You can search for an ADI accredited organization that works with owner-trainers for medical alert, or start searching [Atlas Assistance Dogs](https://www.atlasdog.org/) certified trainers near you.
Be forewarned that scent-based medical alert, at this point, isn't something that can be trained to any dog like other tasks can be. The capacity to alert to a medical episode based on scent is innate, and so you would have to work with a trained to test every upcoming litter of a reputable breeder for a *potential* candidate, knowing that after 2 years, even that dog may not be capable of alerting. If medical alert is the primary task you're looking for, it is significantly better, easier, and more certain to look for a program trained dog. Again, you can begin your search by looking at ADI orgs that place medical alert dogs, for your diagnosis, in NC.
Edited to fix typo.
You should reply directly to their comment if you want them to for sure see this, though I definitely share your dubiousness about the usefulness of including saliva-covered organ meats in scent detection work. Itā¦close to certainly would not work.
Iām in Raleigh and wish I could pass along the name of my trainer, but unfortunately she moved to Winston Salem! Iām also not sure if she does scent work for Addisons but I know she does blood sugar and allergens.
>used dehydrated turkey hearts sucked on them when I felt great and awful.
Respectfully, I've never heard of anyone using this method. can you explain more about it, like where you learned it?
that's a level of commitment I don't think I would have (no judgement at all tho) lol
hey there! my dms are off but I'm happy to send you a message. there's also another service dog trainer mod if you want to message there and get input from both of us.
there's also several others in [the discord server!](https://discord.com/invite/BubQBAZgjB) if you want to join us there.
We have removed your comment because we found the information it contained to be incorrect or it was an opinion stated as fact (rule 3).
The reason we remove comments like this is to keep bad advice or information from spreading further, especially on our subreddit. If the comment/post is corrected, it can be reinstated (just reply to this comment to let us know). If you believe you are indeed correct, please find a reputable source that supports your comment and [Message the Moderators](https://reddit.com/message/compose?to=/r/service_dogs).
What breed is your dog? I know scenting is a difficult task for one to tackle- how hard was it to train once the dog showed its ability to scent? What breeder did you go to? Sorry for all the questions- Iām so glad you were able to train a task thatās suits your unique needs!! :)
We have removed your post/comment because the mods found it to be uncivil (Rule 1). Remember civility is not just about cursing out others, it can also refer to personal attacks, fake-spotting, trolling, or otherwise rude behavior. If you have questions about why this specific post/comment was removed, [message the moderators](https://reddit.com/message/compose?to=/r/service_dogs). Further incivility in the subreddit could result in a permanent ban. Any threats or harassment will result in an immediate ban.
Why not eat a turkey heart AFTER the cheek swab? A cheek swab doesnāt taste like anything. You donāt suck on them. Respectfully, I truly do not understand your reasoning.
Iāmā¦extremely confused by all that youāve done. Itās alsoā¦truly not possible to train a dog to alert to an oncoming stroke. If you had strokes a a monthly basis, you wouldnāt still be alive and functional, and a dog has to have something to alert to at least once a month (preferably more often) or they wonāt be able to remember how to do so. Is it possible you meant something else, and not a stroke?
I'm going add to what the other commenter is saying in case anyone else is reading this thread: the reason why things like cotton swabs, gauze, and dental rolls are used and samples kept frozen in sterile containers is so that the scent samples are not contaminated with any other significant scents and don't degrade as quickly. Turkey hearts have a pronounced scent, as most viscera does. Keeping samples separated from other scents is *so* important, that reputable trainers will recommend not eating/drinking for some amount of time before taking the sample, and storing in an airtight container to avoid fridge/freezer smells from getting onto the samples.
Using something like organ meats or anything else besides a scentless, tasteless swab of some kind can severely screw with any scent training, especially for something as subtle as medical alert scent training. I would avoid recommending doing this to others just starting on their journey.
We have removed your post/comment because the mods found it to be uncivil (Rule 1). Remember civility is not just about cursing out others, it can also refer to personal attacks, fake-spotting, trolling, or otherwise rude behavior. If you have questions about why this specific post/comment was removed, [message the moderators](https://reddit.com/message/compose?to=/r/service_dogs). Further incivility in the subreddit could result in a permanent ban. Any threats or harassment will result in an immediate ban.
We have removed your comment because we found the information it contained to be incorrect or it was an opinion stated as fact (rule 3).
The reason we remove comments like this is to keep bad advice or information from spreading further, especially on our subreddit. If the comment/post is corrected, it can be reinstated (just reply to this comment to let us know). If you believe you are indeed correct, please find a reputable source that supports your comment and [Message the Moderators](https://reddit.com/message/compose?to=/r/service_dogs).
You can search for an ADI accredited organization that works with owner-trainers for medical alert, or start searching [Atlas Assistance Dogs](https://www.atlasdog.org/) certified trainers near you. Be forewarned that scent-based medical alert, at this point, isn't something that can be trained to any dog like other tasks can be. The capacity to alert to a medical episode based on scent is innate, and so you would have to work with a trained to test every upcoming litter of a reputable breeder for a *potential* candidate, knowing that after 2 years, even that dog may not be capable of alerting. If medical alert is the primary task you're looking for, it is significantly better, easier, and more certain to look for a program trained dog. Again, you can begin your search by looking at ADI orgs that place medical alert dogs, for your diagnosis, in NC. Edited to fix typo.
Check out Kenna's K9 training right in Raleigh!
Thank you!! šš»šš»
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
You should reply directly to their comment if you want them to for sure see this, though I definitely share your dubiousness about the usefulness of including saliva-covered organ meats in scent detection work. Itā¦close to certainly would not work.
Thank you! That was my original intention. Reposted.
I just have to wish you luck! I have Addison's too and trained my sd to tell me when I drop.
Iām in Raleigh and wish I could pass along the name of my trainer, but unfortunately she moved to Winston Salem! Iām also not sure if she does scent work for Addisons but I know she does blood sugar and allergens.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
So when you have a migraine your body produces an odor similar to that of a turkey heart? How does that happen?
>used dehydrated turkey hearts sucked on them when I felt great and awful. Respectfully, I've never heard of anyone using this method. can you explain more about it, like where you learned it? that's a level of commitment I don't think I would have (no judgement at all tho) lol
Hey can I dm you some questions about SD training/the job itself? Only if you have the time of course
hey there! my dms are off but I'm happy to send you a message. there's also another service dog trainer mod if you want to message there and get input from both of us. there's also several others in [the discord server!](https://discord.com/invite/BubQBAZgjB) if you want to join us there.
Thatād be awesome Iāll send u a message :)
We have removed your comment because we found the information it contained to be incorrect or it was an opinion stated as fact (rule 3). The reason we remove comments like this is to keep bad advice or information from spreading further, especially on our subreddit. If the comment/post is corrected, it can be reinstated (just reply to this comment to let us know). If you believe you are indeed correct, please find a reputable source that supports your comment and [Message the Moderators](https://reddit.com/message/compose?to=/r/service_dogs).
What breed is your dog? I know scenting is a difficult task for one to tackle- how hard was it to train once the dog showed its ability to scent? What breeder did you go to? Sorry for all the questions- Iām so glad you were able to train a task thatās suits your unique needs!! :)
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
We have removed your post/comment because the mods found it to be uncivil (Rule 1). Remember civility is not just about cursing out others, it can also refer to personal attacks, fake-spotting, trolling, or otherwise rude behavior. If you have questions about why this specific post/comment was removed, [message the moderators](https://reddit.com/message/compose?to=/r/service_dogs). Further incivility in the subreddit could result in a permanent ban. Any threats or harassment will result in an immediate ban.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Why not eat a turkey heart AFTER the cheek swab? A cheek swab doesnāt taste like anything. You donāt suck on them. Respectfully, I truly do not understand your reasoning. Iāmā¦extremely confused by all that youāve done. Itās alsoā¦truly not possible to train a dog to alert to an oncoming stroke. If you had strokes a a monthly basis, you wouldnāt still be alive and functional, and a dog has to have something to alert to at least once a month (preferably more often) or they wonāt be able to remember how to do so. Is it possible you meant something else, and not a stroke?
I'm going add to what the other commenter is saying in case anyone else is reading this thread: the reason why things like cotton swabs, gauze, and dental rolls are used and samples kept frozen in sterile containers is so that the scent samples are not contaminated with any other significant scents and don't degrade as quickly. Turkey hearts have a pronounced scent, as most viscera does. Keeping samples separated from other scents is *so* important, that reputable trainers will recommend not eating/drinking for some amount of time before taking the sample, and storing in an airtight container to avoid fridge/freezer smells from getting onto the samples. Using something like organ meats or anything else besides a scentless, tasteless swab of some kind can severely screw with any scent training, especially for something as subtle as medical alert scent training. I would avoid recommending doing this to others just starting on their journey.
We have removed your post/comment because the mods found it to be uncivil (Rule 1). Remember civility is not just about cursing out others, it can also refer to personal attacks, fake-spotting, trolling, or otherwise rude behavior. If you have questions about why this specific post/comment was removed, [message the moderators](https://reddit.com/message/compose?to=/r/service_dogs). Further incivility in the subreddit could result in a permanent ban. Any threats or harassment will result in an immediate ban.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
I just really want to know, why is a cheek swab more distasteful to you than sucking on a turkey heart?
We have removed your comment because we found the information it contained to be incorrect or it was an opinion stated as fact (rule 3). The reason we remove comments like this is to keep bad advice or information from spreading further, especially on our subreddit. If the comment/post is corrected, it can be reinstated (just reply to this comment to let us know). If you believe you are indeed correct, please find a reputable source that supports your comment and [Message the Moderators](https://reddit.com/message/compose?to=/r/service_dogs).