Getting a new diabetic alert dog - Willow and Sandman

Willow and their new diabetic alert dog are learning how to work as a team. Sandman came from Indianapolis Animal Care and Control. He was selected by Medical Mutts because of his social and easy-going temperament. He stayed at the training facility for many months of training where he learned over 30 different behaviors. He needed to learn how to be very well behaved in public, walk on a leash without pulling, and settle down in all sorts of settings. He also needed to learn how to react to the smell of a change in glucose levels so that he could help a person with type 1 diabetes.
For Willow, this was also a learning journey. Managing a service dog and keeping up all the trained behaviors is not easy at first and takes time and practice. The first months of getting a service dog can be a lot of work before the dog can truly make a positive difference. The dog must adapt to their new life with a new person, a new environment, and a different schedule and that can be stressful at first. The person also needs to get used to having a dog everywhere and in all sorts of settings.
Willow and Sandman connected immediately and will be a great team over time. Sandman will be looking after Willow and in return will get the care and love that he deserves.

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