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MD DOGS UNIVERSITYLive online classes for aspiring Diabetic Alert Dog teams
Our online training program has grown over the years, and it felt like it deserved a name that reflects what it has become. Beginning this semester, our classes are called MD Dogs University and will be either a 101 level or 201 level. The name is new, but the mission is still the same:
Self-training without the self-doubt |
MD Dogs University FAQs
Who should take your classes?
- These classes are suited for those who have a dog that they'd like to train as their own Diabetic Alert Dog and who are dedicated to spending about 8-10 hours a week on the dog's training. Self-training takes commitment and is a risk because you can never know whether a dog will succeed as a Service Dog, but if you are willing to take that risk, have the availability to focus on your dog's training, and self-motivated then you may be a great candidate for our classes!
- Live weekly classes with direct feedback from Libby
- Class recordings available if you miss a meeting or want to review anything
- Private student group to ask questions, share wins, and post videos for feedback between classes
- Full slide deck access, even after the class ends
- Weekly homework assignments with clear goals so you always know what to work on
- A shipped starter kit of scent training supplies—no guessing, no hassle
- Supportive, small-group environment to stay motivated and inspired (3-6 students in any class, depending on type)
- Candidates for service work should be incredibly food motivated, confident, friendly, and persistent. If you'd like to discuss more about your dog's eligibility in particular you can reach out and schedule a consultation where we can identify if your dog is a good fit.
- No. While we'd love to say that taking the class will mean you'll end up with a successful Diabetic Alert Dog, that is just not the case. Even with professional trainers, not all of our dogs are capable of achieving full Diabetic Alert Dog work. With that being said, the biggest challenge is having a dog who is capable of the public access work. So if you are committed to the training and have a food motivated dog then you have a very very high chance of successfully training your dog to at least be an in home Diabetic Alert Dog.
- They absolutely can be! But it does depend on the dog you are working with, your training skills, and your commitment to training. Self-training does not at all inherently mean your dog will be less accurate though.
- You can! The most important part for training a DAD is that you have frequent low blood sugars that you treat (on average, once daily or more). This means, our class might be a good fit if you have type 2 diabetes but are insulin dependent, have reactive hypoglycemia, or another condition that results in frequent hypos.
- Libby Rockaway, founder of MD Dogs and author of the DAD Training Steps book, teaches all the current classes.
- Group classes are 1 hour each week and last for 4 months. Private classes also last for 4 months but are 45 minutes long (because dogs can only use their brain for so long and private classes include more 1:1 live training).
- We understand life happens and we don't expect you to be available every week for 4 straight months! So every class is recorded and the recording is posted within a few days so that you can review missed meetings and catch up before the next week.
- Every student is added to a private group for the students in their class and they can post videos for review. Feedback is given 3-4 times a week and you can post as many or as few videos or questions as you'd like. During class, we also try to include at least a few live training sessions where students can get feedback in real time as well. For the most personal feedback and a training plan with extensive trainer support, you can sign up for a private class where it's just you and your dog.
- This depends on the age of your child - teenagers typically should be the one to train the dog if they are interested. But those under 13 should usually just be involved in individual exercises and not solely responsible for the training and handling of the dogs in order to maximize chance of success.
- You are welcome to take our classes if you are training a different type of service dog! Our public access class is relevant for any type of service dog. Our Detection classes are relevant for any scent based medical alert dog, but we will have everything focused on teaching blood sugar alerts and you will be responsible for the modifications for your target odor.
- Puppies all progress at different stages, and even just a few weeks of age difference between puppies can seem massive! Because of this, it's best to cover the material in a private setting where we aren't trying to keep all the puppies at the same pace. We also cover a wide breadth of topics in this class - scent training, socialization, puppy development, obedience, and manners - so it's best to do this in a 1:1 setting.
