Diabetes alert dog
HYPO ALERT DOGS:
A hypo alert dog is trained to provide alerts to their diabetic owners when their blood sugar levels start to become too low or sometimes too high. Thanks to their incredible sense of smell , these dogs can tell just by smelling on the owners skin if the blood sugar is too low or too high. According to research these dogs can alert before the owner starts noticing something is wrong.
There are about twenty trained hypo alert dogs in Finland.
The Australian Labradoodle is very suitable for doing this. At the moment there are a few Australian Labradoodles graduating to become a hypo alert dog.
Please contact us if you are interested in a hypo alert dog.
Wonder´s Perfect Stranger Loki, diabetes alert dog
In 2008, our lives took an unexpected turn when my son was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the
age of 2. As a parent and the leader of a patient organization in Estonia, I was deeply committed to
finding innovative solutions to support those living with diabetes. In 2013, while exploring topics for
an upcoming diabetes conference, I stumbled upon something truly remarkable – diabetes alert dog
training groups in Finland.
The Finnish hypodog trainers' presentation captivated everyone's attention at the conference,
sparking a newfound interest in this unconventional yet popular approach to diabetes management.
Fast forward to 2021, after closely monitoring the progress of hypodog training in Estonia, we finally
felt ready to the idea of having an alert dog to support our family.
Guided by an Estonian dog trainer, the Australian Labradoodle was recommended to us. After
thorough research, it led us back to Finland, where we joined a puppy queue with bated excitement.
The news of Loki's birth in October 2021 filled us with joy, and we eagerly anticipated the day we
would welcome this adorable bundle of fur into our lives.
At just 7 months old, Loki commenced his diabetes alert dog training journey. The training regimen
comprised two fundamental pillars: behavior training and socialization, and the critical scent
training. As the training progressed, we could see that Loki was more than just a student; he was a
passionate learner with an astonishingly calm and easygoing demeanor.
Training Loki was a joyous experience – his enthusiasm for new tasks, especially those involving his
remarkable sense of smell, was palpable. He quickly mastered the art of detecting low blood sugar
levels and signaling with a gentle nose punch to the hand or leg. Loki was also trained to fetch a juice
box from the kitchen drawer upon request, offering an extra layer of assistance.
Yet, what truly sets Loki apart is his adaptability and ingenious problem-solving abilities. Recognizing
that we couldn't foresee every scenario, Loki's natural eagerness to help and his innate problem-
solving acumen proved invaluable. When faced with the challenge of alerting us while his person
with diabetes was sound asleep, Loki's determination had always led him to find a solution. He could
sense low blood sugar levels even through closed doors, and he cleverly devised ways to capture our
attention or gain access based on the situation at hand.
Loki's presence in our lives has been transformative. He's more than a loyal companion; he's a
vigilant guardian who watches over our family, helping us navigate the intricacies of diabetes
management with unwavering dedication.