I don’t have a dog yet, what breed should I choose?

Perfect! This means that you can carefully select and raise your new dog with the view of them becoming an assistance dog from the start. Whilst the most successful assistance dog breeds are typically considered to be Labrador retrievers, Golden Retrievers and Poodles, many breeds are suitable and your choice will be determined by your preference and lifestyle needs. Get in touch to book a Puppy Selection Session with us to help you find your perfect match!

I already have a dog. Can my dog become by Diabetes Alert Dog?

In theory, most dogs are able to learn how to alert to out-of-range blood sugars. Some may be more motivated to fulfil the role than others, though. Not every dog is suitable for working in public settings, however. Working in public requires a dog to be incredibly confident in a variety of environments, have good stress recovery, be neutral towards people and other animals, and have good obedience skills. If you have an adult dog you would like to train, you can either train them to be an in-home Diabetes Alert Dog without public access, or you could have your dog assessed for their suitability in terms of working in public. Do get in touch if you would like to discuss this option.

What if I need to leave the programme before my dog graduates?

Your training fees are paid monthly in advance. You may terminate any time - if on the Full Safety through Scent training package, you would just be asked to return your Safety through Scent training jacket and lead sleeve.

I don’t have the time/skills to raise and train a puppy. Can I purchase an already trained dog?

Currently, we do not have any trained dogs available, however this is something that may become possible in the future. If you are interested in purchasing a fully trained dog, please do get in touch to find out more.

I can’t afford the training fees, what are my options?

Unfortunately, training an assistance dog is a very time and money consuming venture. Training fees aside, you will need to budget for your dog's care and medical bills, scent training supplies and more. 

As a disabled person with a limited income myself, I am unfortunately not currently able to offer my services for free.

However, many teams cover some or all of their costs through fundraising for their cause. 

I’m not sure if a Diabetes Alert Dog is right for me, can you help?

Taking the plunge to train your own Diabetes Alert Assistance Dog is huge decision. If you’d like to know more about what is involved in the training process, and in life with a Diabetes Alert Dog, please get in touch to book a one-off video call and I will chat you through everything you’d like to know about Diabetes Alert Dogs.