How to Train Your Dog to Detect Gluten

Hello, Unfortunately I do not have any in depth resources like a book because gluten detection is fairly new in the service dog industry. Check out the youtube video I have linked below. This person is one of the better resources on gluten detection. I would also look into resources on allergy detection training, such as peanut allergies, in the service dog task training arena. Allergy detection has been around longer and the process after the initial training is very similar to gluten detection, and it's likely easier to find resources on allergen detection. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIhyyL5VKLM&t=3s Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Oct. 10, 2023

Hello Pamela, There are less resources out there for teaching Gluten Detection than many service dog tasks; however gluten detection is taught very similarly to allergy - like peanut, detection, and even scent based training, where saliva samples are used to teach blood sugar or seizure alert, so you can also look into how scent based detection is taught to a service dog in general, since gluten detection is scent based training. Generally, you would start with pure gluten, like the ingredient used to add to baked goods to make it stick together. You would teach an alert on cue, like pup pawing at you when told to, have pup alert on a known gluten sample that's a decent size, by having pup sniff it, give pup their verbal pawing cue, then reward. You would practice until pup will paw at you when they sniff the sample before you give the verbal cue to, waiting a few seconds between pup sniffing and you telling them to paw to give pup a chance to paw you before told to. Once pup can alert on the sample when they sniff it without being told to, gradually decrease the size of the sample, practice with non-gluten food samples along with the gluten sample - only rewarding when pup detects correctly to the gluten sample, then plant the gluten sample on yourself or something you pretend to be eating and reward pup when they detect those samples when you have them sniff. Some people also teach a distinct yes and no for gluten, instead of just a yes, like paw at you for gluten and Sit for clear. Obviously you need to be careful about cross contamination, with precautions like wearing gloves, making sure samples don't become aerated, using plastic baggies that can be throw out after to contain samples, ect... You might need someone to help you initially mix your gluten into a dough like ball you can use to train with that's less likely to spread than powder, if you purchased a powdery form. Social media, such as instagram and facebook is actually a good resource to connect and follow other owner-trainers who are teaching their own pups tasks too. It can be a good place to meet others in your city doing the same thing to connect for practicing things with people doing similar training with their dogs. Radiantk9 is a trainer who personally has celiac and hypoglycemia herself. She trained her own dog as a service dog before later becoming a trainer and helping others with behavior issues like aggression and specialty training like service dog training. You may find her helpful to follow on Instagram and Youtube. Gluten detection 101: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIhyyL5VKLM Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFb7G0y3MmgTGMLwXnBdQrg/videos Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/radiantk9/?hl=en There are trainers who offer remote and in person service dog training assistance - whose role is not to take the dog and train it entirely themselves (which is great but much pricier), but who can guide you in training your own dog as needed for a lower price. Youtube is also a resource to find service dog trainers who share some how to videos on teaching specific tasks to help you trouble shoot as you go. You will also want to work on public access - with socialization, manners, and obedience. You can work on task training at the same time if you have time, but obedience and socialization is often more time sensitive. While doing that, you can certainly reward pup's natural alerts right now to further encourage them. In the United States there is no official certification required for a dog to pass as a Service Dog. A qualifying medical or psychological condition, great behavior while in public, and at least one task that directly helps with your condition is all that is required. Carrying a copy of ADA law regarding service dogs, pup's vet papers, a note from your doctor simply stating your need for a service dog (you don't have to disclose what condition you need help with to anyone), and a vest for pup letting people know pup is a working service dog can help people allow pup into places more easily though. There is less education out there about Celiac and service dog training, so you may run into people telling you it can't be done. I can tell you from personal experience it can be taught to the right dog. It does take work; it can be harder to teach than some other service dog tasks, but I have seen it make a big difference in someone's life once accomplished. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

June 27, 2022