Sense of Smell & Training Make Service Dogs Life-saving Best Friends

Lubaroff was diagnosed with Type I diabetes when she was 9 months old, during a time when pig and sheep insulin was used for treatment. Over the years, she tried many other options, like glucose-monitoring meters and diet management.

But nothing was able to regulate her blood sugar and prevent fluctuations that could cause her to pass out and possibly slip into a coma. Then, 10 years ago, Jackson came into her life.

Jackson is a service dog that can smell fluctuations in Lubaroff’s blood-sugar level and alert her.

All dogs have a sense of smell that experts say is 10,000 to 100,000 times stronger than humans. Many can be trained to react to odors, including drugs, bombs, cadavers and high- and low-glucose levels.

At Canine Partners for Life, puppies that show potential are placed in homes where they are socialized and learn basic good citizenship.

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