Class Descriptions and Lengths
School for Dog Trainers - Core Classes
INTRODUCTION AND ETHOLOGY
INT-101
16 class hours, 0 lab hours
Introduction to the industry of dog training and the evolution of the domestic dogs from wolves. Students will learn about the roles of dog trainers and explore different areas of training, such as, service dogs, police dogs, therapy dogs, detection dogs, etc. Students will also explore theories of domestication and learn about differences between domestic dogs and other canids as well as innate canine behaviors and their impact on training dogs.
Prerequisites: None
APPLIED DOG BEHAVIOR
ABD-102
24 class hours, 0 lab hours
This class gives students an understanding of applied dog behavior and its use in training dogs. The class covers clicker training as a method of training dogs through the use of positive reinforcement as well as explaining baiting and luring dogs.
Prerequisites: None
LEARNING THEORY AND PRINCIPLES
LEA-103
32 class hours, 8 lab hours
This class explores a variety of learning theories and principles that are used in dog training. The student will learn the proper application of reinforcement schedules as well as behavior shaping and the fundamentals of training.
Prerequisites: None
APPLICATION OF TRAINING TOOLS
ATT-104
20 class hours, 20 lab hours
This class provides an overview of different types of training tools and their various uses. The student will learn the proper application and use of a variety of tools including the gentle leader, harness, prong collar, Martingale and remote training collar.
Prerequisites: ABD-102, LEA-103
CANINE BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
BEH-105
32 class hours, 8 lab hours
This class focuses on understanding common canine behavior problems and how to successfully diagnose and rehabilitate them. In this class the student will learn how to conduct proper behavior analysis of canine behavior problems as well as options for treating each of them.
Prerequisites: None
BUSINESS & MARKETING
BUS-106
30 class hours, 2 lab hours
This program covers an overview of strategies for successfully starting and operating a dog training business. Students will learn about challenges of beginning a business and marketing it successfully as well as franchise options for national dog training related businesses.This class also covers web design, SEO and social media strategies.
Prerequisites: None
WORKING WITH CLIENTS
CLI-107
4 class hours, 4 lab hours
In this class students will learn how to properly teach clients how to train their own dogs. This class covers some of the pitfalls of working with clients and how to deal with them. Also covered in this class are methods of properly setting up and teaching group classes, and other dog training lessons.
Prerequisites: None
DOG SPECIALTIES
SPE-108
4 class hours, 8 lab hours
Students will explore a variety of dog related specialties, such as, triebball, herding, rally obedience, agility, barn hunt tests, K9 scent work, competition obedience as well as others. Students will learn about the resources and experience required to teach these specialties.
Prerequisites: None
VETERINARIAN & HEALTH ISSUES
VET-109
12 class hours, 12 lab hours
Students will learn about common veterinary and health issues that impact training and overall dog health. This class teaches students how to identify and treat injuries and canine parasites. The class also teaches canine first aid and CPR.
Prerequisites: None
Obedience & Behavior Specialty Classes
DOMINANCE & AGGRESSION
DOM-201
8 class hours, 32 lab hours
Students will learn more about dominance and dominance aggression in dogs. They will also study methods of rehabilitating and managing this behavior. This class also discusses techniques for working with owners who have dogs suffering from resource guarding and dominance aggression.
Prerequisites: BEH-105
FEAR & AGGRESSION
FEA-202
8 class hours, 32 lab hours
Students will learn more about phobias and fear aggression in dogs. They will also study methods of rehabilitating and managing this behavior. This class also discusses techniques for working with owners who have dogs suffering from fear aggression.
Prerequisites: BEH-105
DOG TRICKS & THERAPY DOGS
TRI-301
8 class hours, 32 lab hours
This program covers methods for training dog tricks and therapy dogs. Students will learn how to utilize operant condition to train complex behaviors and teach dog tricks. Students will also learn about training therapy dogs, their uses and certification requirements for therapy dogs.
Prerequisites: ABD-102, SPE 108, DOM-201, FEA-202
COMPETITION OBEDIENCE
COM-302
16 class hours, 24 lab hours
Students will learn the skills for teaching competition level obedience for AKC competitions as well as other competition sports such as Schutzhund, IPO, etc.
Prerequisites: ABD-102, LEA-103, ATT-104, DOM-201, FEA-202
TEACHING AGILITY
AGI-303
16 class hours, 24 lab hours
Students will learn how to teach skills for the fast-paced and precision sport of agility. This program teaches students how to teach agility for competition as well as practical agility skills for working dogs.
Prerequisites: ABD-102, LEA-103, SPE-108, DOM-201, FEA-202
INTRODUCTION TO SERVICE DOGS
ISR-304
6 class hours, 34 lab hours
In this class, students will explore the various types of service dogs that are used to assist individuals with disabilities. Students will learn about Autism Service dogs, Hearing Service Dog, Mobility Service Dogs and Seizure Alert/Assistance dogs.
Prerequisites: ABD-102, LEA-103, SPE-108, DOM-201, FEA-202
SERVICE DOG OVERVIEW
SDO-210
8 class hours, 22 lab hours
Students will learn in-depth information about the training of a variety of service dogs and how they assist individuals with disabilities. This class also teaches the student about the Americans with Disabilities Act, Air Carrier Access Act and Fair Housing Act and how they apply to service dog trainers and owners.
Prerequisites: None
WORKING WITH CLIENTS WITH DISABILITIES
CWD-211
12 class hours, 28 lab hours
Students will learn about the challenges that are faced by service dog clients. Students learn the challenges of being in a wheelchair, being blind and deaf. Through this understanding, students will better learn how to teach and work with individuals with disabilities.
Prerequisites: SDO-210
TRAINING SIGNAL DOGS
SIG-212
14 class hours, 26 lab hours
Students will learn the fundamental skills of training signal dogs for individuals with hearing disabilities. This class teaches students how to train dogs to respond to alarms and other noises and to alert their handler to the sound. This class also teaches how to select dogs for this work.
Prerequisites: SDO-210, CWD-211
SCENT DISCRIMINATION TRAILING
SDT-213
8 class hours, 32 lab hours
Students will learn about human odor theory and how it applies to trailing dogs. Students will also learn the fundamentals of training trailing dogs for scent discrimination and variable surface trailing to find lost individuals and criminal suspects. Also covered in this class are the environmental factors that affect scent discrimination trailing dogs.
Prerequisites: LEA-103, ATT-104
MOBILITY DOG OVERVIEW
MOB-214
22 class hours, 32 lab hours
Students will learn the fundamental skills of training mobility dogs for individuals with physical disabilities. This class teaches students how to train dogs to work around manual and electric wheelchairs. This class also teaches how to select dogs for this work.
Prerequisites: SDO-210, CWD-211
MOBILITY DOGS – TEACHING TASKS
MOB-310
12 class hours, 28 lab hours
In this class, students will learn how to teach tasks that are specifically useful for mobility service dogs. Students will learn how to teach dogs to open/close doors, turn on light switches, and retrieve items as well as other common tasks.
Prerequisites: MOB-214
TRAINING AUTISM SERVICE DOGS
AAD-215
18 class hours, 22 lab hours
In this class, students are introduced to teaching tasks that are specifically useful for autism service dogs. Students will learn how to teach dogs to touch a target and pair that with certain behaviors.
Prerequisites: SDO-210, CWD-211
TRAINING AUTISM SERVICE
DOGS 2
AAD-311
6 class hours, 34 lab hours
In this class, students will learn how to teach tasks that are specifically useful for autism service dogs. Students will learn how to teach dogs to touch, lay, and apply deep pressure as well as other common tasks.
Prerequisites: AAD-215
TRAINING DOGS FOR SEIZURES, TBI & PTSD
SAD-216
16 class hours, 24 lab hours
In this class, students will learn how to teach tasks that are specifically useful for service dogs that assist persons with disabilities such as seizures, traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorders. Students will learn how to teach dogs to alert and assist those having seizures as well as other common tasks.
Prerequisites: SDO-210, CWD-211
SERVICE DOGS IN PUBLIC
PUB-217
4 class hours, 36 lab hours
Students will learn how to effectively manage service dogs in public places such as, restaurants, malls, airports, shopping centers and other places.
Prerequisites: SDO-210, CWD-211
MANAGING YOUR SERVICE DOG BUSINESS OR ORGANIZATION
BUS-218
6 class hours, 34 lab hours
This class teaches students how to successfully operate a service dog business or nonprofit organization. Students will learn how to develop an application process, determine waiting periods and how to make determinations of qualifications for the ADA.
Prerequisites: SDO-210, CWD-211
SERVICE DOG PRACTICAL EXAM
SDP-220
2 class hours, 24 lab hours
Students will learn about public access testing and apply this to real-world applications. This class covers testing and certification of service dogs in public places.
Prerequisites: None
Police K9 Instructor Classes
CANINE CASE LAW
CAS-220
8 class hours, 0 lab hours
Students will explore Federal Court Rulings that determine best practices for the use of police dogs in the United States. This class teaches both detection and apprehension cases with an emphasis on the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments.
Prerequisites: None
POLICE K9 EQUIPMENT
PEQ-221
2 class hours, 10 lab hours
This program teaches students about the purpose, application and use of various types of equipment that is commonly used for training working dogs. This program demonstrates the proper application of bite sleeves, bite suits, harnesses as well as other common equipment.
Prerequisites: ATT-104
TRAINING DETECTION DOGS
DET-222
10 class hours, 24 lab hours
Students will learn about odor theory and how to imprint detection dogs for training in narcotics detection, explosives detection as well as other specialty detection areas. This class also covers a variety of methods for imprinting dogs and teaching the alert.
Prerequisites: LEA-103
DETECTION DOGS 2
DET-313
2 class hours, 22 lab hours
This program further explores training of detection dogs and focuses more on skills training for detection dogs. Some of the skills that are covered are: searching vehicles, searching parcels, searching buildings, etc.
Prerequisites: DET-222
CRIMINAL APPREHENSION & BITE WORK
APP-223
4 class hours, 6 lab hours
Students will learn the fundamentals of bite work including how to recognize and develop prey and defense drives in working dogs. This program covers testing and selecting dogs for criminal apprehension training. Students will also learn basic decoy skills.
Prerequisites: LEA-103
APPREHENSION & BITE WORK 2
APP-314
6 class hours, 28 lab hours
In this class, students will learn about how to properly target, improve grip and channel drives in apprehension dogs. This program further develops the students’ ability to decoy dogs and problem solve dogs trained for bite work.
Prerequisites: APP-223
TEACHING K9 HANDLERS
TKH-230
4 class hours, 14 lab hours
The student will learn techniques and methods of teaching K9 handlers how to work with and manage their working dogs. This class also covers how to create effective lesson plans and aspects of remedial training.
Prerequisites: LEA-103
ADVANCED DETECTION AND INTERDICTION
ADI-231
6 class hours, 8 lab hours
This program covers concealment methods that are commonly encountered during criminal interdiction. This class also covers effectively searching passenger vehicles and criminal interdiction methods.
Prerequisites: DET-222
TACTICAL BUILDING SEARCHES
TBS-240
8 class hours, 14 lab hours
Students will learn building search methods and strategies to conduct searches for criminal suspects as safely as possible. This program explores the clear down and cover method of conducting building searches as well as other off-leash building search methods. This program also explores the apprehension method vs. bark and hold method of building searches.
Prerequisites: APP-223
ADVANCED POLICE K9 TRAINING
AVP-241
6 class hours, 18 lab hours
Students will learn how to teach additional police k9 concepts such as area searches, introducing gunfire, article searches, working with arrest teams. This program also covers muzzle fighting and ground fighting.
Prerequisites: None
SWAT K9 CONCEPTS AND INTEGRATION
SWA-242
6 class hours, 10 lab hours
This class teaches the student how to safely and effectively integrate police dogs into SWAT and tactical police and military teams. This class teaches the student how to perform perimeter operations, extractions and entries with SWAT Teams.
Prerequisites: None
K9 UNIT SUPERVISION & MANAGEMENT
SUP-243
8 class hours, 0 lab hours
Students learn how to start, maintain and properly supervise k9 units and their personnel. This program covers a number of supervisory issues such as compensation, handler selection and appropriate K9 policy.
Prerequisites: None
Search & Rescue Dog Trainer Classes
TRAINING THE WILDERNESS SAR DOG
WLD-224
8 class hours, 0 lab hours
Students will learn how to select, test and train dogs for Wilderness Search and Rescue Operations. This class explains the steps necessary to train a wilderness search dog to search vast wooded areas to locate and indicate to the presence of lost persons.
Prerequisites: LEA-103
TEACHING WILDERNESS SEARCH DOG SKILLS
WLD-245
6 class hours, 30 lab hours
This class teaches students how to train the skills necessary to develop a viable wilderness search and rescue dog candidate. This class also teaches how to develop search strategies for working wilderness search dogs. This class provides ample hands-on training in teaching skills such as the bark alert and refind indication for Wilderness Search and Rescue Dogs.
Prerequisites: WLD-224
TRAINING THE HUMAN REMAINS DETECTION DOG
HRD-225
8 class hours, 0 lab hours
Students will learn how to select, test and train dogs for Human Remains Detection operations. This class explains the steps necessary to train a cadaver dog to search rubble piles, fields and aquatic environments to locate and indicate to the presence of human remains.
Prerequisites: LEA-103
HRD K9 TRAINING SKILLS
HRD-246
6 class hours, 30 lab hours
This class teaches students how to train the skills necessary to develop a viable cadaver dog candidate. This class also teaches how to develop search strategies for working cadaver dogs. This class provides ample hands-on training in teaching skills such as the passive and active indication for cadaver dogs.
Prerequisites: HRD-225
TRAINING THE DISASTER SEARCH DOG
USR-232
8 class hours, 0 lab hours
Students will learn how to select, test and train dogs for Urban Search and Rescue operations. This class explains the steps necessary to train a disaster dog to search rubble piles and similar disaster scenes to locate and indicate to the presence of trapped victims.
Prerequisites: LEA-103
TEACHING DISASTER SEARCH DOG SKILLS
USR-244
6 class hours, 34 lab hours
This class teaches students how to train the skills necessary to develop a viable urban search and rescue dog candidate. This class also teaches how to develop search strategies for working urban search and rescue dogs. This class provides ample hands-on training in teaching skills such as the bark alert and rubble pile navigation for Urban Search and Rescue Dogs.
Prerequisites: USR-232
Other Dog Trainer Classes
K9 PROBLEM SOLVING
PRS-247
6 class hours, 10 lab hours
Students will learn how to effectively diagnose and solve problems with protection and detection dogs. This class covers problems solving of dog teams trained for narcotics detection, explosives detection, human remains detection and protection.
Prerequisites: None
BUILDING SEARCH METHODS FOR DETECTION HANDLERS
BSM-248
6 class hours, 23 lab hours
This class teaches students effective methods for conducting building searches with a variety of detection dogs including, explosives, narcotics and cadaver dogs.
Prerequisites: None
SCENARIO BASED TRAINING FOR SAR DOGS
SAR-315
0 class hours, 6 lab hours
In this class, students will learn how to effectively solve training and handling issues and problems with search and rescue dogs. This class covers problems solving of dog teams trained for Urban Search and Rescue, Wilderness Search and Rescue and Human Remains Detection.
Prerequisites: PRS-247
SCENARIO BASED TRAINING FOR PROTECTION DOGS
SBT-316
2 class hours, 8 lab hours
In this class, students will learn how to conduct scenario based training for protection dogs. This program covers how to teach the handler attack, multiple suspects, attack under gunfire and carjacking scenarios with protection trained dogs.
Prerequisites: APP-314
COMMERCIAL VEHICLE SEARCH METHODS
CVS-249
3 class hours, 23 lab hours
The student will learn the proper methods of searching tractor trailers and other commercial motor vehicles with detection dogs. This program also covers common hiding places used by common carriers.
Prerequisites: DET-222
COMMERCIAL DETECTION SERVICES
CDS-250
2 class hours, 4 lab hours
This class teaches the student how to manage and offer commercial detection services to private clients. Students also learn how to develop service contracts and price commercial detection services.
Prerequisites: None
DOG SPORTS FOR PROTECTION DOGS
DSP-251
3 class hours, 13 lab hours
Students will learn how to train skills that are useful for protection dogs in common dog sports. Skills that the students will learn include the object guard, handler attack, passive bites, bark and hold and blind searches.
Prerequisites: APP-314