A few of you had some interest in the scent wheel I brought into class. I have decided to add an additional bonus to your Diabetic Alert Dog Training Program by providing you with all the information you will need to create yourself a scent wheel. Scent Wheels can increase pavlovian responses and drive to search in your dog. Its also a great way to test whether or not your dog is actually responding to your low blood sugar scent or to the smell of your food.
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Supplies You Will Need To Make Your Diabetic Alert Class Scent Wheel:
1. Solid wood circular cutout (the one in the photo is about 18 inches in diameter)
2. Drill
3. Phillips drill head
4. Small drill bit
5. Tape measure
6. Lazy Susan
7. 16 – 3/8 inch or smaller screws (anything longer and you might pierce through the wooden board)
8. 6 scent sample containers
9. 6 dog food cans that are all of the same size, brand and type of food
10. Goo Gone goo remover
11. Rubber gloves
12. Towel or rags
Instructions For Making A Diabetes Alert Dog Trainer Training Scent Wheel
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Step 1. Clean the left over glue that held the label onto the can with the goo remover and towel/rag. You dont have to use the rubber gloves but I do because I am very scent sensitive.
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Step 2. Place the lazy susan into the center of the board and screw it down with 4 of your screws
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Step 3. Drill 2 holes into the bottoms of each can
Step 4. Mark out six equidistant spots on the top side of the wooden board for placement of the cans
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Step 5. Use the screws to secure the cans, one by one, onto the wooden board
Step 6. Drill 2-5 holes in the top of the 6 sample containers (the ones from Week 1s video) all in the same location on each container top.
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Step 7. Start using your scent wheel with only one scent sample container inside the cans. Click and reward your dog for putting their nose near the scent sample container.
Step 8. Once your dog is proficient with finding the diabetic alert scent sample container in only 1 can, add another scent container to your scent wheel that has just cotton in it. Click and reward your dog for finding the container with the scent sample in it.
Step 9. Repeat step 8 until you have a dog who can find the one low blood sugar scent sample from among the 6 containers
Step 10. Repeat step 9 about 30 times, then move onto getting your dog to locate the low blood sugar sample among the 5 remaining containers that have cotton that is soaked in normal blood sugar spit.
