Loved ones of people with epilepsy often worry about what might happen when they're not watching. Some are afraid to let their children sleep alone, concerned that a seizure could occur during the night without anyone noticing. Others struggle with the uncertainty of never knowing when the next episode might happen.

Specially trained service dogs can provide another layer of support. These dogs may learn to recognize signs associated with seizures, alert caregivers and perform tasks that help keep their handlers safe.

Shelley Walker, who owns a Dog Training Elite franchise in Florida, has helped families dealing with these concerns. Through her work, she's seen how much having a trained service dog can mean to someone with epilepsy.

"I see these families come in, and they didn't choose this," Walker said. “But I also see the peace return to their lives as they go through the training process with us. We take them through every step, constantly sending videos of what we're teaching their dogs so they can learn and practice it themselves. You can see the difference it makes. You can see them begin to have hope again.”

November is National Epilepsy Awareness Month, and Dog Training Elite is raising awareness about how specially trained service dogs can help people living with seizures and provide greater peace of mind to their families.

How Seizure Service Dogs Are Trained

Seizure alert and seizure response dogs have different responsibilities. Some dogs appear able to recognize scent changes associated with an approaching seizure, although reliable seizure prediction isn't guaranteed. Response dogs are trained to perform specific tasks during or after an episode.

That training involves much more than teaching a dog to recognize a potential seizure.

"The first thing we want to do is teach the dog to detect and recognize the scent," Walker said. “When they smell that particular scent, they need to know what to do. The next step is teaching them how to alert the person or their caregiver that a seizure may be coming so they can take the necessary precautions.”

Once the dog learns an alert behavior, training focuses on helping the handler or caregiver respond appropriately. Dogs may also be taught to retrieve medication, activate an emergency alarm or provide comforting pressure after a seizure.

Walker described one client who lives alone and whose dog learned to activate an alarm when he experiences a seizure. The dog can also retrieve medication, providing assistance when nobody else is immediately available.

Helping Families Find Peace Again

Walker has met parents who are so concerned about nighttime seizures that they sleep beside their children to monitor them. She recalled one mother whose 8-year-old son had recently lost his father. While he was grieving, the mother allowed him to sleep in her bed, where she discovered he was experiencing seizures during the night. These experiences have shaped Walker's commitment to service dog training.

"These families are desperate. They just want help, and they're asking, 'Can this dog help me?'" Walker said. “That's why I do what I do. These dogs are so smart, and they're capable of doing amazing things. We just have to teach them how to communicate with us, how to speak human.”

Families are part of the training, too. Dog Training Elite sends them videos of what their dogs are learning and shows them how to practice at home. Parents often take on a bigger role when their children are too young to work directly with the dog.

Walker looks for dogs with strong scenting abilities, reliable temperaments and the willingness to work consistently. Her preferred breeds include Labrador retrievers, golden retrievers, Portuguese water dogs, standard poodles and shepherds. However, she has also seen unexpected breeds succeed because of their relationship with their handlers.

"Sometimes a dog will surprise me, especially when it's a breed I wouldn't normally choose," Walker said. "I have a client with a coonhound, and who would have thought a coonhound would make a good seizure alert dog? They love to follow scents, but they also tend to be more interested in having fun than working. Yet this dog has done very well. There are always exceptions to every rule."

Understanding the Commitment

A seizure service dog isn't a cure for epilepsy, and families still need to follow their doctor's treatment plan. They also have to keep up with training, even if seizures become less frequent.

Walker recalled working with a young boy who went four months without a seizure after starting medication. That was good news for his family, but it also meant the dog had fewer chances to recognize a seizure and practice its response. The family needed to continue training so the dog would be prepared if another seizure occurred.

"It's going to be hard work. Be committed," Walker said. “But also, working together as a team is so important.”

Walker hopes National Epilepsy Awareness Month encourages more families to explore the assistance service dogs may provide.

"We can't cure the disease. I wish we could. I wish the dogs could. But we can help and provide that hope," she said.

Learn more about service dog training at https://dogtrainingelite.com/.

To find out more information about franchising with Dog Training Elite, please visit https://1851franchise.com/dogtrainingelite.