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Breeds of diabetic alert dogs

12/4/2019

31 Comments

 
Many breeds can excel at being Diabetic Alert Dogs! While the breed is not the most important factor, certain breeds are more likely to succeed than other. The most successful breeds for any type of service work are: Golden Retrievers, Poodles, Labrador Retrievers,  and Collies. There is a reason established organizations such as The Seeing Eye, Guide Dogs for the Blind, and Canine Companions for Independence use these breeds – they have experimented with other breeds but have found the “Fab 4” have the highest success rates. Below are other common breeds, and a few pros and cons of each.
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German Shepherds – these dogs are very smart and willing to learn. However, they need extensive socialization in order to prevent guarding tendencies. The breed is very prone to guarding but a DAD cannot ever growl or attempt to protect in any way, so there is a risk with using a German Shepherd as a Diabetic Alert Dog.
  • Australian Shepherds – these are very smart dogs as well but some are slightly sensitive to sounds or situations. Working line Australian Shepherds are very high drive and not suitable for service work because ti requires many hours of down time.
  • Border Collies – Border Collies are brilliant, but not typically good candidates for diabetic alert work. They can be extremely sensitive to sounds and obsess over objects. They are extremely driven and will find entertainment if not provided with it at all times. Their weaknesses are similar to Australian Shepherds, except more extreme. Occasionally some show line Border Collies are suitable as service dogs, but working lines are not likely to be successful.
  • Chihuahuas – While Chihuahuas are capable of smelling well enough to detect low and high blood sugars, their small size is not a good choice for Diabetic Alert work if going in public. Carrying a dog is not professional and should not be done in public with a service dog, but a dog as small as a Chihuahua will likely not be seen and is at more risk to be stepped on and become injured or cause fear of crowds. A slightly larger breed is a better choice.
  • Bully breeds – Bully breeds (American Bulldog, American Pit Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Terrier, etc.) are very capable of smelling lows and highs and alerting. However a breed in this category will make your life more difficult. You will receive more access issues from businesses and the public will be more wary and nervous around your dog which may occasionally cause a scene. You are permitted to have a pit bull type dog as a DAD, but I would recommend choosing a breed that is less intimidating. Additionally, these dogs do often have guarding tendencies as well, increasing the risk of the dog washing out of service work.

For more details on breeds for DAD training, refer to our book, Diabetic Alert Dog Training Steps. 

31 Comments
Bev Smith
7/3/2021 07:27:26 pm

I'm wondering if a small dog, such as a Lhasa Apso or Shih Tzu, can be trained to wake a person who wears a blood glucose monitor, but sleeps soundly (and spends much of the day with headphones on) and often does not hear it - even when it goes into "French ambulance mode."

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Michael B. Naragon
3/18/2022 08:41:33 pm

I have brittle diabetes type 1, I live with my mom after my sister passed from brain cancer. After almost 80 trips to the hospital in the passed 3 years. The doctors talked to me about this as an idea. I am asking if there is a hypoallergenic diabetic safety dog available, for this is the only way it will be allowed to live in our home in Clio, Michigan.

Thank You,
Michael B. Naragon

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Liz Rogers
6/17/2022 08:24:49 am

The poodle is a perfect choice. Highly intelligent, hypoallergenic, and devoted, they make wonderful service dogs. I actually have a miniature poodle service dog for my diabetes. She has proved invaluable to me.

Jolene
3/12/2023 08:59:45 am

I read that poodle make good alert dogs and they are hypoallergenic.

Pauline Williams
4/22/2022 12:22:33 am

I recently lost my husband who always woke me up when my Libre2 alarm went off,because I am hard of hearing, also I am a really deep sleeper. This is now a constant worry for me. I think the ideal solution would be for me to have a small dog as a companion, but who would also wake me up when my alarm goes off.

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Laura
8/20/2023 09:12:40 pm

I had a male black Chow Chow who I trained to be my Diabetic Alert service Dog and he was wonderful! He was like a sponge to train him anything new. He saved me several times in the 7 years I had him. I don't have him anymore because my family took him to a shelter and had him rehomed. They didn't believe that he could be a service Dog and he proved that his breed could become a good dog and a good service Dog! I've tried to be without a Diabetic Alert service Dog and I am currently looking for another Chow puppy.

Zhiairre Milligan link
6/25/2022 04:59:58 pm

Dog help had a people diabetes.Thanks you.This Zhiairre Milligan

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Patsy birnett
8/25/2022 09:52:00 am

I do have aimed Pitt with something else but he easy to handle

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Andy Dean Rece link
9/8/2023 12:27:14 am

I need find a dog help me.bc my Diabete I'm trying found a dog help me out!!

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Karen Gysen
4/4/2024 11:51:17 am

I have a friend with Type 1Diabetes who is currently in the hospital due to keto acidosis. Her husband travels frequently and her children are grown and out of the house. She went into diabetic shock while alone in her home and luckily after 4-5 hours her family found her and she was rushed to the hospital. I want to give her family as well as her information on dogs trained to detect diabetes, especially small dogs. She has owned small dogs in the past. She truly needs an alert system as she is lucky to be alive; it will take her awhile to recover from this and the underlying infection that caused her very rapid decline.

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Misty Geist
4/4/2024 09:24:40 pm

They should get small dogs that... I live in a nursing home... I would have to keep a big dog in my all pinned up....

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Brooklynn Norman
12/12/2021 12:36:42 pm

Type 1 diabetes

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Coral
8/13/2022 10:16:52 am

I’m looking at getting a pointer dog such as a GSP or Brittany spaniel to keep up with my active life style as well. How do these breeds do as DADS?

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Sawyer Cowan
8/13/2022 06:26:20 pm

I am a type 1 diabetic and have marfans disease and 12 years old and don't have a lot of money

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Terry Raston
10/10/2022 06:05:55 pm

I'm hoping to hear back from you so I'm all to stop screening my wife. I was so low about three weeks ago my wife had to do chest compressions! Please get back in touch with me ASAP. 6785580376.

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Jeff bazos link
10/22/2022 12:54:51 pm

?

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Kerri Carlson
11/9/2022 06:38:08 am

Amazing my new puppy picked up on my high and low blood sugar. But what really got me is she doing my boyfriend and my neighbor. She just alerted two weeks ago that something is wrong with my friend son and he gets his mri results today doctor appointment and I know she been trying to alert me to something else to

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Jillian
6/2/2023 06:14:43 pm

What breed?

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Joycelyn Whindleton
1/27/2023 07:07:54 am

Looking for a service dog for type 1 diabetics child who is is very brittle and hyperglycemiac.. also has stage 5 kidney failure… need help badly with recommendations of a trained dog..thanks and God Bless

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australian shepherd for sale near me link
4/4/2023 10:55:15 pm

You are absolutely correct and thanks for giving information about BREEDS OF DIABETIC ALERT DOGS. I loved your blog and thanks for publishing this!! I am really happy to come across this exceptionally well-written content. Thanks for sharing and look for more in future!!

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Robert Dove
5/19/2023 11:13:32 am

I'm looking for a diebetic service dog

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Brandi
6/21/2023 06:20:54 am

Given that it's written into the UKC breed standard for the American Pitbull Terrier to exhibit some level of dog aggression, professional trainers familiar with the breed generally recommend against them for service work. Livestock guardian breeds are usually not recommended for the same reason.
Another issue with a bully breed is housing. Under the Fair Housing Act, a service dog can only live in non pet friendly housing if it's a reasonable accommodation. Many insurance companies charge landlords more for any bully breeds on the premises, which makes it an unreasonable accomodation and they can legally deny the handler housing.

Herding breeds are great for handlers who don't have any anxiety. They're very known to feed off of handler anxiety and become overly anxious themselves. I've been in the online service dog community 13 years and can't even count the amount of times I've seen a herding breed fail training for this reason. It's usually the first time handlers wanting to train their own dog that I see this with.

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Tommie Ford link
8/4/2023 12:40:45 pm

There is an explanation laid out associations, for example The Seeing Eye Guide Canines for the Visually impaired, and Canine Allies for Freedom utilize these varieties, I truly appreciate your great post!

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Candy
9/5/2023 04:38:26 pm

I wear a continuous glucose monitor but was turning it off when it alarmed during the night! So I taught my mixed breed, 6 yr old, medium sized dog to jump on me when the alarm goes off. We practiced for 4 days and that night I went low, she woke me and has been doing it ever since.

I have several lows a week so she gets lots of practice and now often alerts before my cgm even goes off. She also picks up on any rapid dropping and comes and stands next to me so that she will be handy when it hits 80. She is very food motivated and gets a treat every time I have a low, so at least one of us is happy about the situation, lol.

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Candace Fox
10/9/2023 03:04:23 pm

My one son had the lows. He has had two seizures from the lows.

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Candace Fox link
10/9/2023 02:57:54 pm

I have two boys that are type 1 diabetic. How much

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MD Dogs
10/9/2023 03:07:45 pm

Hi, you are welcome to view our "available dogs" page and the "apply" page above to learn more about costs and availability.

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Ana Seferlis
1/17/2024 09:19:17 am

I'm not diabetic,however, I have tendency in the family that could be a risk, and fortunate I have a beautiful Golden Retriever of 4 years old, Am I still able to train her for a diabetic dog? would like more info about it. Thanks

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How Long Is Nexgard Good for link
5/12/2024 11:05:58 pm

Canine wellbeing is vital to guaranteeing your fuzzy friend carries on with a long, cheerful life close by. Very much like people, canines require legitimate consideration and regard for keep up with their prosperity.

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Steve W
5/27/2024 02:16:58 pm

My wife is T1 diabetic, and she loves big dogs, especially St.Bernards. How are they as DADs

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MomMODYdiabetic
3/29/2025 10:54:17 am

My son has type seven MODY diabetes. He has extreme highs and extreme lows. He also has autism. We are looking to get a dog that we can train to manage both. How do we go about doing that? How difficult is it to train a dog on your own? How difficult is it to get certified as a service dog?

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    Libby Rockaway is the founder of M.D. Dogs Incorporated and the author of Puppy Steps and Diabetic Alert Dog Training Steps

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A Service Dog is an animal and is not intended to replace any medical care or device(s) provided by medical professionals. A diabetic alert service dog is never 100% accurate and should never replace regular blood glucose level checking.
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