A Comprehensive Curriculum
Engage in dynamic learning with the Center for the Study of Medical Assistance Canines (CMAC). Our courses are live, interactive, and hands-on, ensuring an immersive training experience. Unlike pre-recorded classes, you'll directly interact with instructors. Practice live with real-time guidance and hands-on activities, including at least one dog, enhancing your training skills between classes. Elevate your service dog training through our interactive approach at CMAC.
Immerse yourself in our in-depth and comprehensive service dog training certification program, specializing in medical alert dogs. This hands-on curriculum provides the essential knowledge and practical experience to kickstart your journey in the medical detection field. Our step-by-step program covers over 30+ behaviors, candidate selection, industry laws and standards, and specialized training for conditions like diabetes, seizures, autism spectrum disorders, and psychiatric disorders. Learn the art of selecting and matching dogs with clients efficiently.
​
All classes are conducted live through Zoom, ensuring real-time interaction and hands-on learning. Nothing is pre-recorded, guaranteeing an engaging and practical course. Dedicate at least 3 hours a week to practical assignments between classes, and have access to a dog for hands-on training throughout the curriculum. Become a proficient service dog trainer through our immersive and specialized program.
Our Course Description
Selecting Service Dog Candidates
The selection of service dog candidates is a critical aspect, and a stringent process is essential due to the limited number of dogs suitable for training as service dogs. Our service dog program emphasizes strict criteria for selecting candidates. Gain access to our temperament testing protocols, standards, and hands-on experience to choose the right dogs for service dog training:
-
Identifying dogs with the highest potential for service work
-
Conducting temperament tests effectively
-
Determining the most suitable breeds for service dog training
-
Exploring partnerships with breeders or initiating a breeding program
-
Establishing collaborations with shelters and rescues
Foundational and Intermediate training (Level 1 & 2)
A solid service dog program requires standards, tracking, and testing protocols for the dogs in training. This module is about learning the basics for all service dogs, no matter the disability they will help. This course offers a full data-driven system for service comprehensive dog training. We will cover:
-
Behavior fundamentals: impulse control, problem-solving, taking initiative, etc.
-
Foundation and intermediate behaviors for service dogs: over 20 trained behaviors, from the very basics to the more advanced behaviors.
-
Organizing and keeping track of the dog’s training.
-
Assessments for each level of training.
Public Access Training
Service dogs must work in public places. This is the hardest part of the training as many dogs struggle with the level of distractions and stimuli present in the environment. The focus of this module is on public access training:
-
The Laws and standards for service dogs.
-
Managing the dog through public settings.
-
Interacting with the public.
-
What’s the Public Access Test and why it’s important?
Selection and coaching of service dog clients
Our school is dedicated to training individuals to become proficient service dog trainers, focusing on the intricacies of the human side, encompassing both challenges and triumphs:
-
A comprehensive exploration of various disabilities, understanding their day-to-day impact, and how a service dog can offer assistance.
-
Detailed guidance on the selection of service dog clients, covering the application process, interviews, and specific criteria.
-
Expertise in matching dogs with clients based on their unique needs and preferences.
-
Coaching clients and introducing them to their future service dogs.
-
Support and follow-up after the placement of the service dog.
Specialized training for disabilities such as diabetes, seizures, autism spectrum, and psychiatric disorders.
This course offers comprehensive instruction in medical assistant dog training, providing invaluable hands-on experience:
-
Exploring the disabilities that can benefit from scent detection and understanding their impact on individuals' lives.
-
Learning the techniques for training dogs to alert to hypo/hyperglycemia, seizures, panic attacks, and other critical situations.
-
Discovering additional tasks such as pressing alert buttons, bracing, retrieving items, and seeking help as part of a service dog's responsibilities.
-
38 hours of live teaching sessions
-
Information-packed practical teaching with written and video assignments.
-
Practical assignments at the end of every session.
-
A practical learning experience with live project work and examples.
-
A complete system for record-keeping and assessing dogs.
Tailored for intermediate to advanced dog trainers. This course necessitates access to a dog for service training purposes.