The course is currently being updated. Enrollment is paused at this time. Please check back in by the end of August.
This course was developed in partnership with Debby Kay’s world-renowned Sweet Snoopers Program. It will teach you the fundamentals of scent collection and storage, including which biological samples (such as breath, saliva, or sweat) are recommended for detecting specific medical conditions, such as diabetes, POTs, migraines, or seizures; how to successfully transition from scent samples to live alerts; and how to develop a training plan using scent wheels and tins to teach and reinforce detection and alert behaviors.
You will also learn what type of dog makes a good scent detection dog and how to select a scent detection candidate.
This course is beneficial for trainers who want to support their clients, as well as service dog handlers training their own dogs.
You will develop an in-depth understanding of scent training and learn the skills to train a dog to alert to scents at any time of the day, in any place, and even in the presence of other dogs. This course is beneficial for trainers who want to support their clients, as well as service dog handlers/owner trainers alike.
How You Will Learn
Atlas’ Diabetes and Medical Scent Detection Course is an online, self-paced course. To ensure this is the best fit for your learning style, please make sure you understand the following about the course structure and what will be required of you.
- Learn through a mix of written material, hand-outs, worksheets, and videos, all hosted on our online learning platform.
- You will be asked to complete short quizzes along the way to ensure you understand the material.
- You will be asked to submit two video assignments where you are working with a dog. You will get individualized and valuable feedback!
- You will have the opportunity to discuss your tests and assignments with Atlas faculty as well as retake tests as needed.
- You will be in charge of your own time management and are responsible for going through the course.
The Details
- Cost: $395
- Timeline: You will have access to the course for SIX months. With advanced notice, you may make arrangements with Atlas if you believe you will need additional time to complete the course due to extenuating circumstances.
- CEUs: This course qualifies for 23.5 CEUs with CCPDT, 7.5 with IAABC and 5 with KPA.
- Who is it for: This course is geared towards experienced dog trainers as well as those training their own service dog. To be successful in this course, trainers and owner-trainers alike will need/should have a basic understanding of positive training methods, how to use a marker, how to deliver reinforcement and how to set up a training session. This course is not for the novice handler who does not have prior dog training experience. For the dog : There is no age requirement for the dog you will be working with. The foundations for scent training can begin in early puppyhood.
Trainers should have a strong understanding of the skills covered in Dog Training Foundations before beginning scent detection work.
FAQs
We give you six months access to the course. It is entirely self-paced, so depending on how much time you spend on it each week, you could complete it in far less time. Regardless of how fast you complete it, you will have access for six months.
$395 for six months access.
If you have not completed the course within six months and wish to continue, we do offer a two month extension for $50 to give you additional time. If you do not wish to continue beyond the six months, you will lose access to the course.
Great! Please visit our Trainer Academy page for information about the program and its requirements. Having completed this course first will give you a discount on the Academy.
While this course goes over a wide range of tasks that service dogs can perform, your dog knowing said tasks does not automatically make your dog a service dog. Under the ADA, a service dog is a dog that is trained to perform at least one task that directly mitigates their handler’s disability, and the dog must be well-behaved in public. You may not claim that Atlas Assistance Dogs has trained your dog as a service dog upon completing the course.
Learn more about Atlas’ Client Certification program.
Maybe. This is a self-paced, online course. You will get plenty of feedback on the assignments you submit and opportunities to talk to instructors. The assignments you submit are meant to help you apply the course material with the dog(s) you are working with. But you will not be watching live demos or have instructors coaching you live as you work with a dog. Please consider your learning style before signing up.
This course is not geared for the novice dog handler. While you do not need to be a professional dog trainer, to be successful in this course, participants will need/should have a basic understanding of positive training methods, how to use a marker, how to deliver reinforcement and how to set up a training session.
Atlas Assistance Dogs believes in using positive reinforcement, non aversive, and scientifically backed training methods. We do not endorse the use of pain, fear, intimidation, or force when working with dogs (or people). Any student signing up for our course will be asked to commit to using positive training methods.