We created these courses because of the horror stories
After hearing from so many people who hired a trainer or purchased a "trained" dog only to find out that they made a huge mistake. The trainer didn't understand gluten and the risk of cross contact or they trained with punishment. The "trained" dog came home after paying tens of thousands of dollars only to find the dog lacked even basic skills. We also hear from the people that tried to go it alone and ended up frustrated or stuck at a simple place.
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Training a gluten detection service dog costs between $12,000 and $25,000+. If you were buying anything for that amount of money, you would research that purchase throughly before making the purchase. With gluten detection dogs, there is so much misinformation on the internet and very few trainers who specialize in training dogs to detect gluten.
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We wanted to make sure that when you are doing your research, you are getting it from a reputable source. People who have gone through the training process, and a trainer who specializes in training celiac service dogs. Giving you the information you need before you select a dog or start training with a trainer. Information that will help you make the right decision for you, and you will know what it looks like when things are being done correctly. We don't want your story to be a horror story.
These are not gluten detection training courses
We are not going to teach you how to train a gluten detection dog. That requires extensive one-on-one work with a specialized gluten detection trainer through an owner training program, not watching a video.
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We will teach you everything you need to make the right decisions before and during training including
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if a service dog is right for your life
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which breed of dog is right for your lifestyle and need
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how to find the right breeder
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how to select the right puppy
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how to interview the right trainer
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what the training process should look like
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how to safely prepare the gluten scent
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how to safely handle and store the gluten scent
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what skills does the dog need at the end of training
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These courses give you the information you need to be fully prepared to start training and to undestand the commitment needed before you commit to a dog or a trainer.
It is not just about training the dog. You are 50% of the process. These courses make sure you are prepared to start properly.
Which Course Is Right For You? Start Here.
You want to get started training celiac service dog and have not yet selected a dog
Get the Ultimate Starter Bundle
This includes all four courses plus a one hour one-on-one consultation.
It covers everything:
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how to select the right dog breed for your needs
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how to find a reputable breeder
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how to evaluate and choose the right puppy
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the science behind gluten detection
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how to prepare, handle and store the gluten scent
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This is the right starting point for most people.
You already have a dog and want to focus on gluten detection
Get the Gluten Detection Bundle
This includes the 2 courses focused on Gluten Detection: Understanding Gluten & Allergen Dectection: Principles, Science & Methods and Gluten Detection: Proper Scent Handling
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Understanding Gluten & Allergen Detection: Principles, Science & Methods covers:
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The testing requirements
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The science behind gluten detection
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What the training progression looks like
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Cautions during the training process
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Gluten Detection: Proper Scent Handling covers:
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How to correctly and safely prepare the gluten scent
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How to handle and store the gluten scent for training
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It includes safety precautions and detailed instructions
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$99
You are looking for specific courses only
Each course is available individually.
See the full course listings below to choose what is right for your situation.
Bundle and Course Listings
Choose from our curated bundles or purchase individual courses. All courses include a detailed handbook with additional resources and links
​Ultimate Starter Bundle $249 (Best Value)
4 Courses + Course Handbooks & Resources + 1 Hour One-on-One Consultation
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Everything you need to select the right dog, find a reputable breeder, understand the science of gluten detection, and begin the process correctly. The included consultation gives you direct access to ask your specific questions and get personalized guidance on your next steps.
Deluxe Starter Bundle $159
4 Courses + Course Handbooks & Resources
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Everything you need to select the right dog, find a reputable breeder, understand the science of gluten detection, and begin the process correctly. The included consultation gives you direct access to ask your specific questions and get personalized guidance on your next steps.
Gluten Detection Bundle $99
4 Courses + Course Handbooks & Resources
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The two courses most essential for gluten detection training. Understanding Gluten and Allergen Detection covers the science and training process. Gluten Detection: Proper Scent Handling covers how to correctly prepare, store, and handle the scent. These two courses are designed to work together and are recommended as a pair.
Individual Course Descriptions
Course 1: Selecting the Right Service Dog - $29
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This is the first course in the series and the right place to start if you are new to the process. You will learn how to evaluate and select the right service dog breed for your specific needs, lifestyle, and living situation.
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This course covers:
- The difference between service dogs, emotional support animals, and therapy dogs
- Your legal rights as a handler under the ADA
- Service dog registration: what it means and what it does not mean
- The real cost of training a service dog
- How to set yourself up for success before training begins
- The different training methods and training progressions
- How to identify the key traits of a service dog prospect
- How to match those traits with your needs as a handler
- The best breeds and optimal age for gluten and allergen detection
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Includes a course handbook with a trainer interview guide, breed information, service dog standards, and legal requirements.
Course 2: Finding the Right Fit: Evaluating and Selecting Your Service Dog - $29
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Designed to be taken after Selecting the Right Service Dog. This course walks you through the process of finding a reputable breeder, evaluating a litter, and selecting the right puppy for detection work.
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This course covers:
- How to find and evaluate a reputable breeder
- Red flags and warning signs when selecting a breeder
- How early neurological stimulation and early scent introduction affect a puppy's potential
- How to use temperament testing to identify the right service dog prospect
Includes a course handbook with a trainer interview guide.
Course 3: Understanding Gluten & Allergen Detection: Principles, Science & Methods - $49
Before you begin gluten or allergen detection training, you need to understand what your dog is actually doing and why. This course covers the science behind scent detection and gives you the foundation to work effectively with a trainer.
This course covers:
- The science behind how dogs detect scent
- The different types of scent detection dogs
- Imprinting and scent training foundations
- How to choose the right alert behaviors
- Handler bias and why it matters
- The importance of blind trials
- The mechanics of handler influence on detection accuracy
This course will not teach you how to train gluten detection. It will prepare you to work with a trainer effectively and recognize whether your training is on the right track.
Course 4: Gluten Detection: Proper Scent Handling - $69
This course covers everything you need to know about correctly preparing, handling, and storing the gluten scent used in gluten detection training.
This course covers:
- How gluten detection differs from other scent detection training
- The correct odor to use for gluten detection training
- Understanding the complexity of training a gluten detection dog
- Proper handling and how to avoid cross-contact during training
- Supplies for making and handling the gluten scent
- Proper equipment and containers
- How to prepare and purify gluten correctly
- How to fill and store gluten containers
- Safety procedures and cleaning protocols
- Gluten concentrations required for final testing
- Training treats to use during detection work
Includes a detailed handbook with step-by-step instructions, ingredient links, equipment lists, and container recommendations.
The Trainers Behind These Courses
Kari is a certified dog behavior consultant and certified professional canine nutritionist specializing in gluten detection. She has celiac disease and trained her own gluten detection service dog. Kari leads the Owner Training Program at Celiac Service Dogs. Read More
Dawn Scheu trained the first gluten detection dog, Willow and developed the controlled search method used in gluten detection training. She joined us for the course Gluten Detection: Proper Scent Handling. Dawn is the owner of Willow Service Dogs.
FAQs
Not Sure Where to Start?
Book a Call with Us. We can talk through your situation and help you figure out what what makes sense for where you are in the process.
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The Ultimate Starter Bundle includes a one-hour consultation as part of the package.
