Course Overview
Prerequisites For The Course:
Must complete the Behavior/Obedience course (online or in person). The online Behavior/Obedience course can be completed in as little as 6 weeks but access is granted for up to a year, so long as payment agreements are current.
Course requirements for graduation: complete all course material and homework assignments, send a video to your instructor of your dog/s completing service dog tasks. The final grade will be determined by this video. Graduates are certified as a Service Dog Trainer.
Students are encouraged to also attend on-site (for up to a week) at our training center during an ongoing service dog trainer course…at no extra charge! This will aid in the hands-on aspect of dog training. Be advised that there are prerequisites for your visit. The visit is designed to be towards the end of the course. Therefore, at the time of your visit, you and your dog will need to be on cold trails and the task training should be rather solid. Your visit will help to expand the skills of both you and your dog.
***Students in our courses (especially the online versions) should be able to think, problem-solve, and strategize. Our courses are collegiate-level, not spoon-fed. If you’re not up to this level (physically and mentally), think twice before applying.***
Students will need a willing body to lay tracks/trails as they train for that skill within the course.
Dog Trainer School Tuition Financing
Financing is available via the Tuition Finance Corporation. 50% of the tuition must be paid to the school as a down-payment. Depending upon credit score and other criteria, a monthly payment can be as low as $67/month. Students have up to 12 months to pay in full.* Student must first apply to the school (check yes on the application when asked if financing is needed). Upon acceptance, the school will initiate the contract via TFC.
Please note that once your course account is set up, there will be no refunds.
The Service Dog Trainer course can be completed in as little as 6 weeks but access is granted for up to a year, so long as payment agreements are current.
Tuition is $3,750
Financing is available via the Tuition Finance Corporation. 50% of the tuition must be paid to the school as a down-payment. Depending upon credit score and other criteria, a monthly payment can be as low as $67/month.* Students have up to 12 months to pay in full.* Student must first apply to the school (check yes on the application when asked if financing is needed). Upon acceptance, the school will initiate the contract via TFC.
Please note that once your course account is set up, there will be no refunds.
*Rates and terms will vary according to individual credit score, co-signer (if any), and amount of down payment.
What You Will Learn
- Understand the concepts behind efficient training and the fundamentals of conditioning
- Train a variety of dogs with a variety of needs using a variety of tools in a variety of ways
- Diagnose training problems and formulate a plan to overcome them
- Be able to train dogs in both basic and advanced obedience
- Recognize canine anatomy
- Understand the importance of socializing puppies
- Housetrain dogs/puppies in the best way/s possible
- Know how a dog “pack” works
- Realize the need for socialization and how to be thorough in socializing puppies/dogs
- Be familiar with the public’s perception of service dogs
- Learn many of the situations faced by service dog handlers in public
- 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
- 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
- Create your own website that will attract visitors and establish business credibility
- Manage a kennel operation in a clean, healthy setting
- Use social media as a means of marketing your brand/product
- Understand how Search Engine Optimization works and what can be done to improve yours
- Utilize various advertising and marketing options
- Be able to effectively answer your client’s questions
- Establish the foundation for beginning your own dog training business
- Realize the many kinds of training that you may consider offering to your clients
- Install and operate a productive puppy program
Curriculum Outline
- What is a Service Dog
- Puppy
- Adult
- Using the Right Equipment the Right Way
- Application Process
- Delivering the Service Dog
- Handler & Family Training
- Scent Theory
- Variable Surface Trailing
- Scent Discrimination Trailing
- Problem Solving
- Public Access
- Interrogations
- Travel
- 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
- Proper Service Dog Etiquette
- Puppy Conditioning
- Public Settings
- Schools and Workplace
