I am looking to get a pup in the coming year, the problem is, I don't know which breeds would be effective choices for me. I will be after a scent sensitive breed, as I would like to train the pup to detect my oncoming seizures and low blood sugars. I cannot feel the onset of a low blood sugar level, nor a seizure, and there is no device available to me that can handle both (unless I opt for going private and paying upwards of £15,000). My major problem is becoming ill in public. Usually, I only feel the effects of the oncoming episode between 2 or 3 minutes before it happens, which often leaves me little time to find a safe place to lie down. I am also looking for a breed that will be an excellent companion, as my condition also means I suffer slight depression and anxiety when I am alone. I don't have any children, and do not plan to have kids, but would still need a breed that was calm and able to get along with children for when I am out in public.

I am a sucker for beagles, and feel that this breed would be perfect for me. I would need a small/medium dog, and I have had several beagles before. Unfortunately, my last beagle, Kenzie, passed away due to Encephalitis in September of 2007. Life has been sad and lonley without her around. She was a rescue dog, and for 6 years, she was my best friend.

I have looked into the prices for bealges and unfortunately, they are well out of my price range at £750-£900 a pup. I am originally from the USA, and the prices for dogs out there are much cheaper, champion lines usually sell for about £150 or $300, and I would have to pay much more to have the poor thing put into quarantine for 6 months to have it sent over here. I have also looked into beagle rescues, but have been told that raising a beagle from a pup would better increase my ability to stave off certain beagle habits. (mad barking and terrible recall ability). I would like a breed that is able to be quiet for times where I am in a lecture at school or in work, which leads me to ask your opinions on service dog breeds that would suit my needs.

I am ok with walking the pup two or three times a day for a mile plus a piece, but would not like to have an overly rambunctious dog like a Jack Russell. I would need to keep to the small/medium breed genre due to conveiniance mostly, as I only have a small 2 bedroom home. Also, the breed would have to be a short haired dog, with minimal shedding, due to my partner's acute allergies.

Could anybody reccommend any training fascilities that deal with scent recognition? I am also interested in any way to lower the costs of getting the pup as I am only a student. I plan on turning this into my Doctorate thesis, as I plan on becoming a therapist/social worker, and I would like to study the effects a service dog can have on the individuals that need their assistance.

I currently live in the Wrexham/North Wales/Cheshire area.

Thank you in advance for any help you can offer, and also, my apologies for the long post!

This is the link to the UK company that train seizure alert and assistance/service dogs. They should be able to give you the information they need. I'm pretty sure that if you qualify for one, they train one and give you it for free, but dont quote me on it. I know they always try to match a suitable dog for your household. Seizure Alert Dogs
Hope this helps.

I have already spoken to these individuals about the possibility of obtaining a seizure alert dog. Unfortunately, I do have a room mate who has a Siberian Husky (3 years old) and they have said they will not place an assistance dog with him living here.

I could never ask my friend to get rid of her pup or move out. Also, they state on the website you must have 10 major seizures a month and have a confirmed diagnosis of Epilepsy. I do not have epilepsy, but advanced diabetes, and my low blood sugar seizures are very minor, but still put me unconcious for up to 3-5 minutes at a time. They've informed me that they do not have the abilities and knowledge to train a Diabetes alert dog.

Collies or Collie X's are very good, but of course one the Police etc use is a Working Cocker, Springer or Lab or X's of these

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Natalie
Jack-Labrador, Maia-Utonagan, Molly-Wolfie X
Lab Link Rescue Co ordinator
Watched over by Tara Banana (05/09/08-13/07/09)from Rainbow Bridge RIP Little Big girl, missed by many
www.whamshow.co.uk

I am ok with a spaniel, but border collies are too much for me. I have had them before, and the amount of exercise they need is too much for me. I cannot find a rescue or adoption centre near me, and I cannot afford some of these fees the breeders charge for deliveries, and I cannot drive due to my condition. I've had a couple people reccommend that I contact my local paper and ask if they can do a Personal Interest story on me. I don't know if this is such a great idea.

Would anyone know of any service dog trainers that I could get in touch with? Preferably in the Wrexham/Cheshire area...

Hi Casandra their is a charity called emergency response dogs, which was set up by Val Strong, who used to work for support dogs, don't know if they can help you 0114 2202296, it is a very specialised field of training you are looking for, hopefully they may be able to point you in the right direction.

Thank you Jenny! I am writing to them now!!

Their website does say they are closing though, I hope I can get my questions answered before they do!

Obviously not! lol.

I am getting a Chocolate Doberman pup on Tuesday or Wednesday. He's 9 weeks old.

I've already picked out a name for him and everything!

I'm going to call him Aidyn. When he's fully grown, he'll be big enough to brace me if my knees give out during a quick onset seizure.

Congratulations Casandra!
Hope all goes well with the new pup.

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A dog Possesses Beauty without Vanity,Strength without Insolence, Courage without Ferocity, And all the Virtues of Man without his Vices.

Look forward to seeing pictures of you new pup, Don't want to sound disrepectful (I would genuinely be interested in learning) but how do you cope with the 10 month of so training , what if there are problems prior to you new dog being able to recognize these. I would have though that any dog that were trained to any illness/disability would have to have been around 2 years old.
regards
sue