Available Diabetic Alert Dogs
Currently I do not have any Diabetic Alert Dogs available. From September 2019-September 2020 I am studying in Belfast Northern Ireland and will be training a Working Cocker Spaniel to potentially be a DAD, or another type of working dog. If no updates are made, the next Diabetic Alert Dog will begin training in September 2020 and will hopefully be available early Fall of 2021. Thank you for your patience!
Franklyn's Four Roses
(call name: Franklyn)
Status: SHE'S BEEN MATCHED!
Graduation: August 2019

Franklyn is a Comfort Retriever® (miniature Golden Retriever) born on May 11, 2018, estimated to be about 30-35 pounds.
She began her training at 8 weeks old and alerts to low blood sugars (under 80 mg/dl) and high blood sugars (above 180 mg/dl).
Franklyn accompanies me at the University of Pennsylvania, attending every class I do. She is a very happy and driven girl. She enjoys adventures and stimulation, a great trait for a service dog.
Frankyn was temperament tested twice at 7 weeks old and will be ready to be placed in August or September of 2019.
The first criteria is that the handler is within driving distance of either Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, or Lexington, Kentucky, so that we can have training sessions together every few weeks to ease Franklyn into her new family. (You are welcome to apply for Franklyn if you are not within driving distance but are willing to make many trips for transition training, as my goal is to find Franklyn the perfect match. But please keep in mind that priority will be those within driving distance.)
There is no age restriction for Franklyn's handler. In the past, LLL's DADs have been placed with children between 2 years and 15 years old. For young children, the age of the applicant is not nearly as important as their (and the parents') interactions. There is no minimum age and adults are welcome to apply as well.
My goal is for every team to be the best they can be, and for the dog to help both physically and emotionally. This is done through practice and education to improve their working relationship. In order to set a team up for success, I require that they attend at least 2 local dog training classes after placement. The classes can be for obedience, agility, or rally obedience, as any of these will be a beneficial, structured experience to help the team.
Franklyn is a Diabetic Alert Dog in training, however, if you have a different disability that causes dangerous glucose levels, please contact me as we may be able to work together if you need a dog to alert to low and/or high glucose levels. If you have another disability in addition to diabetes, that a service dog could help with, I may be able to train her to be dual purpose and am open to learning. A few examples would be allergen detection, hearing alert, etc.
Franklyn is registered with AKC's Canine Partners and is able to compete in many AKC events. She has received two legs (qualifying scores) at AKC competitions - one leg is towards her Beginner Novice obedience title, and the other is towards her Rally Novice obedience title
Below are the steps to being matched with Franklyn:
1) Complete the Application
2) Online Course on how Diabetic Alert Dogs are trained and what they entail
3) In person meeting
4) Home visit.
5) Contract is signed and finalized.
6) Transition training with Franklyn, Franklyn will visit handler for a few weekends, and the team must pass the MD Dogs Public Access Test.
7) Final placement in the home
I'm happy to answer any questions you may have - libbyrockaway@gmail.com or (859) 553-9033.
Below are videos. The first is of Franklyn alerting to a low blood sugar. The others are previous DADs alerting or working the scent wheel.
She began her training at 8 weeks old and alerts to low blood sugars (under 80 mg/dl) and high blood sugars (above 180 mg/dl).
Franklyn accompanies me at the University of Pennsylvania, attending every class I do. She is a very happy and driven girl. She enjoys adventures and stimulation, a great trait for a service dog.
Frankyn was temperament tested twice at 7 weeks old and will be ready to be placed in August or September of 2019.
The first criteria is that the handler is within driving distance of either Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, or Lexington, Kentucky, so that we can have training sessions together every few weeks to ease Franklyn into her new family. (You are welcome to apply for Franklyn if you are not within driving distance but are willing to make many trips for transition training, as my goal is to find Franklyn the perfect match. But please keep in mind that priority will be those within driving distance.)
There is no age restriction for Franklyn's handler. In the past, LLL's DADs have been placed with children between 2 years and 15 years old. For young children, the age of the applicant is not nearly as important as their (and the parents') interactions. There is no minimum age and adults are welcome to apply as well.
My goal is for every team to be the best they can be, and for the dog to help both physically and emotionally. This is done through practice and education to improve their working relationship. In order to set a team up for success, I require that they attend at least 2 local dog training classes after placement. The classes can be for obedience, agility, or rally obedience, as any of these will be a beneficial, structured experience to help the team.
Franklyn is a Diabetic Alert Dog in training, however, if you have a different disability that causes dangerous glucose levels, please contact me as we may be able to work together if you need a dog to alert to low and/or high glucose levels. If you have another disability in addition to diabetes, that a service dog could help with, I may be able to train her to be dual purpose and am open to learning. A few examples would be allergen detection, hearing alert, etc.
Franklyn is registered with AKC's Canine Partners and is able to compete in many AKC events. She has received two legs (qualifying scores) at AKC competitions - one leg is towards her Beginner Novice obedience title, and the other is towards her Rally Novice obedience title
Below are the steps to being matched with Franklyn:
1) Complete the Application
2) Online Course on how Diabetic Alert Dogs are trained and what they entail
3) In person meeting
4) Home visit.
5) Contract is signed and finalized.
6) Transition training with Franklyn, Franklyn will visit handler for a few weekends, and the team must pass the MD Dogs Public Access Test.
7) Final placement in the home
I'm happy to answer any questions you may have - libbyrockaway@gmail.com or (859) 553-9033.
Below are videos. The first is of Franklyn alerting to a low blood sugar. The others are previous DADs alerting or working the scent wheel.
Videos of Franklyn
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Videos of Other LLL DADs
Above: Liberty, live alert to 80 mg/dL at 7 months old
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Above: Filly, Scent wheel discrimination
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Above: Filly, going through TSA checkpoint in the airport.
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Above: Filly, MD Dogs Public Access Test.
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