Published: November 13, 2009 09:13 am      

MAN’S BEST FRIEND CAN BE MAN’S LIFESAVER

Kodiak, an 18-month-old German Shepherd is trained to save her master’s life.

Owner Patty Heckathorn, who is diabetic, began training Kodiak to detect changes in her blood sugar levels when he was a three-month-old puppy.

“At three months, I brought him into the house when my blood sugar level was either low or high,” Heckathorn said. “I would have him sit on the couch with me for five or 10 minutes so he could recognize something different.”

Heckathorn and Kodiak are participants in two dog shows at the Grady County Fairgrounds this weekend.

Heckathorn said the dog’s advanced sense of smell can detect changes in blood sugar levels.

Kodiak learned quickly to sense changes in Heckathorn’s blood sugar and to alert her. He was rewarded with a treat each time.

“After two or three months, I was sure he knew what he was doing,” she said. “Now, he nudges my hand, then gnaws on my arm and jumps up when he senses my low blood sugar.”

When Kodiak alerts her, Heckathorn tests her blood sugar.

“He’s always right,” she said.

Heckathorn, owner of Keystone German Shepherds in Mannford, Okla., owns 20 German Shepherds and often travels to shows with her friend Linda Pryor of Jones.

Pryor bought her first shepherd from Heckathorn and now she has six of them.

“She says it’s like Lay’s potato chips - she can’t have just one,” Heckathorn said.

“Casey’s Blue Mountain Promise,” better known as “Eva,” may not be able to detect blood sugar levels like Kodiak does, but she’s got a pretty fancy bloodline.

Eva, 4, who is handled by Odebt Massey of Yoder, Colo., is a Kerry Blue Terrier that originated in County Kerry, Ireland, and is now known as National Dog of Ireland.

She has been one of the top 10 dogs of her breed for the last three years.

But it’s no wonder she’s a top dog. She looks like she has a beard and mustache on her nose.

Her grandfather, “Champion Torum’s Scarf Michael,” or “Mick,” is the all-time winningest dog in the world, Massey said.

Mick won Best of Show at the Crufts international dog show in 2000, the Eukanuba Invitational Show in Orlando, Fla., and took Best of Show in the 2003 Westminster Kennel Club Show, attaining his American championship in only three shows, making him a Triple Crown Winner.

Kodiak and Eva, along with hundreds of other dogs, will be competing in the Oklahoma Sooner Circuit Cluster of Dog Shows Nov. 12-15 in the south building of the Grady County Fairgrounds.

The Canadian Valley Kennel Club will host shows on Thursday and Friday, with the OK Sooner Circuit Kennel Club hosting shows on Saturday and Sunday.

More than 4,000 dogs are entered, with participants coming from 47 states and Canada.

For more information about the dog shows, contact Judy at 348-8199 or Cheri at 376-2929.

The event is free and open to the public.