Diabetic Assistance Dogs

Hypo Hounds is a Diabetic Alert Assistance Dog Charity

Hypo Hounds train dogs to detect and alert to the dangerous changes their Type 1 Diabetic owner’s blood sugars.

By alerting their owners or their families to these changes in blood sugars, Hypo Hounds can help to prevent potentially life-threatening hypoglycaemic attacks.

These are known as hypos and result from low blood sugar levels.

Diabetic alert dogs can also be trained to detect potential episodes of hyperglycaemia (known as hypers) when blood sugar levels are too high.

Hypo Hounds services are focused on children, enabling them to gain independence and freedom.

We are able to help adults if they have a clinical need.

Hypo Hounds child with Hypo Hound Diabetic Assistance Dog

Facts about Type 1 Diabetes

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Approximately 400,000 people are currently living with Type 1 Diabetes in the UK, including around 29,000 children.

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In children under five, the incidence of Type 1 Diabetes is rising by 5% each year

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A person with Diabetes will measure their blood glucose over 80,000 times in their life

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The number of new diagnoses of Type 1 Diabetes (also known as the incidence) is increasing by about 4% each year

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Around 85% of people diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes have no family history of the condition.

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The UK has one of the highest rates of Type 1 Diabetes in the world

Reducing Hospital Admissions

When someone with Type 1 Diabetes has a severe hypo or hyper the consequences can be serious and hospital admission may be required.

But with the support of a Hypo Hound, people with diabetes can dramatically reduce their risk of experiencing a hypo.

A dog trained by Hypo Hounds can make a huge difference to their owners’ lives, increasing confidence and independence as well as impacting on the mental well being of parents and carers.

With emergency admissions to hospital for hypos and hypers costing the NHS millions of pounds each year, Hypo Hounds are saving the health service money, as well as improving lives.

Training dogs to develop life‐saving skills

When someone with Type 1 Diabetes has a severe hypo or hyper the consequences can be serious and hospital admission may be required.

But with the support of a Hypo Hound, people with diabetes can dramatically reduce their risk of experiencing a hypo.

A dog trained by Hypo Hounds can make a huge difference to their owners’ lives, increasing confidence and independence as well as impacting on the mental well being of parents and carers.

With emergency admissions to hospital for hypos and hypers costing the NHS millions of pounds each year, Hypo Hounds are saving the health service money, as well as improving lives.

See the difference Hypo Hounds are making in childrens' lives.

The Hypo Hounds
Diabetic Assistance Dog Program

Hypo Hounds trainers are some of the UK’s leading Home Office approved scent trainers.

They have all had extensive experience of dog scent training at the highest level and are all enhanced DBS-checked. Having worked dogs all our trainers understand the unique bond between human and dog. They fully understand what it is like to depend on a dog for your safety.

Hypo Hounds has over 200 years of hands on scent detection training knowledge at its disposal.

2023 Puppy Programme

With over 200 years of scent detection experience, our trainers know how to pick and train the right dogs.

In 2020 we introduced our own breeding and training program.

Applications are open for 2023/2024

Additional services:

Hypo Hounds are extremely proud to be offering mental health and well-being supportive clinics as well as respite care sessions for our clients.

These are held with our fully qualified (BACP) registered counselling team.

Hypo Hounds will also be offering mental health transitional clinics aimed at teenage clients to assist them with their independence and transition into adulthood.

There is an annual fee of £50.00 upon being accepted onto the Hypo Hounds program which goes towards admin and clerical fees.