For the price of ?150 I think I may have added a couple of years to my life!

[bennyg70]

Ok, so Not just a ?150, but lots of love fuss, and care + monthly outgoings. However as I took out my furry faced little friend last night, I wondered to my self. This could be one hell of a good thing for me and my health.

We bought our little mutt about 2 months ago now. Since then, I take him out for a walk a minimum of 3 nights a week walking (The OH or step son, take him the others Dont worry) for 45 mins +, and at the weekend we take him on long strolls for 1.5 hours + at a time.

In those two months, I have seen my BP improve further, my insulin sensitivity become better, and my fasting bgs the morning after a walk even better & general ons improve. I have shed a further 1 stone also. Surely in the long run, I could potentially be added a couple of years on to my life!! He also brings us lots of joy and happiness to the house hold which is also a great thing for me mentally!

Im sure this is a naive veiw, as he is only a puppy, and touch wood, we have had no health issues etc with him yet, which Im sure wont be so good for the stress levels, but as things stand so far I really think Ive doubled up on the advantages of buying a dog!

Everyone - meet bailey 🙂

 

[AJLang]

Bailey looks absolutely gorgeous. My Susie has been very good for my health

 

[MeganN]

Aww hello bailey.

We have a Lucy 🙂 can't get a pic of her to upload though.

 

[Phil65]

Ok, so Not just a ?150, but lots of love fuss, and care + monthly outgoings. However as I took out my furry faced little friend last night, I wondered to my self. This could be one hell of a good thing for me and my health.

We bought our little mutt about 2 months ago now. Since then, I take him out for a walk a minimum of 3 nights a week walking (The OH or step son, take him the others Dont worry) for 45 mins +, and at the weekend we take him on long strolls for 1.5 hours + at a time.

In those two months, I have seen my BP improve further, my insulin sensitivity become better, and my fasting bgs the morning after a walk even better & general ons improve. I have shed a further 1 stone also. Surely in the long run, I could potentially be added a couple of years on to my life!! He also brings us lots of joy and happiness to the house hold which is also a great thing for me mentally!

Im sure this is a naive veiw, as he is only a puppy, and touch wood, we have had no health issues etc with him yet, which Im sure wont be so good for the stress levels, but as things stand so far I really think Ive doubled up on the advantages of buying a dog!

Everyone - meet bailey 🙂

Lovely looking dog! I have a 'massive' golden retriever ...he is getting on a bit, 12 in march....but lovely!

 

[bennyg70]

Hes quickly becoming a best mate, and settling into life in the house! Hes a pomeranian cross cocker spaniel. A cockeranian!

 

[Steff]

Ahh cute lil bailey

I've got a hairy mutt here he could hang bout with

 

[Ellie Jones]

He's a cutie indeed...

Wouldn't be without my two, and we can count how many years they've added to my hubby's life (he's T1 as well).. As it's 2 years 1 month and 3 days since they saved Les's life...

They were awarded the PDSA Gold Medal at the end of October, you can read their story on the pdsa website.

We didn't specifically train either Ellie or Jones to detect our hypo's, it's something that they natural decided to do, But Bailey is a pup, and with spaniel in him (spaniel's make brilliant sniffer dogs) it might be worth seeing if you can train him up to detect hypo's...

Not over difficult..

Select a treat that he sees as high value... Say piece of chicken or another type of meat..

You only give him this treat when you'll hypo and at no other time...

What you do, is every time you take a BG reading call him to you, offer the back of your hand for him to sniff.. Take your BG test, if your BG is low give him a treat. If it's not then offer him a fuss.

Over time, he will associate your meter as a possible treat, then he hopefully will pick up on, a certain odour your low blood glucose or body language you give/use when your BG's are low signals a high value treat... so he's start letting you know, one is owed!

I two started to detect our hypo's and tried to warn us, before we instigated any treats for them... But now they either nag to get our meters out, or if we get them out they are waiting at our sides for their fuss.

 

[Phil65]

He's a cutie indeed...

Wouldn't be without my two, and we can count how many years they've added to my hubby's life (he's T1 as well).. As it's 2 years 1 month and 3 days since they saved Les's life...

They were awarded the PDSA Gold Medal at the end of October, you can read their story on the pdsa website.

We didn't specifically train either Ellie or Jones to detect our hypo's, it's something that they natural decided to do, But Bailey is a pup, and with spaniel in him (spaniel's make brilliant sniffer dogs) it might be worth seeing if you can train him up to detect hypo's...

Not over difficult..

Select a treat that he sees as high value... Say piece of chicken or another type of meat..

You only give him this treat when you'll hypo and at no other time...

What you do, is every time you take a BG reading call him to you, offer the back of your hand for him to sniff.. Take your BG test, if your BG is low give him a treat. If it's not then offer him a fuss.

Over time, he will associate your meter as a possible treat, then he hopefully will pick up on, a certain odour your low blood glucose or body language you give/use when your BG's are low signals a high value treat... so he's start letting you know, one is owed!

I two started to detect our hypo's and tried to warn us, before we instigated any treats for them... But now they either nag to get our meters out, or if we get them out they are waiting at our sides for their fuss.

Brilliant!

 

[bennyg70]

That is absolutley fascinating!!

He pretty quick, i may give that a go!! Thanks, and Ill have a read on the pdsa website!

 

[robofski]

My dog needs exactly 3 laps of the coffee table and that's her exercise for the day! So I don't think she's helped with my exercise but she does help with stress 🙂

Meet Pixie and my hand for scale

 

[AlisonM]

Bailey and Pixie both look adorable. Sigh. I do miss my Jack Russel, Judy, she was great company and used to spot hypos for me. She wasn't trained to do it but somehow learned on her own and would wake me by standing on my tummy and howling. She'd wake the rest of the street as well. 😱

 

[mum2westiesGill]

Hello Bailey! Meet Whisky 🙂

 

[MeganN]

If I train my Labrador to detect hypos can I then get her a medic alert tabard to wear so she can go everywhere with me??? Like an assistance dog? 🙂