Training separate alerts - High alert

After training the low alert for a few weeks, I decided it was time to move on to the high alert.  The alert for a high BG will be first the pawing alert and then a sit.

I tried to do this exactly the same as when I trained the low alert (paw, then down).  I used a scent sample that I had in the freezer.  He alerted to it quickly and then I said sit.  After about two repetitions, he had it down well.  I decided to also use different treats at this stage.  The low treat was cheese and the high alert is now imitation bacon  strips.  I thought it would be an extra cue for him to learn which behavior to do.  I'll phase the separate treats out with time.

The second session, he did the sit right away with no further cues.  I think he prefers sitting to a down which may be part of it.  For each session, I have him repeat the paw and the sit for about 5 or 6 times.  Each time I say "good high" as he sits.

The third trial was about the same.  He seems to have caught on quickly to the fact that a second behavior is required of him after the initial alert.  I doubt that he has actually connected the second behavior to the scent at this point, but hopefully he will at some point.

I had a low after a walk last night and he caught it right away.  He alerted me in the living room.  I said "yes, good low" and we ran into the kitchen which is where I keep all the treats.  I got out a piece of cheese and he did a paw and a down.  He's a smart one all right.

Training separate alerts- Low alert

After much thought and some false starts, I'm finally starting to train Senator to distinguish between the high and low blood sugars with his alert.

I originally wanted to use the left hand low and right hand high for the alerts.  I even began training him to mark left/low and right/high.  Then, I decided that they were too similar and that it would be too easy for me to lead him towards the correct hand.  So, I changed my mind and am going to train him to do a down for low and a sit for high.  Both would follow the initial alert which is for him to paw me.  He has this down so well and even has learned to escalate it at times.  So, I don't want to change that part.  My goal is for him to first paw me and then do either the down or sit to tell me which it is.

I began by holding a container with the low scent in my hand and having him smell it.  I would say "touch" for him to paw me and then "down".  I'm using a separate treat (cheese) for this training.

I've done three sessions now.  The second session was similar to the first.  This time, I had him first find the low on me and then went through the same routine with me commanding the touch and down.  I say "yes" when he does the down and this is when he gets the cheese reward.  I repeat this about 6 or 7 times.

The third session, I again had him find the low on me.  Then, he pawed me and I said down for the first time.  For the remaining 6 times, I didn't say "down".  He just did it.  I did lead him a little with body language, but he seems to be making the connection.

On the fourth session, he did the down with no verbal or physical cues.  He has definitely made the connection between the alert and the down.  I'll continue to do this for awhile before I start him on the alert for high blood sugar.

Trip to Daytona Beach as a service dog

Our annual family vacation was at Daytona Beach this year.  My Dad gets us all places to stay using his time share points.  Its wonderful.  We usually number in the 20s and everyone has a great time.

I decided to bring Senator with us.  A week is just too long to interrupt his training.  So, we drove down with him in the back seat of our little car.  He did just great.  He was excited for awhile and then just slept for the rest of the trip.  It was quite hot.  I had to relent and turn on the AC so he wouldn't suffer the heat.

I had been worried about the check in.  I called twice to let them know that I would be bringing my service dog, and both times they said that it would be fine as long as I had the proper paperwork.  I didn't know what they meant by that so posted the question on the diabetes alert dog forum.  The answer was that there is no such paperwork and that shows how little they know.  I brought a copy of the Florida law on service dogs, but I never needed it.  They didn't ask me any questions at all and had arranged to have me on a lower floor as I had requested.  That worked out well because the elevators were usually very busy and crowded.  We could take the stairs if we felt like it.  The rest of the family was on the 18th floor which would have made that very difficult.

He behaved very well.  It was different having to have his vest on so much of the time, but he was good about that.  People that we met were very interested to hear what he could do.  I met a few diabetics who were excited about the prospect of a DAD.  Mostly, we had people approach us who were missing their own dogs.  A few even had me look at pictures on their cell phones.  And he received countless hugs from kids.  It was fun.

Really, his only weak point were the birds.  Seagulls mostly.  He wanted to chase them.  And they were everywhere and used to people.  I think that if I had had more time, I could have got him used to them, but it was a challenge.  Fortunately, he could walk right by people and toys with no problem or attempt at interaction.  We enjoyed our walks and I let him experiment with the waves somewhat.  At first he was afraid and backed away.  Then he got used to them and waded out farther.  A few broke on him which sent him back toward shore.  But, he liked the water and I think it cooled him off too.

We continued to practice our alerts.  Everyone was anxious to see how he did them and he put on a good show.  He had a few natural ones on me too.  All in all, it was a good experience. I was curious to see what it would be like to have to have him behave as a service dog so much of the day.  I did have to miss out on a few things to be with him, but there were more times that I was glad he was there.

Retrieving the meter

Now that Senator is progressing so nicely with his scent training, I'm trying to teach him some other commands that would be beneficial for a Diabetes Alert Dog.  We decided that it would be useful for him to be able to retrieve my meter so I have started working on that skill.  He might be genetically a Golden Retriever, but he is only golden.  He has no desire for retrieving or even picking things up.  We have our work cut out for us.

I started this by attempting to find something that he might be interested in picking up.  Toys, no, neither soft or hard plastic, or cloth covered. Shoes, no.  Kitchen utensils, no.  Then, when we were outside one time, I tried some sticks.  He likes to chew sticks.  Finally, something he could get his teeth into!  It was a slow start.  I clicked and treated him for just putting his teeth on it at first.  Then we moved on to having him pick it off of the ground.

I discussed this with Margaret, and she suggested trying this with both Senator and Cruise.  This seems to work.  Cruise is more inclined to pick things up and his food drive makes him learn things quickly.  The competition between them really speeded things up too.  I moved from the sticks to the meter in a day.  Cruise was much faster than Senator.  I sat between them and had them take turns, but Cruise would jump over my legs and get the meter before Senator knew what happened.  I decided to have Cruise practice some down stays and that helped.  I was able to have Senator lift the meter and even start to bring it my way before I would treat him.  Its a slow process, but I know he'll get it.

Yesterday, we tried this at Margaret's house and with her dog as the leader.  He didn't do quite as well.  She gave me some good ideas to try.  I was repeating myself too much and probably clicking as he was dropping the meter. So, I'm working on both of those.  Of course, when I got home and tried it again with Senator and Cruise, he did great.  He was even bringing the meter all the way to me.  I was able to throw the meter about 5 ft away and have him retrieve it all the way to my hand.  Very encouraging.  I know he'll eventually get this one.

Scent detection video

The first video shows Gary greeting Senator before he has the scent with him.
The second video shows Gary greeting Senator with the scent hidden in his pocket.