At Gluten Detected Dog Training, we offer specialized training for service dogs in gluten/allergen and medical detection, focusing on both alert and all-clear commands. Our programs ensure your dog can effectively assist you in identifying gluten, providing peace of mind in any situation.

Gluten Detection

Transforms Lives

Tailored training to ensure your dog can skillfully detect gluten. Let's build a bond of trust and reliability.

Luna at the mall

Our Mission

At Gluten Detected Dog Training, we specialize in guiding owners in the development of their own service dogs for allergen detection. Drawing on decades of professional training experience and a strong foundation established alongside expert Dawn Sheau, we are committed to fostering a knowledgeable and supportive community focused on enhancing the quality of life for both dogs and their owners.

A Life Built on Trust: My Journey Training Horses and Dogs

Luna and Anira

REVIEWS

My life with animals began before I was old enough to understand the word training. By the age of seven, I was already showing and training horses, learning early that success in the arena came not from force, but from consistency, feel, and trust. Horses became my greatest teachers, shaping both my skills and my character from a very young age.

As a youth competitor, I competed extensively across disciplines, earning national championships in trail classes, English equitation, showmanship, western pleasure, and many others. In 1987, I was honored to win the highly coveted Black Magic Trophy, a defining moment that recognized years of dedication, long hours, and partnership with my horses. Even when my own horse was injured and unable to compete, I continued to show and train other horses—an experience that sharpened my adaptability and deepened my understanding of different temperaments and training needs.

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My work with dogs has paralleled my work with horses in philosophy and purpose. I personally trained two therapy dogs, Belle and Mira, and volunteered through Hospice as a member of Therapy Dog International. Together, we visited hospitals, nursing homes, police stations, and schools, including read-a-book programs for children. I also gave public demonstrations showcasing the tricks and skills I trained myself—always emphasizing positive, humane methods.

Wanting to care fully for my dogs, I attended Paragon Pet Grooming School, where I learned to groom all breeds, including cats, with a strong focus on safe, humane handling—even with aggressive animals. I went on to work at PetSmart and later became the main groomer at Whistle Lake Pet Resort, where I loved not only grooming but also the daily interactions with the dogs entrusted to my care.

Alongside my animal work, I pursued a career in healthcare, becoming an EEG technologist and working for eight years in hospital settings including the PACU, NICU, MICU, ICU, ER, and surgical suites. This work gave me profound insight into human vulnerability and resilience—lessons that further shaped my empathy as a trainer. I also faced my own health battle with Lyme disease, spending years undiagnosed, bedridden, and struggling. Regaining my health took nearly a decade and reinforced my belief in patience, perseverance, and listening—whether to a body or an animal.

My training journey eventually led me into specialized scent work. I trained two service dogs for gluten detection and interned with Dawn Sheu, a pioneer in gluten detection dog training. Dawn developed the first gluten detection dog trained with both an “indication” and an “all clear” behavior. With over 30 years of experience in scent detection, search and rescue, and therapy work, and professional memberships including ABMA, APDT, and IAABC, she profoundly influenced my understanding of science-based training and behavioral precision.

Looking back, every chapter of my life—horses, dogs, rehabilitation, healthcare, and personal healing—connects through one central theme: trust. Training is not about control; it is about communication, compassion, and earning the confidence of another being. Whether in the show ring, on the trail, in a hospital room, or quietly working scent detection, my life’s work has been devoted to helping animals and humans feel safe, capable, and understood.

One of the most formative experiences of my childhood came at age seven, when my parents bought me a severely abused horse. She had been tied and beaten by men before coming to me and lived in a constant state of fear. Being tied triggered panic; she broke countless halters and lead ropes and trusted very few humans. Through patience and quiet consistency, I helped her relearn safety. Over time, I taught her to ground tie, and if she ever broke loose at a show, she would seek me out for reassurance. The trust she placed in me became the foundation of my lifelong training philosophy: animals do not need to be dominated—they need to feel safe.

During my years in 4-H, I also volunteered in a riding program for children and adults with disabilities. I assisted riders by walking alongside their horses, stabilizing them in the saddle, or riding with them when needed. Those experiences taught me how deeply animals can connect with humans on an emotional and therapeutic level, long before I ever trained a therapy or service dog.

As an adult, my passion for rehabilitation continued. I rescued two Thoroughbred horses from the racing industry and retrained them into reliable, enjoyable trail horses. Later, I welcomed three Icelandic horses into my life. Each came with a unique story and challenges. Louie, the oldest, arrived completely shut down and terrified, eventually experiencing a full mental breakdown. With a year of dedicated work alongside another trainer, he slowly regained confidence. Today, he is retired and thriving—and became the perfect, safe horse for my 70-year-old mother. Gunnthor and Ragnar, both imported from respected farms in the United States, required time, patience, and trust-building to acclimate to their new environment. Now, they are cherished trail companions, and trail riding with friends remains one of my greatest joys.

Get in Touch

We would love to hear from you! Reach out for inquiries, bookings, or to learn more about our training methods and community support.