detect the seizure only if the fever and seizures don't go hand in hand each time. The benefit of scent detection over body language alert, is that some seizures change the body chemistry before symptoms are evident and dogs can smell that change ahead of time, allowing the dog to alert the person before the seizure symptoms begin. Not all seizures do this so this can't be taught in all cases. Sometimes a dog will learn body language alert, then will connect the scent and body language during actual alerts and start detecting scent on their own after a long time, if they are especially clever. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

June 20, 2022

Hello Jamie, First, there are two general ways to teach seizure detection - the first is by taking saliva samples right after a seizure, while the body's chemistry is still different than usual, freezing those samples, and using the frozen samples to practice with often. The other way is by teaching pup to recognize body language associate with the seizure - in your case it sounds like that would be the way to go to train initially. For body language detection, pup is taught an alert on cue, like howling when you say speak, or nudging when you say "touch". Then you act out the seizure while saying "Speak", and practice it until pup will bark before you say Speak, when you just pretend to have the seizure, so the acting itself becomes the cue. Once pup can alert, then I would add onto that command by teaching pup to lie under her head on cue, then you would practice giving a series of cues, like Speak, Under (lie underneath her), Push (push the alert button. You would add one new cue at a time, then gradually create a series by rewarding pup at the end of completing two actions instead of at the end of the first action, then add in the third action and reward at the end of all three - so pup performs what's to them essentially one long trick. There is a lot of practice then that takes place, helping pup be able to do it reliably and only when the sample or situation mimics a seizure, and not at other times. This includes planting the sample on the person, like in a pocket, practicing at random times and in various locations, and generally changing the distraction level and variables until pup is reliable no matter what's going on. If her seizures are often enough to get samples and do scent detection also, for scent detection, pup is taught an alert on cue like Speak, then pup is given that command when they sniff the seizure saliva sample, rewarding pup with a treat whenever they do it correctly, practicing until pup will Speak automatically when they sniff the sample before you say Speak. The benefit of scent detection over body language alert, is that some seizures change the body chemistry before symptoms are evident and dogs can smell that change ahead of time, allowing the dog to alert the person before the seizure symptoms begin. Not all seizures do this so this can't be taught in all cases. Sometimes a dog will learn body language alert, then will connect the scent and body language during actual alerts and start detecting scent on their own after a long time, if they are especially clever. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

June 20, 2022

Hello Tabitha, There are different types of seizures. There are those that cause chemical changes in the body before the seizure is evident, and those that don't until the seizure is evident. What a dog can be trained to do partially depends on whether something happens in your body before the seizure is evident. If the seizure changes your chemistry before its evident, many dogs can be taught to alert before a seizure has begun. If your chemistry doesn't change until after the seizure is evident, then the dog can only be taught to alert people that one is actively happening to you. Training a dog to alert before one is evident when your body chemistry changes, is often done by taking saliva samples right after a seizure and teaching pup to perform an alert like barking whenever they smell a saliva sample taken after a seizure, opposed to your normal daily saliva samples pup is taught not to alert to. If your body chemistry doesn't change, or if you want to train pup to also alert when one is actively happening - like to get help, then you can either teach pup to alert with a saliva scent sample or by pretending to have a seizure. Pup is taught an alert on cue, like Barking when you say speak. Then you act out the seizure while saying "Speak", and practice it until pup will bark before you say Speak, when you just pretend to have the seizure. For scent detection, pup is taught an alert on cue like Speak, then pup is given that command when they sniff the seizure saliva sample, practicing until pup will Speak when they sniff the sample before you say Speak. There is a lot of practice then helping pup be able to do it reliably and only when the sample or situation mimics a seizure, and not at other times. To qualify as a service dog, pup also needs to be allowed public places - this means working on pups general obedience, socialization, and manners, so that pup can go places, get along well with everyone, and be well mannered enough not to disturb others. If you find the money, the most cost effective way to do this is probably joining a Canine Good Citizen or Intermediate obedience class to work on those things. You can learn how to teach all that on your own too though by practicing in public places like parks, pet stores, farmers markets outside, outdoor shopping centers outside, and sometimes hardware stores, starting with easier locations first and working up to the harder ones as pup improves. Your yard, neighborhood, and parks are good places to start working on obedience around distractions after teaching something at home initially. How is pup around kids, various ages, races, and personalities of people, new objects, noises, other animals? Pup needs to be able to be calm and not distracted by those things. Pup should be able to handle a child or adult suddenly running up and hugging or petting them (although someone should never do that to a service dog - it probably will happen at some point when in public with pup so often). The socialization and manners part of Service Dog training is actually the hardest part many times. Without it a dog can be asked to leave places by restaurant and building owners for causing a disruption and they won't qualify as a service dog. Pup will always be a dog still, so will never be perfect at all times but should do very well! To qualify as a Service Dog a dog needs to be well mannered in public as mentioned above, and be able to perform at least one specialized task that directly assists with the medical or psychological condition they are trained to help with, like alerting you to a seizure, fetching medication for it, or going for help. The person also has to have a doctor approved medical or psychological condition that qualifies - seizure conditions should qualify. Social media, such as instagram and facebook is actually a good resource to connect and follow other owner-trainers who are teaching their own pups tasks too. It can be a good place to meet others in your city doing the same thing to connect for practicing things with people doing similar training with their dogs. There are trainers who offer remote and in person service dog training assistance - whose role is not to take the dog and train it entirely themselves (which is great but much pricier), but who can guide you in training your own dog as needed for a lower price if you do need help just periodically, while doing most of the training on your own. Youtube is also a resource to find service dog trainers who share some how to videos on teaching specific tasks to help you trouble shoot as you go. For now, I suggest starting with pup's public access - with socialization, manners, and obedience. You can work on task training at the same time if you have time, but obedience and socialization is often more time sensitive. While doing that, you can certainly reward any natural alerts if pup gives them, even before starting more formal training. In the United States there is no official certification required for a dog to pass as a Service Dog. A qualifying medical or psychological condition, great behavior while in public, and at least one task that directly helps with your condition is what is required. Pup's own level of training and your need are the qualifiers. Carrying a copy of ADA law regarding service dogs, pup's vet papers, a note from your doctor simply stating your need for a service dog (you don't have to disclose what condition you need help with to anyone), and a vest for pup letting people know pup is a working service dog can help people allow pup into places more easily though. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

June 6, 2022