DS Trait or Individual Quirk

[ladyjubilee]

I've mentioned that Bramble detects my son's migraines before I can see the signs. The other day in training Bramble was in a down stay and suddenly started shaking, wasn't being timid or ultra submissive, just shaking. The trainer was explaining it sometimes happens during training when a dog is challenged by a task, but we both noted the behaviour. I looked up at my son and found he was also shaking, as an ongoing medical issue has struck. We addressed his issue, and both stopped shaking.....and training proceeded normally. ((We don't really know exactly why Bramble was shaking. Could have been the conflict of down stay vs need to alert. She hasn't been trained to refuse yet.))

My question is, does your DS know when you are sick or have a medical issue? Is it a byproduct of the shepherd alertness and need to distinguish differences to recognize threats?

[ladyjubilee]

I think most dogs have a "compassion" for their humans, but supposed only about 20% of dogs alert. I wonder if DS are being overlooked as service dogs if it is a breed trait.

[ladyjubilee]

While we were still deciding if we could keep her . It took us about a month to understand what she was doing and make the connection. At the time he was having at least 3 a week. I finally connected the dots on a day she absolutely refused to leave his room to go out to the bathroom. I forced her to go, then within the hour he had the signs of a full migraine. That's when we connected her "odd" position and determination with his migraines.

He hasn't had a siezure since before we got her, so I'm not sure if she would alert or not.

[ladyjubilee]

I'm not sure what she senses. Some people think they smell a chemical change, others say they see a change in expression.

Don't know how she does it. but I'm thankful she does.

[Laplaiefier]

I'm not sure what she senses. Some people think they smell a chemical change, others say they see a change in expression.
Don't know how she does it. but I'm thankful she does.

I'm fairly certain its both. I picked ours from his unusual perception of everything around him. Dogs over a time know when you are not well mostly by how you act. Chemical reactions in the body precedes everything.
Ours knows if you are a drug addict or not, knows when someone has hung around outside for a while, knows when a cat is in the yard outside, knows when I have a migraine and knows when my wife has taken her medicine. Some people he just absolutely does not like for who knows why, just by smell.
I trust his judgement.

[ladyjubilee]

How far in advance of visible symptoms can he detect the migraines?

[Laplaiefier]

How far in advance of visible symptoms can he detect the migraines?

Thats iffy. Is he just observing that something isn't right because of my reactions to his barking, is he actually detecting something wrong by my scent or is he smelling the same thing that gives me migraines and is just looking for it.
It took years to figure out what chemical was giving me migraines and its odorless in its pure form.

[ladyjubilee]

Bramble can tell 1-3 hours before we can see the signs. Ever time she has done the "signal" behavior, he has had a migraine.

My son's migraines started after (successful) brain surgery. Or at least that it's when we could first see them.