Scent Detection Training
With Delta Tails Pack
Our online scent detection program teaches service dog handlers to train their own detection dog for allergens or medical conditions.
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Students have used this program to train their dog to...
- Alert to medical episodes like POTS, seizures, migraines, cyclic vomiting syndrome, low blood sugar, and more.
- Alert to allergens in their food and products like peanuts, essential oils, and gluten.
- Alert to allergens in the air like latex, cleaning supplies, and peanuts.
- Check food for their allergens prior to eating out.
- Alert to reactions happening in the moment and retrieve a trusted person.
Our scent program is the only one of it's kind.
Here's how it works:
- Watch a short series of videos each week on how and what to practice with your dog.
- Ask questions in our community group or on our twice monthly live calls.
- Train your dog for the amount of practice time listed in the weekly videos.
- Submit a video of your practice, and receive individualized feedback within 48 hours on working days.
- Move on to the next lesson, and repeat.
- Complete a series of three exams verifying your detection dog's skills and abilities evaluated by three separate trainers to eliminate bias.
- Graduate with an accurate detection dog you can trust.
Scent training takes at most 10 minutes per day.
You don't have to have tons of energy or time to have a reliable detection dog for allergens or medical conditions.
Here's what our program is creating for handlers like you:
âFully alerted to an episode and woke me up!â
Some big wins for both Panda and I. Yesterday morning Panda fully alerted to an episode! She had to wake me up then convince me that she was alerting not asking for attention which took 30 minutes for me to understand. Then she sniffed more and demanded I listened to her. I got emergency meds!
~Â Panda & Arianna (Service Dog in Training)
âI finally learned what it's like to be an independent adult.â
Apollo was AMAZING yesterday! He really showed me how life changing it is to have him. I have not gone out by myself with a group of people my age in at least five years (if not longer). We chatted with people, played blackjack (with fake money) and learned how to play chess. We went on a couple short walk/potty breaks but the rest of the time he just stayed with me. He alerted in the midst of all the people and music and laid on me until it was safe to get back up. I just learned what it is like to be an independent adult.
~Â Kelsey & Apollo (Graduated Service Dog)
âHe absolutely did what he was trained to do!â
Eliot had an amazing day today! Not only did his training outings go well, he had his first public alert! He absolutely did what he was trained to do--amazing! I am so proud.
~Â Krista & Eliot (Service Dog in Training)
Phases of The Curriculum
#1
Odor Recognition
This 12 week (minimum) phase teaches your dog to search independently, imprint on the target odor you have chosen, and then show recognition for that target odor with two distractors present. The odor recognition examination is the last requirement, and it passes you to the next stage of training.
#2
Proofing
This stage of training is what takes the longest. For allergen detection, this stage lasts around 1 year. We need to make sure that your dog has been exposed to as many different non allergen and allergen containing items as they possibly can. For medical detection, this lasts around 6-9 months. We work on proofing distractors and a variety of situations you will be in with your dog.
#3
The Alerts
In this stage, your dog already is a capable detection dog, but we need to know how to read them more clearly. This is when we teach them a specific behavior like a paw to your leg or a nose nudge (just two of many options) to tell you that the allergen or medical event is present. This is unique to our system in that it is trained very late in the process to eliminate handler bias.
#4
Simulations
This stage is where everything comes together. You'll learn how to use blind training to simulate as many real life situations as possible and start tracking your dog's live alerts to real episodes or allergens.
At the end of this phase, your dog will complete their home detection exam, which will verify that your dog is accurate in your home and in every situation you may need them there.
#5
Public Work
At this point of the training, your dog has learned everything they need to know about detection. We just have to make sure that they transfer that into real life public situations. This stage is skipped if you only need an at home detection dog.
At the end of this phase, your dog will complete their public detection exam, which will verify that your dog is accurate outside of your home in situations like restaurants, shopping, and more.
What You'll Access Immediately:
Intro to Scent Course
This is the first step to the scent detection process to get your dog searching independently and imprinted on your target odor.
Daily Support Channel
Ask your training questions at any time for daily support from a professional trainer. Share your training videos for feedback or bounce ideas off of other members.
Weekly Personalized Feedback
Each week, send in practice videos for our trainers to review and respond with individualized feedback for you and your dog.
Live Coaching
Join our monthly zoom calls for personalized answers to any question you have about scent detection training.
Task Workshop
Teach your dog to perform helpful tasks to mitigate your disabilities. This includes things like blocking, retrievals, alert to alarms, and more.
Basic Manners Workshop
The essential course for all dogs to learn manners at home as well as calm acceptance of grooming, nail trims, baths, and more.
Public Manners
Short video tutorials to teach your dog to settle down in public and listen to you no matter where you go. Covers things like stays, leave it, heeling, and more.
Heeling
Workshop
Short video tutorials to teach your dog to walk in a loose heel anywhere - even around distractions and new places.
Recall Workshop
Short video tutorials to teach your dog a bomb-proof recall from any distraction, even wildlife or other dogs. This is great for the adventurous service dog teams.
Over 100 members have had scent detection progress and reached goals they never thought possible with their dogs. You can too.
âIt's really impressive what has happened in such a short amount of time.â
We have been working with Delta Tails for 3 weeks and with the way I have seen Lucy work from day 1 to now, IÂ wholeheartedly believe we will be right where we want to be in the future. Being part of the pack is a huge help and support for training from, questions, supportive groups and help around every corner. I am really amazed at where Lucy is right now in her scent training. After week 1 Lucy has shown so much more want and drive to find what she is looking for. It's no longer a game, you can see her head tilt and her nose get to work. It's really impressive what has happened in such a short amount of time.
~Â Elyssa & Lucy (Service Dog in Training)
âSO worth it.â
I am using the gluten detection program online. I have some dog training experience. I have been impressed by their teaching to get me to where I am.
In this program we take a test, and brainstorm how we are going to get owner, and dog to advance. Follow instructions, and don't get ahead of yourself. You will get there!
They are very neurodiverse friendly, and has helped my ADHD Brain when it wasn't sinking in by explaining it in a different angle. One time they made a tiny video just go show exactly what they wanted. So worth it.
~Â Daphne & Ratchet
âHas literally changed my life.â
Delta Tails has literally changed my life. I am training my dog as a gluten detection dog under their direction. It would not be possible without them. They are so knowledgeable, kind, and helpful. I cannot recommend them enough!
~Â Amanda & Journey
Ready?
Let's Get Started
Hi, I'm Blythe.
I have trained over 100 dog and handler teams with a goal of alerts to medical conditions like POTS, panic, seizures, and more, and allergens like gluten, peanuts, bananas, and more. I've completed certifications from the leading trainers and organizations in the industry.
And yet, I have never found a trustworthy non-diabetic alert and allergen detection program for owner trainers.
I started Delta Tails because I couldn't find a scent detection trainer for gluten detection work that was proving dogs scientifically.
Through the years, I've developed systems that work to train scent detection dogs on your own accurately - and developed tests that prove this too.
Now I use what Iâve learned to help people just like you train their own ACCURATE scent detection service dogs.
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Recent Member Wins:
âI was able to make it home before an episode hit.â
Cookie gave me a really helpful medical alert today! I was able to make it home before an episode thanks to the advanced warning. So proud of her!
~Â Flannery & Cookie
âAutomatically did the nudge alert.â
Weâre on our second day of scent tubes instead of tins and Archie automatically did the nudge alert after sniffing the tube today! We hadnât moved onto that but since he automatically did it I rewarded heavily!
~Allyson & Archie
âAlerted to my friend's flour tortilla tacos!â
We did a PA trip at a taco bar with a friend, and Kita was absolutely wonderful while we were there, sitting outside, alerted to my friend's flour tortilla tacos, sat and watched the world go by. I was extremely proud of her!
~Â Jacklyn & Kita
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have enough time?
Is it okay if my dog has behavior problems?
I am disabled. Can I still do this?
I have no experience. Is that okay?
I've been training for a while. Will I still find value?
Can I cancel at any time?
What is your inclusion policy?
Let's Recap What You'll Get As a Member:
24/7 Course Library
Access courses like loose leash and recall workshops, basic home manners, cooperative care, public manners, problem behaviors, and barking courses.
Weekly Personalized Feedback
Each week, send in practice videos for our trainers to review and respond with individualized feedback for you and your dog.
Daily Support Channel
Ask all your training questions at any time of day and receive a response within 24 hours Monday through Friday or talk with other members for brainstorming.
Live Coaching Calls
Join monthly zoom calls to get all your questions answered or train on camera for feedback and immediate help and troubleshooting.
All you need to train your own scent detection dog from home is the right support.
The Delta Tails Pack Scent Program provides that support in a monthly membership for service dog handlers who want to train their own scent detection dog to alert to medical episodes or allergens.
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