Diabetes Alert Dog Guide Transitional Home Program

Transitional Homes are volunteer households where at least one person has Type 1 Diabetes and is willing to bring home an adult dog nearing the completion of training for approximately 7-14 days. This is a vital step in the training process to test the in- training Diabetes Alert Dog Guides’ (DAD) ability to alert to live lows in a home environment. Dogs are fully trained and have completed extensive obedience training. This is a rare opportunity for volunteers to assist directly in the training of our dogs.

While in training at our facility, our Instructors use scent pots with donated saliva samples. This stage of training is limited in its ability to mimic a person experiencing a diabetic low. Providing a transitional home for DADs will allow for trialing of the dog’s reliability on the scent in real-life scenarios.

• A person in the household must have Type 1 Diabetes. This person must be willing to be the primary contact and be 18 years old or above.
• One week minimum of commitment to a dog full time in your home, ideal is longer if available.
• Ability to attend a few on-boarding sessions at our facility in Oakville and with an Instructor in your home. We will provide all the training for volunteers to work with our dogs independently at home.
• Responsibilities include feeding the dog (morning and evening), walking the dog 20 mins daily, taking the dog out in public or to work when possible, working on the dog’s alert behaviour to a diabetic low.
• Maintaining frequent communication with an Instructor to report on dog’s behaviour and skills while a dog is placed in the home and logging lows and alert behaviours.
• Must be willing to pick up and drop off dog at our Oakville facility at beginning and end of the dog’s transitional home stay.
• No other dog in the home, other pets are okay.
• Police record check completed.