Seizure Alert and Response Dogs

Suitable dogs

While ASDOG trains dogs primarily to assist people with physical disabilities, it also assesses each dog in training for its possible suitability as a Seizure Alert and Response or Seizure Response dog. Amongst other attributes, the suitable dog will want to be with people at all times, be sensitive to how they are feeling and be a dog “that cares”.

Seizure Alert Dogs

In addition to having the ability to sense changes in a person prior to them having a seizure, these rare dogs give warning of the imminent seizure. This can give the person time to make their environment safe, to get into a safe position and maybe get help before the seizure commences. The ability to sense and warn cannot be trained. If a dog does not have it, no amount of training will put it there. Even a dog that has the ability to alert may only do so once bonding with a person occurs, often after several months.  

Seizure Response Dogs

If its temperament is suitable, even a dog that does not have the ability to sense oncoming seizures can make a positive difference for a person who has seizures. ASDOG trains all potential Seizure Response only and Seizure Alert dogs to fetch the phone from any room in the house, even if the person is still lying down, go for help and to just be there as the person comes out of the seizure.  It has been found that a well trained dog, that remains calm leading up to, during and after a seizure, can reduce the number of seizures and the duration of them and their recovery.     

Would a Seizure Alert or Response dog suit you?

• Applicants must be at least 18 years of age.
• They must have regular seizures, tonic-clonic and/or partial seizures.
• They must really like having a dog with them at all times as the dog needs to be with them wherever they are – in the house, at work and when out shopping or socialising.  
• They must be able to notice, “capture” and reward slight changes of the dog’s behaviour that might lead to alerting them to an oncoming seizure.
• Be able to attend a 2 week training course.
• Be able to maintain the dog’s training. This will take at least 30 minutes a day.
• Be able to give the dog a minimum of 30 minutes a day off leash exercise.
• Not be worried about what may have been a previously hidden disability becoming visible. (ASDOG dogs wear an orange cape whenever they are in places accessible to Service dogs only.) 
• There can be no other dogs in the household.

Australian Support Dogs welcomes enquiries about these dogs.

© 2005 ASDOG Assistance Dogs Pty Ltd