Almost 2 years later I am here to report what seems like a partial success. We almost gave up Mischka's training when we realized that she doesn't see low BG smell on Kirez as something abnormal. But we would, every now and then, call her when he was low and make a deal of her knowing that this situations are not normal and need attention ( Read more... )

I didn't write in a while ( Read more... )

Mischka seems to really dislike the smell of low blood sugar scent samples. I don't know how to explain it, but the lower the BG I made sample with, the more negative reaction she has to them. She does smell them and will do what I ask (alert), but her facial expressions (can I use this for a dog?) and body language says how much she hates the ( Read more... )

Today we had a training session with a trainer, and we've learned a lot. Mischka showed herself from the very best side :) She was very responsive and obedient ( Read more... )

We got lucky and were able to make 3 samples with low blood sugar scent (at 56 mg/dl). To make samples, when Kirez was low I gave him cotton swabs to chew on, and when they were completely soaked with saliva, we put them in double Ziploc bags, marked with date and BG number, and then froze. Yesterday I thawed one of the samples and today we started ( Read more... )

We decided that the 'Paw' command will be the best for Alert after all. Training is in progress. It seems that Mischka has already made a connection between 'Alert' command and the action of pawing me (or Kirez). But we still have long ways to go ( Read more... )

We have been entertaining this idea for a while, and I think last night I found what we need to make it real. Mischka is to become a DAD - Diabetic Alert Dog.

I know it will be a long journey and not an easy one, but I believe that with the help of this forum we will succeed.

I want to document our progress and that's where we start:

Mischka is a ( Read more... )

One of my favorite memories from Siberian winter is walking in the dark, listening to the crispy snow under my feet and looking at big fluffy snowflakes in the cones of light from the streetlamps.

Tonight rain in the light of streetlamps looks almost like snow :)

We landed in Atlanta early morning of the 3rd of July ( Read more... )

I received it today in mail - my Permanent Resident Card ( Read more... )