Our complete course for trainers

Our program offers everything you will need to get started as a service dog trainer specializing in medical detection. Even though all our classes are through Zoom, this is a hands-on, practical course. You will learn how to select and train a dog from A-Z. We’ll meet once a week online, but you must be able to dedicate at least 3 hours a week for the practical assignments between classes. In this course, you will learn about the disabilities that can be helped with scent detection. From sample collection to discrimination and live alerts. Access to a dog that you can train as you progress through the classes will be required.

You will learn all you need to start training Medical Alert Service Dogs as well as Service dogs for Autism Spectrum Disorder, and more, from dog selection to working with clients and over 30 behaviors trained:

OUR COURSE DESCRIPTION

How to select and assess dogs to train as a service dog.

• How to test service dog candidates.
• Working with breeders or developing a breeding program.
• Establishing a partnership with shelters and rescues.
• When and how to decide to keep a dog in the program or to release them as pets.

Service dog training foundational and Intermediate behaviors

• Organizing and keeping track of the dog’s training. Why it’s important and how to stay organized.
• Foundation and intermediate behaviors for service dogs: over 20 trained behaviors with step-by-step written instructions.
• Assessments for each level of training.

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

• The different disabilities, how they affect everyday life, and how a dog can help.
• How to select service dog clients (application, interview, criteria, etc.)
• Matching dogs and clients.
• Preparing the client before they get the service dog
• Working with the client during Team Training.
• Following up after placement.

Specialized training for disabilities such as diabetes, seizures, autism spectrum, and psychiatric disorders.

• What disabilities can be helped with scent detection?
• How to train the dogs to alert.
• Task training: pressing a button, bracing, retrieving medications, a drink or a phone, finding help, etc.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

• 38 hours of live teaching sessions
• Required access to a dog to train as a service dog.
• Information-packed practical teaching with written and video assignments.
• Best suitable for intermediate to advanced dog trainers.
• 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.