If you are looking for a service dog company, I encourage you to do your research into different companies. Ask for references, talk to past clients, ask about training methods, ask around on social media sites, and check out the BBB for their rating.
Again, I do not personally know Ms. Gonzalez, but I do know a few of her clients, across the US, who are absolutely thrilled with the seizure alert/response dog they have recieved through Little Angels Service Dogs.
| Can dogs be trained to alert to seizures in advance? YES! We are very aware that most of what is said about seizure alert dogs opposes this idea - but we strongly disagree. Our training methods vary greatly from what is traditionally taught. We will not hide our secret, because this knowledge is not something that should be hidden. When other schools adopt our methods and begin training their dogs with the same techniques more people will be helped - and that is our greatest goal! With any amount of research you will have read that only certain dogs can alert to seizures - that it is something they do naturally - and they cannot be taught to perform this miracle. Let us explain our difference in thought; The dogs who alert naturally to seizures are the dogs that care; these dogs are distressed that their beloved handler is having a seizure. Why do they care you ask? Because they are naturally anxious dogs by breed and personality. Many of these dogs are displaying outward signs from their distress of knowing their handler is about to have a seizure, such as barking, whining, pacing, clinging to their handler, etc., but many other dogs are alerting in their own way by yawning, licking their paws, or hiding in another room, of which are all also signs of distress from a dog - it is just that in many of these cases the handler would never put two and two together; that their dog is licking its paws 20 minutes before every seizure for example. But in the hopes that the dog will naturally alert in a visible way trainers will hand-pick dogs who are naturally anxious, hoping that the dog will inadvertently alert the owner before the seizure occurs. This is where we go further. We do not believe that only anxious dogs can sense seizures - we believe that ALL dogs can sense them - but that not all of them care. So how do we get them to care? We play what is called 'the alert game' with our dogs. When we say 'Alert' the dog is trained to paw at our leg to get a tasty treat that is reserved only for this amazingly fun game. The dog starts to LIVE for this game! They can hardly wait to play it. Then here comes the miracle ... When the disabled recipient comes to San Diego for Handler Training we show them how to play the alert game, and we make certain the dog loves playing it with their new handler.... Then we cut off the game. We instruct the disabled recipient to only play the game right after they are recovering from a seizure. Pretty soon the dog realizes that the only time they get to play this amazing game is when their handler has a seizure. The dog senses the chemical changes in their handler's body - they know a seizure is about to happen - they know the game is about to happen - and they come over and paw at their handler's leg to play the game. That's it! The dog is saying, "Hey, it's time to play the game!" The handler knows, "My dog says I'm about to have a seizure." All we need is a dog who pays attention to their surroundings, and a dog who likes food. We don't have to guess anymore about what dog is anxious enough, and how might the dog inadvertently alert to the seizures, and will the dog ever put two and two together. This does not mean that everyone can have a dog that alerts to their seizures in advance.If someone has seizure activity in their brain, but shows no outward signs of a seizure to the point that they don't notice their own seizure activity, then they cannot communicate to the dog in a way that would be consistent. When we are playing the alert game with the dog we are telling them that they are supposed to play it during seizure activity. But if the person has seizure activity, exposing the dog to the stimulus of the seizure activity, but then no alert game is played, the dog will not understand because it is not consistent. Many people have smaller seizures that they don't always recognize. This can also lead to confusion in the dog. It is obviously ideal that each person have a dog that can alert to their seizures in advance, but in some cases it is likely that we won't be able to communicate to the dog effectively based on seizure activity. Seizure AssistanceOur dogs are also trained to assist after a seizure. They are trained to locate and retrieve a phone for their handler to call for help if needed. They are also trained to help brace or balance their handler for stability after a seizure, or to lay on top of their handler during a seizure to prevent injury or a flight response. In certain cases recipients will ask that the dog be trained to retrieve a family member in another room. We can also train a dog to dial a specially designed Assistance Dog Telephone that has a large speed-dial button made for a dog's paw. These phones can be programmed with a pre-recorded message that will alert others that you are having a medical emergency and ask them to respond. This way, even if the person were unconscious, the dog could still get outside help. Seizure Assistance and Alert Dogs for Children and InfantsBecause of our alert game we can train the dog to alert a parent that their child is going to have a seizure. No more worrying! It is such a relief for parents to know when their child will have a seizure. The Facts* Dogs usually alert to seizures in consistent time intervals - for example, one dog will consistently alert 15 seconds in advance, while another dog alerts consistently 50 minutes in advance. There have not been enough case studies to determine if these time frames are based on the specific dog, or based on the person. * No trainer should ever guarantee a dog's level of assistance because all dogs are different. However, our number one goal is to get you a dog that is alerting to your seizures in advance. If the dog does not do that, we will exchange that dog for another, at no cost for the dog. After all, if the dog is not assisting you, then what is the point? |
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