We believe in the Art of Dog and support
as our Official Dog Magazine.
Our Mission:
Unique life coaching for diabetics & their diabetic alert service dogs (or disabled persons & their medical alert service dogs) as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), as amended and their medical alert service dogs. Training Sugar Dog teams to manage stress related “dis-ease.”
Experience peace, love & enjoy a service dog in your sweet life!
To begin the application process, please click on the tab “Application Forms” on this website.
We offer training to diabetics, epileptics, PTSD and other stressors, mobility and other disabled persons as defined by the ADA who are interested in utilizing Poodles as diabetic alert service dogs, epileptic alert service dogs, PTSD alert service dogs, mobility assistance service dogs, and medical alert service dogs including anxiety, depression, hypertension, cardiac challenges.
LUXlife magazine recently awarded us an international prize for Best International Service Dog Trainers!
Sugar Dogs International, Inc. is a Florida non-profit specializing in diabetic alert service dog training. Led by founder Paula Dempsey, a Type 1 diabetic since 1966, our online program empowers you to train your own dog. We strictly emphasize your legal rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Our comprehensive curriculum ensures you and your dog meet all federal public accommodation standards. We guarantee handlers learn to legally and confidently navigate public spaces, housing, and travel without discrimination. Protect your health and your independence. Don’t you deserve a legal diabetic alert service dog in your sweet life?
Our promise is: If the Poodle loves you, it will alert. There is a caveat, YOU must love the Poodle too! Our training program is love-based. This means no hitting of people or dogs. No jerking on leashes to get dogs’ attention. If you have anger or rage control challenges, our program may not be for you. We tend to call local law enforcement for abusive situations.
We offer a love-based training method, i.e., we do not allow hitting the service dog as this is a legally punishable criminal offense. We also do not allow dog training with an obedience trainer who recommends jerking the service dog’s neck with a leash as this can fracture vertebrae and cause paralysis or cause herniated cervical discs. We also do not allow hitting the child/student/person under any circumstances, as this is a legally punishable criminal offense.
You scent train Your Poodle in Your Own Home. We also share tips for managing stress including meditation with your very own Sugar Dog and review of your current routine. Our diabetics share their individual stories. We share what has worked for us and what hasn’t. We train YOU to train Your Diabetic Alert Service Dog as alowed under the Federal ADA law.
We are a Florida corporation originally organized as a non-profit under the laws of the state of Florida; however, just as non-profit hospitals must charge something to keep their doors open, so must we. IF YOU ARE A DIABETIC, any “contributions,” “donations,” or “application fees” paid to Sugar Dogs International, Inc. are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law based on IRS Publication 502. We have been honored by the State of Florida as providing an excellent service to members of our global community.
Our Board of Directors and elite members include people with diabetes, epilepsy, mobility challenges, PTSD, other challenges including clinical depression, pediatric schizophrenia, their family members, and benefactors who support our mission with their blood, sweat and tears. One does not need to be a member to support our mission or to support a specific Sugar Dog team. All costs relating to training your Sugar Dog are tax deductible as medical expenses for the medically challenged individual according to IRS Publication 502.
If your endocrinologist or primary care physician is reluctant to prescribe a service dog for you, consider Dr. Justin Davis. He is a highly recommended holistic physician who is available for in person appointments or via video conference. See the tab on this website for Dr. Justin Davis and a link to his website. He is a medical doctor licensed in the states of Florida and California.
We are a professional team that includes an adult Type I diabetic, an adult Type II diabetic, diabetics’ family members, a Master Educator (M.Ed.), a Social Worker (LSW), Registered Nurses (R.N. and ARNP), a Chopra Center University Certified Perfect Health Ayurvedic Lifestyle, Yoga, and Primordial Sound Meditation Instructor, an Artistic Administrative staff, and Oodles of Poodles!
PLEASE NOTE: We do not breed dogs, sell dogs, give away dogs, donate free dogs or administer a rescue facility. The diabetic or medically challenged individual has a choice of rescuing a Poodle (donations payable to the rescue organization) or purchasing a puppy from a reputable breeder (cost to be negotiated directly between you and the breeder). Occasionally, we do rehome a service dog that has lost its human; however, this is a very rare occasion.
We prefer to only work with Poodles of pure blood as they are the most intelligent of canines, are generally hypoallergenic and make wonderful companions. Yes, we love German Shepherds, Labrador and Golden Retrievers, Terriers, Spaniels, Border Collies, and mixed breeds, BUT they all shed AND many are food driven, trigger allergies and no breed alerts as reliably as Poodles. After almost 60 years of utilizing a diabetic service dog herself, Paula says, “Oh, to be loved by a Poodle who wants to save my life is a miracle in itself. Poodles love the challenge and have the BEST noses for Sugar Dog work, whether it’s for diabetes, cancer, cardiac, hypertension. It doesn’t matter. Get a Poodle and get started today!”
We do LOVE to work with standard Poodles should you prefer a big dog, and yet for most families, larger toy or miniature or moyne sized Poodles are perfect. We do not recommend tiny teacup Poodles for this work as they are fragile and very easily injured. See the Poodle Club of America or Versatility In Poodles (VIP) for more information on Poodles generally. www.PoodleClubOfAmerica.org or VIP http://www.vipoodle.org
While we will support your work with whatever canine breed you like, we make no guarantees about the alerting propensities of other breeds. Poodles alert for diabetes, cancer and cardiac issues spontaneously. (Read Irene & Cappy’s Sugar Dog Story). Why take any chances?
Our Poodles are not “yappy,” they are diabetic/medical alert service dogs. A yappy dog has only its human to blame. Sometimes Sugar Dogs bark as part of their alert, especially if the human has a hearing deficit; however, Poodles are the most well behaved, civilized of dogs.
Give Poodles a chance! They spontaneously alert for diabetics they love. Reason #A1c. 100% of the teams who follow our training method exactly have improved A1c lab results!!! We accept ages 5 years and up, with juvenile diabetic Sugar Dog teams requiring lots of love and patient assistance from their families.
*Additional expenses in connection with training a Poodle as a diabetic/medical alert service dog include high quality, high protein canine food, obedience training, service vest or harness (no collars on small dogs please), or collar cover “cape” on larger dogs, diabetic alert service dog patch for the vest, leash, veterinary expenses, local licensing fees (waived in some US states for service dogs), crate, socialization, grooming every 4 to 8 weeks depending upon thickness of hair (Poodles do not have fur) and at least weekly baths, etc. These expenses are tax deductible as medical expenses for the individual according to IRS Publication 502. A recent IRS form indicates service dogs may be allowed a per diem of $100. That’s a $36,500 allowance for your service dog! Upon proper documentation, all costs associated with owning and training a Sugar Dog may be reimbursable expenses under some health or insurance plans. (We do NOT file insurance claims for you or on your behalf; however, with your physician’s prescription you may file a claim with your own health insurance.)
Please read all our PAGES to get your questions answered about Sugar Dogs. Our training method is VIRTUAL and available via Zoom, e-mail and our website is the place to begin. A personal training visit to your area can be arranged. We travel frequently. Please email for our lodging, dietary and transportation requirements should your particular needs require in-person service.
To begin the application process, please click on the tab “Application Forms” on this website.
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For further information, please contact MySugarDogs@gmail.com with “Sugar Dogs” in the reference or subject line. Thank you!
Disclosure: We recommend that you seek medical care from a board certified endocrinologist if you are a diabetic, or your physician of choice. We recommend that you seek tax advice from a certified public accountant or a board certified tax lawyer. We also recommend that you seek legal advice from a board certified attorney as nothing contained on this website is offered as medical advice, tax advice or legal advice.
Sugar Dogs International, Inc. is an all volunteer non-profit Florida corporation. Our federal tax ID number is available upon request. A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the Florida Secretary of State, Division of Corporations, the Florida Division of Agriculture and the Florida Division of Consumer Services by calling 1-800-435-7352 within the State of Florida. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval or recommendation by the State. CH44762
Sugar Dogs International, Inc. 