How Are Seizure Alert Dogs Trained?
After two years of training in basic obedience and advanced service dog skills, Canine Partners for Life evaluates each dog for its potential to alert for seizures.
Alerting to an impending seizure is an innate ability in some dogs. It is speculated that during a seizure, the human body gives off a different scent although it’s still unknown exactly how a dog can detect this.
Once CPL knows a dog has the capability to alert to seizures, its alerting behaviors are encouraged and promoted through positive reinforcement such as click and treat training methods.
After our service dog trainers train the dog to help their partner, the pair will attend team training on CPL’s campus in Cochranville, PA for three more weeks of personalized training.
The partnership between canine and human is one founded on trust, respect and love. As the relationship grows, the intuitive bond between the two strengthens into a powerful form of communication.
10 Best Dog Breeds for Epilepsy
These dog breeds are said to naturally detect a change in a person’s body scent when a seizure is about to happen.
So, with them having these natural instincts they are trained to perform better at these tasks.
Some of the characteristics they possess:
Below are the dog breeds that are commonly used for seizure alert dogs:
Labrador Retriever is a breed of dog that is always used for various service animal roles and they can also be a very good seizure alert animal.
They are intelligent, easy to train and have good temperaments and also have the strength to help persons with medical conditions.
Also, they are more in tune with their owners and behave well with strangers in public.
Overall they possess amazing scent skills. As a result, they can help you know when an attack is about to happen.
That said, the males’ height is 22.5 to 24.5 inches while the female is 21.5 to 23.5 inches and they weigh about 55 to 70 pounds.
Another sensitive breed on this list is the Golden Retriever which is loyal, trustworthy, and friendly.
They are very intelligent to carry out any type of job as they are always among the best choices for alert services.
Due to their affectionate nature, they only care about pleasing their owners and they can adapt to new situations.
The Golden Retriever is a medium-sized double coat breed with the male weighing 65 to 75 pounds and the female 55 to 65 pounds.
The Male height is 23 to 24cinches while that of the female is 21.5 to 22.5 inches.
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The poodle is one of the smartest breeds and very good at being a seizure-alert dog.
However, they come in three types: standard, miniature, and toy.
They are easy to train, intelligent, and love to please their owners and they can be quite athletic as a result they can perform a variety of tasks.
Although this particular breed comes in small size and is sometimes difficult they still have a loving and loyal nature.
The poodle is a curly breed the standard height is 15 inches and above, the miniatures are 10 to 15 inches, and the toys are 10 inches and below.
While the standard weight is 45 to 70 pounds, for miniatures 15 to 18 pounds, and for toys 5 to 9 pounds.
Goldendoodle is a hybrid, a mix of the Golden Retriever and the Poodle.
This breed has the ability to sense a seizure attack before it happens because they have a Golden nature.
They are friendly, smart, affectionate, and loyal and they are social with other pets and good with kids and strangers.
Also, they are easy to train, very intelligent, and can help you get your phone, an alarm device, or medication.
This breed comes in a shaggy and sometimes curly coat and their weight varies from 45 to 100 pounds and to 30 pounds.
While their height is 22 to 26 inches.
This is a breed that is frequently used as a service animal because of its unique nature and smartness.
German Shepherds are normally used as police and military dogs because of their strong sense of smell.
They are strong, intelligent, brave, confident, and able to focus and fit into any type of command.
Overall, they are more in tune with humans and loyal to help detect a seizure attack and able to also comfort after the attack.
This breed comes in a medium-length, double coat with a 22 to 26 inches height and a 60 to 100 pounds weight for the male.
While the female has a 22 to 24 inches height and 48 to 70 pounds.
This breed is another clever service alert dog that is easy to train, has a good temperament, and is loyal as well.
The border collie is a strong and agile breed and is always happy to perform a task for its owners.
In Fact, they are intelligent workaholics which is what makes them one of the best seizure-alert dogs.
They are medium-length breeds with an 18 to 20 inches height and a 28 to 48 weight.
This breed is another good seizure alert dog that has a good temperament and friendly nature.
The Irish setter is an easy-going animal that likes to be around its owners and is good with strangers when in public
They are also very easy to train as they respond well to patient positive training which is an ideal trait for a seizure alert animal.
This breed is medium length with a 25 to 27 inches height and 60 to 70 pounds.
This also is another breed that has a good temperament, just like the Irish setter, gentle affectionate, and a good companion.
The English setter can adapt to any situation they find themselves in and they do well around strangers.
Also, they are easy to train and like to stay close to their owners which is an ideal trait for a seizure alert animal.
They are medium-length breeds with the Male having 25 to 27 inches in height and a 65 to 80 pounds weight.
While the females have 23 to 25 inches in height and 45 to 75 pounds in weight.
The Gordon setter breed is a little bit larger than the English setter and the Irish setter but they, however, have similar characteristics.
One of the beautiful things about this breed is how loyal and good companions they are to their owners.
They respond well to training, they are gentle, alert, family-oriented, and enjoy an active lifestyle.
Gordon setter breeds come from medium to large with 24 to 27 inches in height and a 55 to 80 pounds weight for the Male.
While the female has 22 to 26 inches in height and 45 to 70 pounds in weight.
This breed is another perfect hybrid, a mix of the golden retriever and the labrador retriever.
With qualities from both ancestors, it is perfect to be a seizure alert animal.
This is because it has a perfect sense of smell and intelligence. It is easy to train and has a good temperament.
Also, they understand human nature and care a lot for their owners as well as being sociable with strangers.
Golden Retrievers are medium-sized with a 22 to 25 inches height and a 60 to 85 pounds weight.
Best Breeds For Seizure Alerts
The question now is what breeds of dogs are considered the best for seizure alerts? Is any dog breed suited to this role? There are actually a few breeds that excel at this role.
Below is a list of the best dogs for seizure alerts.
So, without further ado, let us get started!
Seizure Alert Dog Breeds
Service dogs are incredible animals that give people the opportunity to live their lives to the fullest. Without them, countless people would not be able to perform daily tasks or experience what many take for granted. Some of these dogs, called “seizure response dogs,” assist people who suffer from epileptic and non-epileptic seizures. There are numerous types of seizures, and these dogs will come to the aid of their handlers, regardless of the issue. And because of this, their tasks are aimed at helping affected people combat the common dangers of their disease. So what are seizure response dogs, and what do they do?