When Bailey detects a low or high blood glucose level, his alert chain goes like this:
Bailey recognizes scent
Bailey alerts (with a bump on the leg)
I say "What's up?" (whilst raising both arms in the air to gesture)
Bailey gives a low signal (paw swipe) or goes into a 'lie' position for a high signal
Last week I noticed how Bailey was getting a little too eager and jumping straight to the signal and leaving out the alert (bump). So I started asking him for random bumps throughout the day, everyday, keeping the exercise short and fun. Then I mixed it up a bit and also asked for a "bump" whilst walking slowly, so that he targeted the side, front and back of my leg. We did this mobile part of his training as a pup in case he had to alert us in motion but I didn't know how much he'd remembered of this exercise. But he did it straight off, so he hadn't forgotten any of it and wasn't fazed by me moving.
The outcome from these exercises was very positive and he's now back to offering the bump (alert part of the chain)
every time he alerts. Sometimes it just takes a little tweaking now and then!
I have also, on several occasions, ignored his first alerts and then reward him generously on the second repeat alert. By my being uncooperative to his first alert, I'm making him become that bit more insistent so that he'll continue until he gets a response. This is really important as there are always plenty of everyday distractions that could miss an attempted alert. And persistence is definitely an essential trait that an alert dog should possess!
He is alerting to highs readily. When training for this, I have only used blood glucose levels in the higher ranges so far, so it's interesting to see what levels he senses as high. For instance, Jason's ideal range should sit between 5 and 10 but it's not unusual for him to sit a little above 10, especially after he's eaten a meal. Bailey will alert to levels 11 or 12 and over, so I am beginning to realise just how tight a control he can help me obtain.
Bailey recognizes scent
Bailey alerts (with a bump on the leg)
I say "What's up?" (whilst raising both arms in the air to gesture)
Bailey gives a low signal (paw swipe) or goes into a 'lie' position for a high signal
Last week I noticed how Bailey was getting a little too eager and jumping straight to the signal and leaving out the alert (bump). So I started asking him for random bumps throughout the day, everyday, keeping the exercise short and fun. Then I mixed it up a bit and also asked for a "bump" whilst walking slowly, so that he targeted the side, front and back of my leg. We did this mobile part of his training as a pup in case he had to alert us in motion but I didn't know how much he'd remembered of this exercise. But he did it straight off, so he hadn't forgotten any of it and wasn't fazed by me moving.
The outcome from these exercises was very positive and he's now back to offering the bump (alert part of the chain)
every time he alerts. Sometimes it just takes a little tweaking now and then!
I have also, on several occasions, ignored his first alerts and then reward him generously on the second repeat alert. By my being uncooperative to his first alert, I'm making him become that bit more insistent so that he'll continue until he gets a response. This is really important as there are always plenty of everyday distractions that could miss an attempted alert. And persistence is definitely an essential trait that an alert dog should possess!
He is alerting to highs readily. When training for this, I have only used blood glucose levels in the higher ranges so far, so it's interesting to see what levels he senses as high. For instance, Jason's ideal range should sit between 5 and 10 but it's not unusual for him to sit a little above 10, especially after he's eaten a meal. Bailey will alert to levels 11 or 12 and over, so I am beginning to realise just how tight a control he can help me obtain.