How to Train a One Way Alert to Service Dogs (hearing and medical alert dogs)

Learn how to train your service dog to alert you to sounds (hearing alerts) and do diabetic and other medical alerts.
Note the star (*) indicates when the clicker marks the behavior.

Note that barking is not a behavior that is desirable for an alert behavior for assistance dogs. In public is is disruptful and is only used for emergencies to call attention to a person that needs help.

Look for our two way alert video and check out a detailed 'how to' description on our blog:
http://viassistancedogs.blogspot.com/...

Provided to you by Vancouver Island Assistance Dogs. Nanaimo, BC

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[carmenbuit]

These same steps could be used to train the dog to alert you (if you're hearing impaired) when someone is at the door, right? Just replace the buzzer with a knock, the distance work would focus on the handler being in other parts of the house, and you'd need an assistant for that part. Thank you. Your videos -- and training -- are fabulous.

[Donna Hill]

Yes! You got it!

[midnitexvz]

Also is it crucial that only one location is used for the alert indication.... or can the dog use whatever part of the body. She tends to use both of my knees which ever is closer or sometimes my arm if im laying down.

[Donna Hill]

What ever works for you that the dog understands. In the beginning I would teach one knee then teach the other so she knows you want her to be flexible. If they are not available, then your arm after. It depends where you think is more accessible to her generally? Where does she do most of her alerts-with you standing or laying down?

[Donna Hill]

Start with the one that she will use more commonly, build skill with that before training the other area. That way if she can't get to the ideal one, then she will be persistent to get another one.

[midnitexvz]

Thank you..... I would love to be in touch with you to ask quesyions when im stuck. Trainers here ask for $150us an hour and I can not afford this on disability (im 100% deaf but I can talk) on the 2 paws, its mainly when she misses the mark with one paw....I restate the alert word and she will either paw again or use 2 paws, also to answer ur other question I am asking for a paw....since a nose wont wake me up or get my attention as well as a paw... (push and claw lol)

[Donna Hill]

Fine. It's easier to get me on facebook.

[misskatemonsterful]

I am training something similar. I was wondering if you would be able to help me think through how to handle the extinction process. I am training Calamity to bring me my phone when it rings. She has learned to bring the phone on cue ("get it") nearby and we have started to pair the ringing phone with the cue. Now she will get the phone when it rings BUT also when it's not cued. She will keep shoving it at me even if I don't take it. She's used to offering behaviors in a training session.

[Donna Hill]

What are you using as a indication behavior? If it is a paw touch, if the paw touch doesn't hit the mark, then that is not correct. If she uses two paws and one is your criteria,only you can decide if you will accept that!

[Donna Hill]

The rule of thumb is when the dog gets to an 80% accuracy or better, it's time to ask for more. Decide what your criteria is and stick to it. If the nose touching is part of it, then not touching the nose means that repetition was incorrect. So if the dog does that 3 times out of 10, the dog is not ready to move to the next step yet.