Atlas Academy Programs

The Atlas Academy is your hub for learning about service dog training—whether you’re a professional trainer, animal welfare professional, dog enthusiast, or someone supporting the disability community.

Our courses use only positive, force-free methods and are designed for trainers at every level. From introductory courses to our comprehensive Trainer Certification Program, Atlas Academy helps you build the skills and confidence to make a lasting impact.

A woman kneels in tall grass outdoors, smiling at the camera while hugging a black service dog wearing a red and black vest. Trees and sunlight are visible in the background.

Why the Academy?

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Elite Positive Trainers

Our expert trainers at Atlas’ Training Academy bring passion, experience, and science-based techniques to every course. Dedicated to your, your client’s and your dog’s success, they offer personalized guidance and proven methods to strengthen your bond and achieve training goals.

Two women stand outside a modern building with large windows, each holding a leash with a dog. One dog is sitting and looking up, the other dog sits beside the second woman. A bicycle is parked in the background.

Community

At Atlas, dog lovers and trainers come together in a supportive virtual community, sharing knowledge, collaborating, and connecting with others who face similar challenges and goals.

A curly-haired black service dog wearing a blue vest labeled “Atlas” stands on a sidewalk in front of a brick building with steps, a green lawn, and a sunny sky.

Personalized Support

Atlas empowers trainers through expert guidance and ongoing feedback, equipping them with the skills, tools, and confidence needed to work effectively with diverse clients and train dogs for specialized tasks.
A woman with long, light brown hair and a plaid shirt smiles while lying next to a fluffy, light-colored dog. They are outdoors, with a patio and white fence in the background.

Convenience & Continuing Education

Atlas’ online courses offer flexible, self-paced learning from anywhere, with individualized feedback and instruction. Most courses also qualify for CEUs through organizations like CCPDT, KPA, and IAABC. See individual courses for details.

Explore Our Courses

Explore Our Courses

Sign up for our Sample Course for FREE!

Trainer Certification Program

Our flagship program offers an immersive path to becoming an Atlas Certified Service Dog Trainer, a credential that reflects both excellence and ethics. You’ll develop advanced skills in dog training, task training, client coaching, and inclusive service dog practices while joining a supportive network of professionals committed to making service dog training more accessible and humane.

What sets us apart:

  • A comprehensive curriculum blending online coursework with real-world application

  • Personalized mentorship from experienced Atlas trainers

  • A respected certification that builds your expertise, credibility, and impact

→ Become an Atlas Certified Trainer

Individual Courses

Our self-paced specialty courses focus on a range of topics.

→ For pet dog owners or future service dog handlers, we have courses that give you everything you need to raise a confident, happy and healthy dog.

→ Ready for something a bit deeper? Thinking of becoming a professional dog trainer? Dog sports enthusiast? Strengthen your skills here.

→ Wanting to advance specific service dog training skills? Our advanced courses focus on a wide range of service dog training, from medical scent detection to a variety of specialized disability skills.

They’re a great way to enhance your knowledge, try out Atlas’ approach, earn CEUs, or earn credit toward the Trainer Certification Program.

What sets us apart:

  • Flexible online format—learn anytime, anywhere

  • Targeted topics for a range of skill levels

  • Eligible for credit toward Atlas Trainer certification if you continue your journey

On Line Learning

Get Started - All Training Skill Levels Welcomed

Dog Fitness Essentials

A yellow Labrador Retriever wearing a harness stands with its front paws on a fallen tree trunk in a grassy, wooded area, looking back toward the camera.
This condensed Dog Fitness Course delivers the most essential tools from our full Dog Fitness course in a focused, easy-to-follow format.

Teams Set in Motion

A woman wearing a gray scarf and dark coat walks a black dog on a leash along a wet sidewalk in a park on a cloudy day. Trees, grass, and parked cars are visible in the background.

This course helps you and your dog, whether a pet, emotional support animal, or future service dog, build a strong training foundation and lasting partnership.

→ Learn More About Dog Fitness Essentials
→ Learn More About Teams Set in Motion

Dog Fitness Essentials

A yellow Labrador Retriever wearing a harness stands with its front paws on a fallen tree trunk in a grassy, wooded area, looking back toward the camera.
This condensed Dog Fitness Course delivers the most essential tools from our full Dog Fitness course in a focused, easy-to-follow format.
→ Learn More About Dog Fitness Essentials

Teams Set in Motion

A woman wearing a gray scarf and dark coat walks a black dog on a leash along a wet sidewalk in a park on a cloudy day. Trees, grass, and parked cars are visible in the background.

This course helps you and your dog, whether a pet, emotional support animal, or future service dog, build a strong training foundation and lasting partnership.

→ Learn More About Teams Set in Motion

Build Your Foundation - For those developing core training and handling skills

Dog Training Foundations

A brown and white dog with large ears sits on a pathway, looking attentively at the camera. The background is blurred with greenery, emphasizing the dog as the main focus.
This course provides in-depth instruction on advanced training concepts, behavior management, engagement-building, and task training fundamentals.

Service Dog Selection

Two muddy chocolate Labrador puppies sit on a wooden plank outdoors. One puppy faces forward while the other leans in, appearing to sniff or nuzzle its sibling. Fallen leaves and a building are in the background.
Learn how to assess, select, and evaluate service dogs by understanding body language, temperament, health, and suitability for task work.

Dog Fitness

A wet brown and white dog stands on a gravel path by a calm lake, looking alertly into the distance. There are trees and a wooden fence in the background.
This course covers dog anatomy, movement, and fitness, providing age-appropriate exercises to build strength, balance, and endurance.
→ Learn More About Dog Training Foundations
→ Learn More About Service Dog Selection
→ Learn More About Dog Fitness

Dog Training Foundations

A brown and white dog with large ears sits on a pathway, looking attentively at the camera. The background is blurred with greenery, emphasizing the dog as the main focus.
This course provides in-depth instruction on advanced training concepts, behavior management, engagement-building, and task training fundamentals.
→ Learn More About Dog Training Foundations

Service Dog Selection

Two muddy chocolate Labrador puppies sit on a wooden plank outdoors. One puppy faces forward while the other leans in, appearing to sniff or nuzzle its sibling. Fallen leaves and a building are in the background.
Learn how to assess, select, and evaluate service dogs by understanding body language, temperament, health, and suitability for task work.
→ Learn More About Service Dog Selection

Dog Fitness

A wet brown and white dog stands on a gravel path by a calm lake, looking alertly into the distance. There are trees and a wooden fence in the background.
This course covers dog anatomy, movement, and fitness, providing age-appropriate exercises to build strength, balance, and endurance.
→ Learn More About Dog Fitness

Advance Your Skills - For experienced trainers or handlers

Medical Disability Skills

A young woman with long dark hair hugs a large black dog wearing a teal vest, sitting together on a wooden bench outdoors. The background is slightly blurred, showing some trees and a building.
Learn how to train medical response and alert skills, from seizure assistance to hearing alerts, to support people with a variety of health conditions.

Mobility Disability Skills

A person in a wheelchair with teal hair and an I love public t-shirt smiles while holding a card with a wheelchair symbol. A teal-vested service dog, also with teal fur, holds the card in its mouth.
Learn mobility and balance assistance skills—such as retrievals, balance support, and momentum pull—and get guidance on gear and mobility equipment.

Diabetes & Medical Scent Detection

A woman in a navy shirt and gray pants smiles at a brown service dog wearing a green ATLAS vest while standing outdoors in front of a building with steps.
Get step-by-step guidance to train reliable scent detection and alerts, and learn how to select the right dog for medical scent detection work.
→ Learn More About Medical Disability Skills
→ Learn More About Mobility Disability Skills
→ Learn More About Diabetes & Medical Scent Detection

Medical Disability Skills

A young woman with long dark hair hugs a large black dog wearing a teal vest, sitting together on a wooden bench outdoors. The background is slightly blurred, showing some trees and a building.
Learn how to train medical response and alert skills, from seizure assistance to hearing alerts, to support people with a variety of health conditions.

→ Learn More About Medical Disability Skills

Mobility Disability Skills

A person in a wheelchair with teal hair and an I love public t-shirt smiles while holding a card with a wheelchair symbol. A teal-vested service dog, also with teal fur, holds the card in its mouth.
Learn mobility and balance assistance skills—such as retrievals, balance support, and momentum pull—and get guidance on gear and mobility equipment.
→ Learn More About Mobility Disability Skills

Diabetes & Medical Scent Detection

A woman in a navy shirt and gray pants smiles at a brown service dog wearing a green ATLAS vest while standing outdoors in front of a building with steps.
Get step-by-step guidance to train reliable scent detection and alerts, and learn how to select the right dog for medical scent detection work.
→ Learn More About Diabetes & Medical Scent Detection

Psychiatric & Cognitive Disability Skills

A curly-haired brown dog wearing an Atlas Assistance Dog in Training vest rests its head on a womans lap as she sits on the floor smiling, with her hand on her chest.
This course covers skills that help mitigate symptoms related to psychiatric disabilities, from deep pressure therapy to behavior interruption.
→ Learn More About Psychiatric & Cognitive Disability Skills

Psychiatric & Cognitive Disability Skills

A curly-haired brown dog wearing an Atlas Assistance Dog in Training vest rests its head on a womans lap as she sits on the floor smiling, with her hand on her chest.
This course covers skills that help mitigate symptoms related to psychiatric disabilities, from deep pressure therapy to behavior interruption.
→ Learn More About Psychiatric & Cognitive Disability Skills

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