SDC Certification Program Application

Application Process Prerequisites Tuition Payment Plan FAQs

Get Started Learning About Service Dogs!

Complete the application: It takes about an hour, and you can save your progress at the bottom of the page to return to it later if needed.
Tuition: Once accepted, your full tuition payment will be due within 5 days to secure your spot.
Confirm your start date and dive into the course!

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Step 1 of 6

Confirmation: Upon submitting your application, you should receive an email confirmation within one business day. If you don’t receive the confirmation, please contact us as your submission might not have been received.

Name*

First Last

Address*

Street Address City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Country

Phone

If we have questions about your application, we may need to reach you by phone.

Email*

Enter Email Confirm Email

Business Website

Facebook Business Page

Other Social Media

Please list urls for your other social media accounts such as Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn

References

Provide contact information for 3 references, two professional and one client. One professional reference must from be a credentialed dog trainer, the other may be from a credentialed dog trainer, veterinarian or a veterinary behaviorist.

First Professional Reference Name*

First Last

Email*

Enter Email Confirm Email

Phone

Second Professional Reference Name

First Last

Email*

Enter Email Confirm Email

Phone

Third Reference Name*

First Last

Email*

Enter Email Confirm Email

Phone

Training

What training tools do you use in your work with dogs? For example, what types of collars, leashes and harnesses do you recommend?*

Training Mechanics

Choose One*

2 Minute Training Example Video

Written Training Step-by-Step

Training Example Video*

Submit an approximately 2 min. video that shows you training a dog a behavior that the dog does not already know using clicker training. We are interested in your training mechanics. We do not expect to see the dog’s finished performance in this short video.

Your video can show you clicker training a simple behavior such as targeting a lid, hand, sticky or another item with a nose or paw(s); performing a chin rest on your hand or couch. You can generalize a skill, for example, if the dog was previously trained to touch your hand with their nose, you can show training the dog to touch a spoon instead.

If you already have video that shows you training a dog a behavior that the dog does not already know using clicker training (for instance, on social media) and the video meets the criteria, you are welcome to submit it by providing the link.

Video should be approximately 2 min. long and show:
1. You training the dog the entire time.
2. You marking with a clicker and rewarding desired behavior.
3. You adjusting criteria appropriately as per the dog’s responses.

Video should NOT show no reward markers (no “uhuh,” “ack” or other similar verbalizations ).

Preferred method of sending video: Upload the video to Dropbox, Google Drive, Vimeo or YouTube and provide the link to the video below.

Training How-To Step by Step*

Describe clearly and carefully, as you would for a training client, the step by step process you would use to shape “go to place” using clicker training. The end goal is for the dog to go to a mat, lie down and stay there.

Briefly describe a complex, advanced behavior you have trained a dog to do?*

Do you use or recommend: electronic (shock) collars (training collars or fences), choke chains, prong collars (metal, plastic or Starmark style) or other similar correction collars?*

Yes

Are electronic (shock) collars (training collars or electronic fences), choke chains, prong collars (metal, plastic or Starmark style) or other similar correction collars used or permitted in the training business you own or work for?*

Yes

SDC Program Policies

Please read each section below fully and carefully.

Schedule Preferences

Please provide any preferences or constraints regarding your schedule, including upcoming holidays or planned vacations. Students are expected to begin within one month of being accepted into the program.

Offer Code

Limit one per applicant.

Electronic Signature Agreement*

I have reviewed and agree to the electronic signature policy . I am at least 18 years old and I have the authority to enter into this contract and affirmatively consent to using an electronic signature for this contract and any renewals of this contract.

Data Collection Agreement*

I consent to my submitted information being collected and stored.

Application Submission Agreement*

If you are accepted into the program, you will receive an invoice for the $3100 tuition. The tuition is due within 5 business days and is non-refundable.

You will need to complete the lessons and submit finished projects to Cooperative Paws LLC by the course deadline. Cooperative Paws LLC determines the standards for projects. If projects and lessons are not completed by the course deadline or do not meet Cooperative Paws LLC’s standards, you will not receive the “Service Dog Coach” certification nor earn CEUs. Please note that refunds are not available should this occur.

All of the materials including online articles, lectures, downloaded files, videos and photos that you are given access to in the Service Dog Coaching Program are the property of Cooperative Paws LLC. They are protected by copyright and other US intellectual property rights laws. Unauthorized copying, republishing, or transmitting of program materials in any form is expressly forbidden. Sharing of links to the videos, lessons, or other materials in the course, sharing of passwords, or otherwise giving non-enrolled individuals access to the program content or materials will result in immediate dis-enrollment from the program and no refund will be given.

Cooperative Paws LLC will grant you the right to use the SDC logo and the Service Dog Coach Certificate on your website and in your marketing materials if you meet standards for successfully completing the program. Should you use training tools including choke chains, prong collars, Starmark collars, electronic (shock) collars, electronic fences, or another aversive tool or technique, or should you be accused of animal abuse, criminal activity, or any behavior that Cooperative Paws LLC believes will reflect poorly or misrepresent the SDC program, your certificate will be terminated and no refund will be given. You agree to discontinue using the Cooperative Paws SDC® Logo and Service Dog Coach Certificate in your website and other marketing materials if your certificate is terminated.

I have represented myself accurately in submitting this application. I read and agree to all of the policies.

Name

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

SDC Certification Program Application

Get Started Learning About Service Dogs!

Education and Credentials

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References

Training

Training Mechanics

SDC Program Policies

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