My five year old daughter has Type 1 diabetes, which causes dangerously low drops in her blood sugar. She also has a condition called hypounawareness, which means that not only does she not feel when her blood sugar is low; she also shows absolutely none of the normal symptoms. She has had blood sugars that are quite literally ten minutes away from a coma and was still running around playing like nothing was wrong-extremely frightening and nerve wracking for a parent.

We spent nearly a year researching the miracles that are diabetes alert dogs- dogs that can detect subtle changes in blood sugar and alert us to them, often up to half an hour before they will even register on blood glucose meter. It was a daunting process, not only to learn everything about them and how to properly select one, but also because there are far too few places that supply them and of those who do, the majority are so expensive as to be completely out of reach.

I learned that with my background as a veterinary technician and former SPCA worker that my family would be a good candidate for self-training our own diabetes alert dog. The key to this, however, is to find a puppy service dog prospect that not only has been scent-imprinted but also has the best possible health and bloodlines to ensure a long and healthy life as a service dog. Also as important, is ensuring that the dog selected has the right temperament and personality for the work. I spent months interviewing possible breeders of diabetes alert dogs, and rejected eight breeders for various reasons before serendipity led me to Rebekah Wright.

Not only was she a dream come true as a responsible dog breeder, taking bloodlines, health checks, and the quality of her dogs into consideration, she was also a professional dog trainer and hypoglycemic herself. That meant that not only would her pups be scent imprinted on low blood sugars from a very early age, they would also be exposed to real-time low blood sugars on her, which only helped to reinforce their training. She answered all my questions not only with the answers I was looking for to reassure me that she was a knowledgeable breeder, but she answered them above and beyond, guiding me through the process and answering questions before it had even occurred to me to ask them. She gave me complete and total confidence that I would be getting the best possible diabetes alert dog prospect from her, and she was the very first to make me feel so comfortable throughout our long journey to find a service dog for my little girl.

Since Rebekah's own dog, the pup's mother, was a service dog as well, I left it up to Rebekah to select which pup from the litter would be the best match for our family. I wanted whichever pup had the best drive for the low blood sugar scent work and also had the temperament and personality to be a service dog for a young child.

I made the right decision in leaving the selection in Rebekah's capable hands. She put as much care and consideration in selecting the right pup for us as she would have if she was choosing one for herself. Just in time for my daughter's fifth birthday, our Australian Shepherd puppy named Fish arrived. Within his first three days here he alerted to my daughter's low blood sugar twice, and also alerted to a low blood sugar on another Type 1 child who was visiting our house for the day! This was when he was only a nine week old puppy!

He consistently alerts to her low blood sugars, running to me and waving his paw if her blood sugar drops below 100. He has also taken it upon himself to start alerting for high blood sugars- which I have not yet trained him for-and will come to me and whine to let me know that she's running high. He has woken me up at night to alert to a high blood sugar, and in the four months that we have had him my daughter has only had one dangerous low blood sugar.....and that was on a day we left him home.

His obedience and public access work has been just as remarkable as his scent work. I believe his even and easy going temperament in new situations is a direct result of Rebekah doing Army Bio Sensor conditioning on him as a young pup. He is utterly nonplussed whether it's a fire truck starting up next to him, marching in a parade with my daughter's Girl Scout troop, or waiting in line to see Santa at a busy mall. He is undoubtedly the smartest dog I've ever encountered and is the superstar of his obedience classes.

Rebekah has been with us every single day of the process, offering support, encouragement, and training advice. It is so comforting to know that if I have any questions or need advice about anything to do with Fish she is only a phone call or email away, happy and eager to help us make him the most successful service dog possible. Rebekah is absolutely genuine and sincere in her desire to help families struggling with diabetes by placing quality, well-bred puppies with the best possible foundation for service work, without the exorbitant price tag that many other places have.

Fish is a miracle, a heaven sent miracle with fur, and Rebekah is the angel that brought him to us.

~1/27/2012~

We had a wonderful opportunity to welcome an amazing puppy into our family in September 2011.  This puppy is no ordinary pet.  He was specifically flown across the country to live with and assist our five year old daughter.  She was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in May 2011.  After researching Service Dogs for Type 1 Diabetics, we contacted several organizations and breeders.  One of those calls made was to Rebekah Wright, owner of Highland Springs Breeders.  After speaking to Rebekah, my husband and I decided to purchase a puppy from her. 

Rebekah took the time to find the puppy that would best work for our family.  She paired us with an adorable Australian Shepherd.  As our new puppy was preparing for his departure east, Rebekah took the time to send us updates, pictures and videos of his progress.  Since he was scent imprinted, Rebekah offered to use our daughter’s real-time low blood sugars to continue working on scent.  We overnighted several of her lows so Rebekah could work with him.  She also asked us to name him so she could start teaching him to respond with called.  We let our daughter name him since he was her dog.  She called him, “Shadow”.  She said he was going to be her Shadow.

From the moment he arrived at our home, we have been very pleased with the results and progress of this amazing puppy.  Shadow knew our daughter’s scent, his name and was already puppy pad trained.  He had very few accidents in the house.  Within a couple of weeks, we had no more issues in this area as he discovered how to tell us he needed to go outside.  Yes, he is a puppy and does typical puppy things.  However, he has also alerted to our daughter’s blood sugar drops prior to her Continuous Glucose Monitor!  His first alert was within the first few days of his arrival.  We continue to be amazed with his alerts and ability to learn quickly.

We are continuously working to ensure that Shadow alerts to potentially dangerous blood sugar issues.  At the same time, we are striving to train him in the full capacity of a working service dog.  With a local trainer to help teach our puppy manners and continuous contact with Rebekah via phone, email and Facebook, we feel confident we made the correct decision in selecting Rebekah as our Service Dog’s Breeder. 

Sincerely,

J.   ~1/27/2012~