This course goes over basic dog anatomy and internal systems as well as dog movement and alignment. It covers many areas of fitness and exercise for dogs to increase flexibility, balance, strength, stamina and endurance. Throughout the course, age of the dog is taken into consideration, and exercises for puppies, adult, and senior dogs are provided. We also go over some training foundations such as marker training, mechanics, and reinforcements to ensure you are set up for success when working with your dog.
Many of the exercises can be done in a sitting and stationary position. We aim to make our course as inclusive as possible so that people with varying levels of mobility can participate and exercise their dog!
How You Will Learn
- Learn through a mix of written material, hand-outs, worksheets, and videos, all hosted on our online learning platform.
- You will be asked to complete short quizzes along the way to ensure you understand the material.
- You will be asked to submit three video assignments where you are working with a dog. You will get individualized and valuable feedback!
- You will have the opportunity to discuss your tests and assignments with Atlas faculty as well as retake tests as needed.
- You will be in charge of your own time management and are responsible for going through the course.
The Details
- Cost: $325
- Timeline: You will have access to the course for SIX months. With advanced notice, you may make arrangements with Atlas if you believe you will need additional time to complete the course due to extenuating circumstances.
- CEUs: This course qualifies for 30 continuing education units with KPA and 20 CEUs with CCPDT.
- Special Discounts: Atlas students get a special discount code to use on all Blue-9 equipment, including Klimb.
- Who is it for: This course is geared towards experienced dog trainers as well as those training their own service dog or pet dog. To be successful in this course, participants will need/should have a basic understanding of positive training methods, how to use a marker, how to deliver reinforcement and how to set up a training session. This course is not for the novice handler who does not have prior dog training experience. For the dog: This course is appropriate for dogs of any age.
FAQs
We give you six months access to the course. It is entirely self-paced, so depending on how much time you spend on it each week, you could complete it in far less time. Regardless of how fast you complete it, you will have access for six months.
$325 for six months access.
f you have not completed the course within six months and wish to continue, we do offer a two month extension for $50 to give you additional time. If you do not wish to continue beyond the six months, you will lose access to the course
Great! Please visit our Trainer Certification page for information about the program and its requirements. Having completed this course first will give you a discount on the Academy.
This is NOT a service dog training course. Taking this course does not make your dog a service dog. Under the ADA, a service dog is a dog that is trained to perform at least one task that directly mitigates their handler’s disability, and the dog must be well-behaved in public.
You will receive a certificate of completion. But this course does not certify you or your dog under any certifying bodies.
Maybe. This is a self-paced, online course. You will get plenty of feedback on the assignments you submit and opportunities to talk to instructors. The assignments you submit are meant to help you apply the course material with the dog(s) you are working with. But you will not be watching live demos or have instructors coaching you live as you work with a dog. Please consider your learning style before signing up.
This course is not geared for the novice dog handler. While you do not need to be a professional dog trainer, to be successful in this course, participants will need/should have a basic understanding of positive training methods, how to use a marker, how to deliver reinforcement and how to set up a training session.
Atlas Assistance Dogs believes in using positive reinforcement, non aversive, and scientifically backed training methods. We do not endorse the use of pain, fear, intimidation, or force when working with dogs (or people). Any student signing up for our course will be asked to commit to using positive training methods.