Service Dog Trainer

The Service Dog Trainer course is designed to aid the graduate in starting or enhancing their own Service Dog training business or non-profit. The course teaches the fundamentals of dog training, advanced obedience/task training, with special emphasis on Service Dog Training. The course is taught from a balanced training perspective. Whether your desire is to train Psychiatric Service Dogs, Medical Alert Service Dogs, or dogs assisting those with Seizures or Autism, this course is for you!

Service Dog Trainer

The Service Dog Trainer course is designed to aid the graduate in starting or enhancing their own Service Dog training business or non-profit. The course teaches the fundamentals of dog training, advanced obedience/task training, with special emphasis on Service Dog Training. The course is taught from a balanced training perspective. Whether your desire is to train Psychiatric Service Dogs, Medical Alert Service Dogs, or dogs assisting those with Seizures or Autism, this course is for you!

Course Overview

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Become A Certified Service Dog Trainer

This course covers the full range of training obedience and 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.

Financial Aid and Lodging are available, if desired.  With our competitive financing options, you can take this awesome course for as little as $219/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.

 

calendar_month Course Dates

This in-person class starts on June 30, 2025

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.

paid Course Rates

Twelve-Week Course

$10,500

What You Will Learn
In Becoming A Certified Service Dog Trainer

Core Elements
  • 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
Business Management
  • 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
Special Needs Training
  • 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
Service Dog Training
  • 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

Training Fundamentals
  • Conditioning
  • Phases of Training
  • Correction vs. Reward
Obedience Training
  • Basic and Advanced
  • Correct use of a Prong collar
  • Correct use of a Remote collar
  • Clicker Training
  • Baiting/Luring
Canine Development
  • Puppies
  • Housetraining
  • Socialization
  • Canine Anatomy
Canine Behavior
  • Analysis
  • Prevention
  • Treatment
  • Breed Awareness
  • Dog-to-Human Aggression
  • Dog-to-Dog Aggression
Canine Health
  • Nutrition
  • Canine CPR
  • Canine First Aid
  • Kennel Management
Business Integration
  • Website construction
  • Search Engine Optimization
  • Social Media
  • Advertising and Marketing
Selection of Service Dogs
  • Puppy
  • Adult
Working with Disabled Handlers
  • The Application Process
  • Delivering the Service Dog
  • Handler & Family Training
The Trailing Dog
  • Scent Theory
  • Variable Surface Trailing
  • Scent Discrimination Trailing
  • Problem Solving
Americans with Disabilities Act
  • Public Access
  • Interrogations
  • Travel
  • Limitations
Service Dogs
  • 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
Environmental Stability
  • Puppy Conditioning
  • Public Settings
  • Schools & the Workplace
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ENROLL TODAY!

Get the certified training and skills you need to be able to train dogs of all ages and breeds. From training the basic behavior and obedience to even more advanced skills of training service dogs and police K9s, the demand for balanced, real-world dog trainers is growing, so now is the time to get started! Invest in yourself and apply today for in-person or online courses and become a certified dog trainer.

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