How to Train Your Dog to Detect Anxiety

Hello, Some dogs are able to detect anxiety based on scent. This is done using saliva samples taken during times of high anxiety. The dog is taught an alert, such as Sit, paw, bark, or nose - this is done by simply teaching that command - such as Sit or Paw, how you would any other dog. Check out Lure reward training videos to first teach your dog how to obey that word on command - like how to sit when you say Sit. You then practice having the dog sniff the sample, give their alert word, such as "paw" when you say paw, and you reward with a treat. Practice this until you don't have to tell the dog to alert but they will simply alert when they smell the sample because they anticipate you are about to say the word because you usually do, then you reward when they do the alert - like sitting, on their own, when they sniff that sample. Once pup can alert really well on the sample, then Saliva samples taken during anxious times and saliva samples taken during normal times are practiced together - with the dog only being praised and rewarded for alerting to the anxious sample, and not the normal sample. Ignore incorrect alerts and don't reward them. Practice this until pup can reliably alert to the correct sample only. Once pup alerts consistently, you plant the sample on yourself and practice with the scent somewhere like your pocket - rewarding alerts if pup does an alert like pawing you, on their own because they detected the scent and remembered - they may need a hit by telling them to do that alert if they sniff the pocket with the sample and don't alert. You then plant the scent on yourself at random times during your day and in different environments to help pup do the alert when they aren't in "training mode" to teach them to pay attention to you in various environments and be ready to alert at all times. You can also teach pup to alert to your anxious "cues", finding things you tend to do while anxious, like bite nails, rub arms, wiggle a leg, ect...Those cues will be unique to you and probably subtle. Pay attention to what yours are. Once you know them, teach pup to alert you whenever you do those things so that pup will also alert when you do them subconsciously while anxious. This is done similar to the scent alerts. You would do the anxious cue, then tell pup the alert word you have taught, like Sit, then reward when they sit, practicing until they begin to do the alert when they see the cue without needing to be told their alert word. Typically that's the initial anxiety alert task trained to qualify pup. You can also teach additional things that benefit you, such as pup doing pressure therapy - like pup laying on you now. Leading to exits during times of high anxiety. Helping initiate social interactions for those with social anxiety. Laying under your legs and chair to provide a comforting presence and stay out of the way in public places, as a few examples. Watching several videos on youtube of others practicing teaching this will also help you visualize the process. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Sept. 14, 2023

Hello, First, you may need to increase the saliva sample considerably this early in the training. Instead of just using tips, maybe try sucking on a piece of gauze until soaked and freezing that sample to use. Australian Shepherd do have a good sense of smell like any dog but they are not known for their scenting ability or for depending on their sense of smell more than their other scents. She might be struggling to understand that she should sniff the bag and connect that scent with the training task. You may even need to back track on the scent training a bit and work on her learning to depend on her sense of smell more in general through scent work games if you haven't already done so. https://www.puppyleaks.com/teach-your-dog-search/ Check out this game as one way to make the scent bag or jar more interesting and something pup learns to search for. Obviously the scent used here would your own saliva though and not something else that could confuse pup. You want pup to connect the smell of your Migraine saliva samples with good things to motivate them to smell it. https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/how-to-teach-your-dog-scent-work/ Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Feb. 27, 2023