With this, I feel I have wasted time trying to train him on how I smell when my sugars are normal. Therefore, I will be moving on to Low Sugar Training. I have been doing some extra research into this and most trainers use the same method, so that is what I will go with. Here is a run down:
Gathering Supplies:
- I will get some gauze and zip lock bags
- I will put a piece of gauze in my mouth when my sugar is low and get it all (gross) slobbery
- I will put the gauze into zip lock bags and freeze
- I will do multiple bags at once
- I will have one bag out for training that day (stored in the fridge while not used)
Training:
- Several times a day EVERY DAY, I will open the baggie from the fridge and hide it somewhere on me
- I will go to Aiden, have someone bring him to me, or let him come to me (I do not want the approach method to be the same each time because I don't want him to think I have to come to him before he alerts)
- I will then prompt him to use his Alert Signal. It can be any Signal of your choice. For Aiden, I will be placing one of his paws on me.
- After placing his paw on me, I will praise him and then go and at least make it LOOK like I am treating a low. Being that at this point in time my sugar will likely NOT be low, I do not want to cause a high.
- I will then praise Aiden again after I have treated. I want him to know that his task is not done until he has seen me treat.
After he has become proficient at Alerting, I will then move on to him not getting an immediate response from me. I will completely ignore his Alert and then after 10-15 seconds I will have him Alert again. However I will go into this in more detail after he has gotten the hang of his initial alerts. It will be a separate post.
Thank you all for your time!!
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