> Does any one know what kind of dogs make good companions? I have had
> epilepsy since I had an accident in 1973 and I have my own Apartment
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> Thanks much!
> JP
Seems quiet over the past week. I thought someone who had direct
experience would have posted by now...
I saw a talk ~8 years ago, by someone near Toronto Canada who
trained Seizure Alert Dogs and also pets for people who have had
either Strokes or other Mental conditions where an Assist dog could be
of help.
Since no one else replied so far, you could try search on Google
( http://google.com ?? ) and within that search on e.g.
epilepsy&assistdogs or seizures&alertdogs (I don't know what the
medical term might be that people might post with.) I had thought the
ones here were just called Seizure Alert Dogs.
Another place you could try--if there's a Local (to you) Chapter
of an Epilepsy Association, you could Phone them (you don't usually
have to be a member), and ask if they're aware of a Local Company or
Service they could tell you about **or Recommend*. The Latter would
be ideal if there's a company they've already had experience with, or
if they don't know of one, they might have *more contacts through
their business links who could get the information for them to pass on
to you.
Going through an organization like that might help too, as they
might be able to get access to something that might be less costly
than if you went out on your own to find one. From the talk I saw,
they can often take 6-12 months' training from basic szr. type pets
to more complicated ones. (One in film I saw, would wait for ~2-3
minutes and if the person didn't recover would run over and 'bonk' an
Alarm Button that would call someone at the Home? or nearby (who'd
have a key), to page help for the person. )
It seemed to me she had said Terriers, some types of Collies, and
possibly Spanials or Boxers? (a guess) were more amenable to the type
of service you might be looking for.
If you're not looking for e.g. the Full Control Pet, but more a
companion pet, that type could be younger, and wouldn't cost the
amount a fully trained Dog might cost.
But then I don't know the extent they'd be amenable to training (by
you) or if they might give the level of support you seemed to be
wondering about ? G./