Ron and Vicki Santo Diabetic Alert Dog Foundation

10/16/2026

🚻 WHAT?! Training in the restroom?!

Well, yeah! 😂

Public access training means preparing for ALL the places a service dog may need to accompany their handler. Even the restroom!

Learning to navigate tight spaces, stay close, and remain calm in unusual environments with unusual sounds are all part of the job.

Because real-life training happens everywhere! 🐕‍🦺

10/13/2026

🎃🐾 Duke's Getting into the Halloween Spirit! 👻

Duke found himself in a pretty interesting place today with a very cool colorful picture spot! 🎃

For our future service dogs, training isn't just about learning cues. It's also about experiencing new sights, sounds, and environments at a pace that's comfortable for each dog.

Every new experience is another opportunity to learn and grow! ❤️🐾

10/12/2026

🚙 ROAD TRIP! 🐾

Russ says, “Another successful training trip in the books! Now, where are we going next?” 😂

This handsome boy is all smiles after a great day of learning, exploring, and practicing his skills! Every new experience is another step toward becoming an amazing service dog. 🐕‍🦺

And judging by that happy face, Russ thinks this whole training adventure is pretty awesome!

10/12/2026

Service dogs have important jobs, but that doesn't mean they work every moment of every day. 🐕‍🦺 What the public sees is only a small part of a service dog's life. There's also time for playing, exploring, resting, family, and simply being a dog. Take a look at our newest blog post about the off-duty side of life with a diabetic alert dog.

Diabetic alert dogs have important jobs, but they need time to rest, play, explore, and simply be dogs. Learn why downtime is part of a healthy working life.

10/11/2026

🐾 Training for the Unexpected! 🐾

What's going on above your head, Rome? 📚🐕

Service dogs need to be comfortable with all kinds of activity happening around them, even when it doesn't involve them!

Here, Rome is practicing staying calm while his trainer moves books above his head, creating movement and noise in an unusual place.

He's also learning that people can move close to him without needing his attention or interaction.

It's these little training experiences that help build a confident, adaptable service dog who's ready for everyday life! ❤️🐾

10/01/2026

Hey, look what we found at Dick’s Sporting Goods! 🐾

A set of bleachers turned into the perfect little training opportunity for Kip. Different textures under his feet, new sounds as he moved across them, and small spaces to navigate.

No problem for Kip! 💙

Training experiences can pop up in all kinds of places. Sometimes the best opportunities are the ones you weren’t even looking for. 🐾

10/01/2026

Bolt says he’s been training hard, and now it’s time for a well-earned break! 🐾😎

He found himself a nice, cool spot in the shade to relax… and honestly, it’s almost like it was made just for him. 😂💙

10/01/2026

Halloween decorations can look pretty strange through a dog’s eyes! 🎃👻

We introduce unusual decorations from a comfortable distance, giving the dog time to look, process, and decide that everything is okay.

Calm and confident? Treat and celebrate! 🐾
A little uncertain? Create more distance and try again.

The goal isn’t to see how close we can get. It’s to build confidence with little to no fear response. Distance is one of our best training tools.

And this guy? He was pleased, curious, and ready to walk right up and investigate! 💙

09/23/2026

Service dog training is about preparing for real life. 🐾

Here, Buddy is practicing walking calmly alongside a rolling suitcase. The movement, sound, and close proximity of something unfamiliar can all be part of learning to navigate busy public environments with confidence.

Airports, hotels, stores, and travel all bring different sights, sounds, and objects. Experiences like this help Buddy learn that he can stay focused on his handler even when the environment around him changes.

It may look simple, but these little training moments add up to a well-prepared service dog. ❤️

09/11/2026

Learning on Both Ends 🐾

Teaching a diabetic alert dog to alert a child is a process, and there is a lot of learning happening on both ends.

Watch closely and you'll see the dog briefly touch his nose to the child. Right now it's subtle, but as he becomes more comfortable working with the child, that touch will develop into the deliberate nudge we want for an alert.

You'll also notice the child move their hands away at times. That's understandable. The child is learning too and has to become comfortable with a dog intentionally coming into their space and touching them.

But we also have to be careful. If the child continually pulls away, the dog can begin to interpret that as, “They don't want me touching them,” and may eventually stop attempting to alert them.

There's another important moment that's easy to miss. The dog looks toward the adult sitting nearby as if to say, “I smell something. Do I tell you?” Then he quickly reorients back to the child.

Our dogs first learn the mechanics of alerting by nudging an adult. When the dog is being trained for a child, they then have to learn that this child is the person I need to tell.

And children move! 😊 Now the dog has another problem to solve: Do I alert the familiar adult, or do I follow this moving little person and alert them?

That's a lot of work for a dog.

Diabetic alert training isn't simply teaching a dog to recognize a scent. It's teaching the dog who to communicate that information to, while also teaching the child how to receive and respond to that communication.

Sometimes, they have to learn together. 🐕‍🦺❤️