A dog who can smell when a diabetic solicitor's blood sugar levels drop has been allowed to accompany her into court.

His owner, Joanna Golding, is a defence advocate in Hull Crown Court and suffers from type one diabetes. Bertie, a five month old goldendoodle, can detect when her blood sugar levels are dangerously high or low. He has been taught to alert Golding silently so he doesn't disturb court proceedings: he taps her foot three times with his right paw if her blood sugar is too low, and three times with his left paw if it's too high.

    "What's that Bertie? There's a boy, stuck down a well?

Oh, you mean I need a Snickers."


Bertie, the only service dog working full time in a UK court, can detect when Golding is in trouble half an hour before a machine, giving her more time to get something to eat. Golding rewards him with treats which she keeps in a special pocket sewn into her robe. And by featuring him as her profile photo on LinkedIn.

So far Bertie has saved Golding from collapse three times and has only misbehaved once. Golding said that when a defendant plead not guilty to a rape charge, Bertie "let out this big sigh. The timing was horrific".

What else can he smell? A guide to Bertie's silent signals:

       
B.O.
 Brut Bacon
 Bitches
 
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