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What are
Seizure Alert Dogs®?
Support Dogs train Seizure Alert Dogs®
to respond and alert their owners to an imminent epileptic seizure.
The dogs are trained to give their owners a significant signal many
minutes prior to a seizure.
The security and independence clients
have gained through having a Seizure Alert Dog® is tremendous, not
only because they have a warning prior to a seizure but in addition, as a
registered assistance dog, they
are able to take their dog with them everywhere. |
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Where do
we get Seizure Alert Dogs® from?
Dogs are specially selected,
usually from Rescue Centres, for their suitability.
What
happens before a dog starts training?
Prior to training each
dog has a full behavioural and veterinary evaluation making sure
that they are mentally and physically capable of undertaking the
work of a specially selected Seizure Alert Dog®.
Rescued dogs are
then placed with a foster carer for 4-6 months to ensure that each
dog has the temperament and the correct obedience skills to become a
reliable Seizure Alert Dog®. |
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What happens after a dog has
been selected?
All dogs are trained for a minimum of 170 hours.
Initial training includes general socialisation in a variety of
situations and environments and also working with the dog in the home.
Advanced training includes intensive residential training at our
National Training Centre in Sheffield. Specific seizure alert® work
is followed by a final assessment when the dogs are then given Seizure
Alert® status. |
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Guidelines
for Applicants |
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Applicants should bear in mind the
following guidelines:
You should have a confirmed diagnosis of epilepsy.
You should have at least 10 major seizures per month.
Major seizures are defined as tonic clonic/atonic or complex
partials-not including sleep seizures.
You should keep accurate seizure diaries.
You must be over the age of 16.
You should have a carer available.
You should have adequate daily support at home to ensure the
dog’s needs can be met at all times.
You should not have any changes to drug therapy or medication 6
months prior to applying and throughout the assessment training
period.
It is not always possible to place a Seizure Alert Dog® in a
home where there is already a pet dog.
All applicants will be considered regardless of race, sex,
religion, creed, age or any other categories protected by
law.
YOU CANNOT HAVE YOUR OWN PET DOG TRAINED
You should genuinely enjoy the close companionship of a dog and
want to form a working relationship with one and able to care for a
dog adequately.
It is not always possible to train a Seizure Alert Dog® to alert
if the applicant has a vagel nerve stimulator.
It is not possible to train a Seizure Alert Dog® to alert if the
applicant has non-epileptic/pseudo seizures.
A medical report will be obtained from your GP/hospital
consultant. NB: Support Dogs will not cover the cost if any charge is
incurred for obtaining these
reports. |
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For more information about
applying for a Seizure Alert Dog® please download a copy of our information pack by
clicking here. |
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