I think I sent you a birthday greeting to "Ida"....Hope you don't mind getting 2 ;)

Greetings A D for D....
Best Wishes on your Special Day....and on the next 364 days!
How's it all going? Do you have any questions or comments?

Happy Birthday! I hope it is a great one.

He will sit with me for about 5 min but comes up for loving all the time and plays with me every night. What scent do you use. That is what I don't understand. He is very aware of me. Goes to the bathroom when I go for shower and every other step I take. He just likes to be near me to lie down or just rest. Not a lap dog. He is real aware of what is happening with me. I got a URI and coughed a bit and he was very observant if I coughed. Would wake up and watch me. Loves everyone but will only sit with anyone a short time. I appreciate the info and would like to see if I could teach him. I can't afford two dogs. I just don't understand the training. Is there a book or any literature?

What type of training do you do to make them aware of lows? Do I put off a different scent when I'm low? My dog is weird about me. Doesn't want to be away from me but doesn't like to be in my lap or sitting with me. He wants to be near me but not on me. He's always been independent as long as I'm nearby. Did not even cry the first night and he was still living with his parents and siblings. Brave until I'm gone. I've wondered if scent of insulin or other meds in my body is reason he doesn't like to get in my lap. I've only had one life threatening low so I'm not in immediate need. I figured out the problem and fixed it and put resources in place for emergency. Just interested for future.

More on my ShihTzu - ran out of room..
I take him in the car a lot. He is a bit confused I think as he spent his first year in a doggie car seat but outgrew it. He would hop into the car and into the carseat. Now, on a trip he rides in a small crate seat belted in the front seat. At home, he just hops in and wants to stand but I have not stopped making him sit. It is a battle I've yet to win. A constant making him sit. I think it's confusion from his first year in the seat. He seems like once he learns one thing, it causes anxiety if I change it. He has now begun to cry a bit and pant in the car just riding to the store or park. If it's not the confusion then I have no clue. I am leaving soon for a trip and he will be kenneled for 2.5 weeks. I'm hoping this will help him to be away from me and that he'd adapt and get through some of the anxiety but who knows what it will do. I just feel that this being upset might mean he could not concentrate as a service dog. What do you think? Also, if you have a clue about the anxiety, please advise. I know it has something to do with being with me all the time and for the most part - only me or excitement in the car.
Thanks, Karla.

My dog is a 3 yr old ShihTzu, plenty smart enough and is well trained for the most part. Because we live alone with just each other, he is spoiled in some areas but he is not allowed to get away with anything improper, annoying or what might be considered inappropriate. I used a lot of Cesar Milan's methods of training him to sit, stay, this and that and he went through a few months of slight aggresion at around 4 mo plus. I used Cesar's method of breaking him and so I'm fairly good with training him. He is my 3rd ShihTzu so I know the breed. However, he has some anxiety problems. I'm not sure about that part and if it would keep him from being always available to do his service work. I am disabled, so I've never gotten up daily to go to a job. Due to this, if I leave him without crating him, he get's absolutely beside himself. He pants so hard, he is wet from the mouth down his chest and legs.

Hi, I knew there was such a thing as a dog that would alert for lows but really have never heard much about this. Is that the only alert and are they for children or anyone with hypo unawareness or are they for other alerts also? I just would like to know more about them as this is new to me so if you could tell me what they do, what training is required and also what certification they need or if you could direct me to a place to read about them, I'd be appreciative. I have a dog but he is not a proper dog for this training. However, with the much better control I've gotten since starting on a pump 10 mo ago, I have developed some unawareness and would like to at least know what new things are out there. I just never heard of this until I found the group today and accidentally joined.
Karla

what you do is AMAZING! I hope to someday get a dog as it would help a bunch since i am alone alot.thank you for accepting my friend request :)

what a wonderful thing you do :).I'm looking into getting one in MA but trying to find resources and such :).great to meet you!

Welcome to the rabble!!

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Thank you very much for the welcome I hope to learn a lot on this site

Welcome to our really big family!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!