Can My Dog Become an Allergen Detection Dog?

An allergen detection dog that supports people with food allergies or coeliac disease in their daily lives, that such a dog dispels uncertainties and brings enjoyment – and with it, a sense of ease.  To many, this sounds like nothing more than a lovely idea, a dream, far removed from the reality of everyday life.

But does having your own allergen detection dog have to remain a dream? In our expert interview, we explore what an allergen detection dog actually does and whether any dog can become one.

What does an allergen detection dog do?

Assistance dogs have long since taken on far more than just guiding the blind: they accompany people in wheelchairs, warn of epileptic seizures, offer reassurance to those with psychosocial conditions – and, when trained as so-called detection dogs, they can detect allergens in homeopathic quantities, i.e. traces that are invisible to humans and sometimes even unimaginable. These alert and detection dogs, classified as Category 4 under Section 3 of Germany’s new Assistance Dog Ordinance (AHundV), are gradually becoming more widely recognised by the public.

To become an allergen detection dog, a dog is specially trained to reliably detect allergens in food when asked and alert its handler to their presence. For those affected, the risk of severe allergic reactions can be significantly reduced if they can have food with an unknown allergy risk checked by their allergen detection dog, as it is able to recognise and indicate even the tiniest traces of the allergen.

Becoming an Allergen Detection Dog – Our Expert Interview with Kiwi Gandre-Braatz

Dog trainer Kiwi Gandre-Braatz has been training families and their own dogs to become allergen detection dogs for many years. In our expert interview, she answers our key questions and explains what such a dog is capable of, how the training works and why, in fact, any healthy dog can become an allergen detection dog.

What does an allergen detection dog actually need to be able to do?

The focus is on what is known as ‘detection’: the dog signals – through a specific behaviour, such as freezing with its nose on a contaminated odour sample – that it has detected an allergen in food or on an object. Even the tiniest traces, which can be life-threatening for those affected, can be detected by a trained dog’s nose. 

In addition, a dog can be trained to locate the emergency kit containing an Epipen and other medication in an emergency and to bring it to the affected person – either on request or independently if it notices a physical warning sign such as shortness of breath. If the person affected is no longer responsive, the dog can be trained – alongside other emergency plans – to, for example, specifically alert family members or passers-by to the emergency.

What does a typical training day look like for an allergen detection dog – and what role does nutrition play?

At the start of training, the focus is on body language and teamwork, taught in a playful way through a wide range of games. Rewards are given during and immediately after training – usually from a food pouch containing Dry Food. This highlights just how closely training and nutrition are linked: for a dog to remain focused and quickly settle down again after training, it needs food that is easy to handle, tastes good and is filling without providing unnecessary energy. Pellets, such as those from Naturavetal®, have proven their worth here – their size and texture allow for calm feeding during training, and a prompt feeling of fullness helps the dogs to process what they have just learnt, as well as the food, in peace. Only a dog that is also well nourished physically can muster the concentration and stamina required for this task in the long term. 

When it is time for special achievements, we reward them with dog snacks, which are particularly popular. Special achievements deserve special rewards. To this end, we regularly ask our dogs what they fancy. And just as varied as the demands placed on our four-legged friends are, so too is the range of Dog Snacks & Treats from Naturavetal®. This is always a highlight for our dogs.

Is there a ‘perfect starting age’ for training to become an allergen detection dog?

There is no minimum or maximum age for starting training – some dogs begin whilst still puppies, whilst others start later. Age becomes a factor, for example, in specific specialist training programmes such as that for epilepsy alert dogs, or if the aim is to sit an official examination: according to the current AHundV regulations, the dog must be no younger than 21 months and no older than 9 years at the time of the examination.

How does the training for an allergen detection dog work, and how long does it take?

My basic training programme usually comprises around 12 months of online training with monthly live sessions, during which the content of the next training module is discussed – supplemented by workbooks, training videos and interaction with other teams. Anyone wishing to subsequently take an official examination recognised under Section 12e(3), sentence 2, no. 3 of the German Equal Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities Act (BGG) must, under the new German Assistance Dog Ordinance (AHundV), provide evidence of the dog’s specific individual suitability and the need for an assistance dog, as well as attend in-person training sessions and complete further advanced training. This amounts to around 18 months of training in total, including 60 hours of specialised training in both group and individual sessions.

Does the training always have to end with an official examination?

No, not at all. My basic training is designed for anyone who wishes to develop a valuable everyday companion – regardless of whether they ultimately aim to take an official examination or not. And this is something every affected family can achieve: every healthy dog naturally enjoys being meaningfully occupied and wants to delight its owners. You simply need to channel this devotion in the right direction – through an entertaining game that incorporates the actual task quite naturally. In this way, pure enthusiasm turns into shared responsibility, and an ordinary family dog becomes a real asset to everyday life.

Which allergens – and how many – can a dog detect?

In principle, any allergen whose scent can be isolated – whether food, gluten, mould or plants. There are virtually no limits to a dog’s sense of smell. The number is also variable. 

By the end of the training, each of my participants not only knows how to motivate their four-legged family member to perform at their best, but also how to learn to read their dog. This means everyone can decide for themselves how many allergens to include and how to realistically assess their own dog’s capabilities without overburdening them.

How can someone who is interested in an allergen detection dog get one? Are fully trained dogs matched with families, or does the family train the dog themselves?

This approach focuses on self-training: the dog and its owner undertake the entire training process together. As well as practical work, theoretical knowledge is also part of the programme. Moreover, alongside the specific assistance tasks, we must not forget the leisure aspect. A calm and composed interaction, even when encountering other dogs, as well as a confident demeanour in public, are also integral parts of life with an assistance dog and form a fixed part of the participants’ daily training routine. That is why I am delighted when, under my guidance; the teams develop together, grow closer and learn to overcome challenges as a team. At the end of such a training programme, many families experience truly memorable moments: when, during a simulated emergency situation, it suddenly becomes clear just how reliably their own dog has become a true team player, a ‘We-Wonder’ – and just how much peace of mind, that much-desired added value for everyday life, has been gained as a result.