Training Plan for Seizure Alert

Alert Behavior:  gentle, but persistent tug at my clothing

Cue:  presentation of seizure scent odor activates the tug; "Thank You" (Retrieve release cue) ends the behavior

Comebefores:

• Target L1 Step 4 Comeafter
• Lily removed clothing
• Target  L2
• Retrieve  L3
• Left Side/Right Side (Steps to Service)
• LL   L1 - 4
• SDW

Step 1:  Nose target clothing
     a) Twofers
     b) Nudge clothing

Step 2: Carefully take clothing in mouth

Step 3: Gently tug on clothing
Step 4: Add a temporary verbal cue:  Poke
Step 5: Introduce captured seizure scent
Step 6: Build in duration and perseverence

• "New cue (scent)/ Old cue (verbal)/ Get Behavior/ Reward"
• Drop old cue.  
• Present scent.  Dog tugs clothing.
• Hide scent on body.  Dog tugs clothing.

Modification:  The modified alerting behavior will be a demanding, persistent, attention-getting nose Touch on my torso.  "Carefully take clothing in mouth" was very challenging for Lily to accomplish without occasionally catching my skin and that caused me to re-think the behavior.  The plan now eliminates Steps 2 and 3.  LS 6/27/2012

Comeafters: (generalize after completion of each step)

• Lily performs the behavior in the following circumstances:
• left side or right side
• Lynn seated, standing, reclining, moving
• vested and not vested
• daylight or in the dark
• in any location
• leashed and off leash
• in the midst of distractions
• people
• other dogs
• (same Comeafter criterion as other Levels behaviors)
• in the presence of her own worst nightmare!