Some basic dog wrangling/handling skills. You might have acquired these volunteering with a rescue or shelter, or through taking part in canine sports, such as agility
At least 10 – 15 hours a week to commit to studying and practicing training
Access to dogs to demonstrate your training techniques in video submissions. You may use your own dog if he or she does not already know the behaviors. Many of our students put out an ask on apps such as NextDoor and get huge response from neighbors delighted to offer their dogs for training
You’ll also need:
A PC or Mac (OSX 10.6 or later) loaded with:
Ability to read PDFs
An up-to-date version of an internet browser such as Google Chrome or Firefox
A smartphone, tablet or video camera to record your training for assignments sessions
You’ll need to be able to upload files and videos, and do basic editing on your videos.
Yes. There are tests at the end of each semester which you will need to pass before moving on to the next semester. This ensures that you will be well prepared for the final exam which takes place at the end of your studies.
The program’s Introduction module offers several suggestions for recruiting “green” dogs to use for learning training procedures and mechanical skills. These include fostering, shelter volunteering, and recruiting from among family, friends and neighbors.
The minimum age for enrollment is 18 years, though The Academy has occasionally made an exception for a promising younger candidate, with parental input. It is important to note that the complexity of the material is post-secondary, and in some cases, university graduate level. There is no maximum age.
Yes. The Academy vets applicants for three main things:
Academic aptitude. Will you thrive in the curriculum?
A personality well-suited to a rewarding and challenging profession that involves counseling sometimes distraught owners about their companion dogs. Good fits for this program are people who are intellectually curious, methodical and science-oriented, who like working with and are patient with people, and are conscientiousness, compassion and cooperative. If you have some background in the social sciences, this will serve you well.
Dog handling experience such as professional training, fostering, walking dogs at shelters, participation in dog sports or having worked or volunteered in other professions where you will have handled a variety of dogs.
It is helpful but not required to have read from our recommended reading list.
Yes, the program has been granted 21 CEUs for each level (for a total of 84) by the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT), and 25 CEUs for Each Level (for a total of 100) by the International Association of Animal Behavior Counselors (IAABC).
It is important that you have handled more than just your own dogs. Prospective students achieve this in a variety of ways, including work in related fields such as veterinary medicine, dog-walking, grooming, working or volunteering in sheltering or rescue, and assisting trainers locally. It is also valuable to have worked with your own dogs, such as attending classes, doing dog sports and resolving behavior issues.
Yes, absolutely. The program is specifically designed for distance learning and remote video coaching. Please note that the program is conducted entirely in English.
Invitations to enroll in The Academy’s program are usually valid for a period of one month. This allows us to carefully monitor the student body and ensure the degree of individual coaching and mentoring we have become known for.
