Best of photos 2006 à 2010 (cliquez sur la photo de Thalie et ayko). 

« You are my evening star, every day we learn to understand each other »  

(Article écrit en 2007 traduit en Anglais par Valérie).

“They can help the blinds, deaths, and disabled in their daily life. Everyone or nearly has seen once a guide dog for the blinds. But the canines can do much more, at least some of them. Some people are trying to develop a new ability in some working dogs, to detect epileptic fit, and they could help the sick dealing with their disease.”

 After a professional accident in 2001, my life suddenly became different. I found myself one day to the other with health problems, and notably epilepsy that actual medicine can’t cure. The seizure happened without being able to put myself in safe place, and what a distress to wake up near a river, in a public garden, alone, in the cold, and not being able to call for help. Hearing the people walking by and who don’t see you or think that you’ve taken some forbidden products….

One day after a very big attack that scared me, I decided to take a dog. I took contact with some associations (Canada and Great-Britain) who train dog for the epileptics. I managed to get some information knowing that it was impossible to have a already trained dog in Switzerland.

After long thoughts about the breed that could suit me, my choice was on the Pyrenean Shepherd. Why? Simply because it matches with my nature and personality and the goal for me was, through my dog, to practice again some sports I had lost because of my illness.

I took contact with the Drayères breeding. I explained to the breeder I wanted to train my dog by myself. She gave me the possibility to choose between two puppets, because she had understood how the puppet character was important for the work he would have to learn.  I waited until the puppy grew up a little before I made my choice and at the 8^th week I went to get Ayko des Drayères. I want to thank her for believing in us.

At 9 weeks my dog started the socialization, I was applying all the advices from the guide dogs trainers gave me. When he was 10 weeks he lived his first attack. We were out, he came near me upset and he waited. The people around could see an excited puppy toward his owner, even the bikes had no more interest (which wasn’t the case a few minutes before).

Then he followed everywhere I was going, doctor…, and in all my activities. At this time the instructions for my family and friends were clear: in a seizure case, my dog couldn’t be taken away from me. I have been explained that he had to learn not to be scared or run. He had to learn, in this particular and stressful moment, that other people could touch me and take care of me so he would not defend me.  

Around 6 months old, he started to show a different behavior before the attacks. He didn’t want to obey, for example, outside his home. He didn’t want to leave the house or just on a short distance. If I was outside he was showing opposition until we get back.

When I had seizure in the woods, he was staying with me and if someone called him, he stayed around not to far so he could see me. He would not leave me.

One day, my dog started to bark in the car and scream like a wolf. He normally was very quiet. I stopped and then it was all black. Ayko knew something was going wrong before I was gone.

When he was 8 months old, I had a very big attack during a walk, I fell down in a small ravine. He had to deal with my condition, to go to my wife when she called him and bring her back to me. And then there was the police, the firemen, the ambulance and the noise from the helicopter. He was just great.  

We understood this day how useful he will be for me.  

Ayko is nearly 14 months old. We can go anywhere together, we have a prescription that allow us. He is able to show me, few hours before, that something is about to happen and that I must rest. Just before the seizure, he comes and annoys me with his paw and if it’s not enough, he barks so I can protect myself in a safe and quiet place.

Before an attack, he will refuse to leave the house with the car but at the opposite if we are out he will go straight to the car.

During the seizure, he licks me and stay close to me. The outside person can touch me without any problem. When I come back and open my eyes, he stops to lick me because he know that it’s normally forbidden.

Before he arrives home when I had an attack, people outside my close family, would be very sad. Now that I have my dog, witnesses of a seizure feel honoured to see how he acts with me. It allow the situation to be less dramatic.

For me the most important in our adventure, it’s that I regain self confidence. I can live with less fear and I discover new activities. I found herding (thank you Etienne). I starts running again with canicross. I can go alone without my family with me. Between my dog and a beacon, that can locate me in case. I can live a normal life again.  

To finish it’s clear that we still have a lot to do and to learn. My dog is young, I don’t want to go to quickly and burn steps.

Thank you Ayko                                                                                                                                         Steve. 

  MERCI Valérie.

Vidéo chien détecteurs de crises épilepsie.

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