Instructions
Select a dog with a calm demeanor. Not all dogs can work effectively as seizure dogs. The Epilepsy Foundation reports that perhaps one in ten dogs will be able to detect seizures and warn potential victims. There is no evidence to indicate which breed is best at detecting the onset of a seizure, but researchers in the field agree that calm, quiet dogs will likely be more able to detect the upcoming seizure than their playful and boisterous counterparts.
Pair the dog with the seizure sufferer. A seizure sufferer and seizure dog must become a closely related pair. The dog will not be able to detect seizures if he is not in tune with the seizure sufferer. To increase the likelihood of the match being a successful one, the seizure sufferer should take great care to bond with his partner dog, spending time with him and developing as close a relationship as he possibly can.
Reward the dog with a treat after each seizure that the partner suffers. By rewarding the dog after a seizure, you draw the dog's attention to the event. While it may seem cruel to reward a dog for a partner's misfortune, this is the only way to begin to train the dog to recognize the seizure as an event of importance.
Watch the dog carefully. After the dog becomes accustomed to receiving his treat after his partner suffers a seizure, he may begin to ask for the treat prior to this event. When the dog detects the onset of a seizure, he may beg, head over to the treat storage area or bark. Look for these signs, as they can be an indication that the individual is going to suffer a seizure soon after.
Work with the seizure patient to help him recognize the seizure signs that his dog begins to give off. Once you have identified the signs, help the patient identify them himself so that he can use them as a warning tool. With this warning, the seizure sufferer can lie down, stop engaging in a dangerous activity, or move away from a potentially hazardous area prior to suffering the debilitating seizure.
Modify the partnership if the duo proves not to be well matched. Not all partnerships will work. After giving the match time, modify the pairing if it does not prove effective.
How to Teach a Dog to Pick Up on Seizures
Individuals who suffer from epilepsy or other seizure disorders have to contend with seizures that can occur without warning or provocation. Some in the field of seizure research tout a relatively new seizure response program involving pairing seizure sufferers with specially trained dogs. With the help of these dogs, seizure sufferers can receive advanced warning that they are about to have a seizure and adjust their activity or location accordingly, possibly saving them some injury or embarrassment.