Course Overview
Become A Certified Service Dog Trainer
This 6-week covers the full range of specialized tasks that service dogs are frequently called upon to perform. An excellent course for those desiring to become a Service Dog Trainer! It teaches most every type of service dog training except seeing-eye guide dogs. Students also learn how to train therapy dogs, emotional support dogs, and the legal differences between these and service dogs. This course is included in the Master Trainer Course. The Service Dog Trainer course is only available in the Spring and Summer semesters. This course has a prerequisite of taking the Behavior/Obedience course (either in-person or online).
Financial Aid and Lodging are available, if desired. With our competitive financing options, you can take this awesome course for as little as $119/month.* Sorry, we do not accept VA education or Voc Rehab benefits.
*Rates and terms will vary according to individual credit score, co-signer (if any), and amount of down payment.
This 6-week in-person class starts on 5/26 and 9/21, 2026
This course meets M-F from 9am to approximately 4pm
(Depending upon class size, weather, number of dogs to train, etc.)
Classes are held on-site at our facility near Spencer, IN.
Graduates receive certification as a Service Dog Trainer.
Six-Week Course
Tuition: $5,200
(Prerequisite of taking the Behavior/Obedience course first)
What You Will Learn
In Becoming A Certified Service Dog Trainer
- Be familiar with medical alert service dogs
- Train hearing assistance (signal) dogs
- Grasp mobility dogs training
- Have at least of basic understanding of autism
- Train autism assistance dogs
- Train PTSD and seizure alert dogs
- Learn how to socialize the service dog
- Familiarize yourself with the service dog in a public setting
- Identify training problems and learn how to solve them
- Taking service dogs into schools and the workplace
- Be familiar with MST and TBI assistance
- Apply a solid application process with prospective clients
- Develop an effective delivery process to clients
- Understand the limits of the ADA and public access
- Be familiar with the equipment used in training service dogs
- Understand how to select dogs and puppies for service dogs
- Learn how to interact with disabled handlers
- Learn how the delivery process works
- Be able to train dogs, handlers and families
- Be able to train trailing dogs
- Understand scent theory
- Implement scent discrimination trailing
- Be able to problem solve trailing training
- Train the Touch command
- Be familiar with the ADA
- Learn public access laws
- Understand service dog etiquette
- Understand tethering
Curriculum Outline
- Puppy
- Adult
- The Application Process
- Delivering the Service Dog
- Handler & Family Training
- Scent Theory
- Variable Surface Trailing
- Scent Discrimination Trailing
- Problem Solving
- Public Access
- Interrogations
- Travel
- Limitations
- Puppy Program
- Signal Dogs
- Mobility Dogs
- Autism Assistance
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder assistance
- Traumatic Brain Injury assistance
- Military Sexual Trauma assistance
- Seizure alert and assistance
- Puppy Conditioning
- Public Settings
- Schools & the Workplace
