Hypo Hounds

Hypo Hounds is a UK-registered charity (No. 1165858) that trains Diabetic Alert Assistance Dogs to support people living with Type 1 Diabetes, with a primary focus on children who have no hypo awareness.

Our mission is to give Type 1 diabetics greater independence, confidence, safety, and quality of life by helping them and their families detect dangerous blood sugar changes early—often before current technology alone can.

Dogs are trained to detect scent changes associated with blood sugar levels, including:

• Hypoglycaemia (“hypos”): when blood sugar drops dangerously low.

• Hyperglycaemia (“hypers”): when blood sugar rises too high. Hypo Hounds

Early detection gives owners and carers crucial advance time to act—reducing the risk of severe episodes and potential hospital admissions.

Hypo Hounds dogs are shown to spot changes earlier than some current monitoring technologies (e.g., CGMs), offering a complementary safety layer.

Hypo Hounds uses experienced scent detection handlers and assistance dog trainers. Our team includes accredited trainers with enhanced DBS checks.

We have a bespoke training centre where clients attend weekly training sessions and in 2020, we introduced our own breeding and training programme. Support does not stop at qualification—Hypo Hounds provides ongoing support and tailored training adjustments as the child grows and needs change.

Beyond diabetic alert training, we also provide:

• Mental health and well-being support clinics.

• Respite care sessions for clients and families.

• Transitional support clinics for teenagers moving into adulthood.

These are delivered by a fully qualified (BACP) registered counselling team.

We have community ambassadors (including individuals living with Type 1 diabetes) who help raise awareness of both the condition and our work. We also organise and participate in a variety of events across the UK to fundraise and educate,

We do not receive government funding and rely entirely on donations, sponsorship, and community support. Training a single assistance dog typically takes 12–18 months and can cost approximately £25,000, plus annual ongoing support costs.

You can support us in many ways such as:

• One-off donations

• Regular monthly giving (from as little as £5/month) Sponsorship of equipment or dogs

• Volunteer support

• Corporate partnerships and charity of the year programmes

• School fundraising efforts

If you would like to donate please visit our website - https://hypohounds.co.uk/how-to-support-hypo-hounds/

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