How It Works and FAQ. 

How does an Allergen Detection Dog Work? 

  - Like any other Service Dog, an Allergen Detection Dog goes through about 1.5-2 years of training to learn

    1) How to behave in public

    2) How to do their job (or task) in increasingly difficult environments. 

    3) How to ignore environmental stimulus such as crashing plates, people yelling, food on shelves or on the floor, etc. 

    4) How to ignore direct stimulus such as drive by pets, food being presented for allergen testing, and people trying to feed the dog just to name a few. 

     

     Once the dog has completed the training, they will then be covered by the ADA and be allowed almost anywhere the general public is allowed with a few exceptions, such as burn wards, or parts of zoo's as they alter the nature of the environment. While in training, the dog will be covered by state laws, as not all states grant access to service dogs in training. 

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Where can I get my dog certified or registered? 

  - In the United States according to the ADA, there is no national certification or registration, and any registration or certification that may be purchased holds no legal standing. Upon graduation, the dog will receive a diploma from Living Pawsitive but it is not a certification or registration. Some states or counties have a voluntary registry, you can ask for more details when registering your dog as a pet. These are not legally required, and federal law overrides state. 

 

What breeds can do this work?

  - While any breed or mix may be able to do scent work, certain breeds (and their mixes) are more prone to succeed. Even the best programs with the best-bred dogs have a wash (essentially early retirement) rate of about 50%. The breeds that succeed the most are Labs, Goldens, Poodles, and Collies. Hounds are generally discouraged as they can be too easily distracted by their nose, and larger breeds such as Great Danes have a shorter life span and are more difficult to work due to their size (ex: settling at a restaurant, they cannot easily tuck underneath the table). Herding breeds such as German Shepherds or Australian Shepherds must have stable and steady training, as they can easily become overwhelmed and become anxious. Any breed with high prey drive, such as terriers, largely depends on the individual. Independent breeds such as Huskies are also discouraged due to the difficulty of training and how difficult allergen/gluten detection is.  For mixes or purebreds, the dog should be healthy (preferably in an athletic weight range), have an even temperament (no reactivity or history of aggression), should be easy to train, be food motivated, and be eager to work. We do not support buying a dog from a pet store (as most of those dogs are from puppy mills), or backyard breeders (as they may or may not know what they're doing and could easily end up with an aggressive or sick dog). If you decide to get a purebred please choose a responsible breeder. The AKC has information on how to select a reputable breeder. 

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How much does it cost?

-This depends. There is the cost of the initial dog or puppy, gear, toys, supplies, training, food, vet care, and pet insurance.

 

 What gear and supplies do I need for my dog?

This depends on what you need for your disabilities and climate, but in general: Vest, leash, collars, shoes, cooling or warming coat, dremel, crate, shampoo, conditioner, a good comb, treats, treat pouch, and clicker. 

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Can I use my pet dog?

This depends on the dog's age, training, temperament, personality, and what tasks you need to mitigate your disability.