FAQ’s about the Cooperative Paws SDC®

Earning the Cooperative Paws SDC® designation demonstrates that a trainer has completed a reputable, reward-based service dog training program. It signals professionalism, specialized knowledge, and a commitment to ethical methods.

As an SDC® graduate, you’ll receive:

• The Cooperative Paws SDC® certification
• Use of the SDC™ designation
• Use of the Cooperative Paws SDC® logo in your marketing
• Business tools for service dog training
• An online listing as a certified SDC®
• Access to a private graduate group, updates, and industry news

The SDC® program is flexible — graduates decide how to apply their skills. Many expand their existing training businesses, while others work with nonprofits or focus on a specific type of service dog.

In the United States, there is no government-issued or legally required certification for service dogs. Certification instead reflects the standards, training, and ethics of the individual or organization providing it.

The Department of Justice  (DOJ) states:
“Q17. Does the ADA require that service animals be certified as service animals?
A. No. Covered entities may not require documentation, such as proof that the animal has been certified, trained, or licensed as a service animal, as a condition for entry.”

Internationally, requirements vary. Some countries have national programs or legal standards for service dog certification, while others follow a model similar to the U.S., where individual trainers or programs establish their own benchmarks.

While not legally required, thorough assessment and documentation are vital. Cooperative Paws SDC® graduates receive training and tools to evaluate a dog’s readiness for service work and to document that training — supporting both high standards and client confidence.

Continuing education is essential in this rapidly evolving field. SDCs must complete a minimum of 18 CEUs every three years to maintain their credential. CEUs recognized by professional organizations such as the CCPDT, KPA, and IAABC are accepted.

We do not charge a renewal fee at this time and do not anticipate doing so. As a small business, Veronica personally manages all CEU administration. While we cannot foresee the future, any fee introduced would be intended solely to support program administration.

Yes! Graduates of the Service Dog Coach Certificate program earn the Certified Service Dog Coach™ (SDC™) credential. They may use the SDC™ designation, display the official logo in their marketing, and receive a hard copy certificate suitable for framing. Graduates are also listed in our online directory.

Please note that students earn the SDC credential by completing the coursework to the standards delineated in the program, merely enrolling and finishing is not enough.

The SDC program was developed in the United States, where there is no federal regulation or government-recognized credential for service dog trainers. This lack of regulation is similar in many countries, much like the pet dog training field.

However, the Cooperative Paws SDC^® program is respected in the industry and has been approved for continuing education units (CEUs) by leading professional organizations, including:

• Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT)
• International Association for Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC)
• Karen Pryor Academy
• Pet Professional Guild Australia
• Pet Professional Accredidation Board

Some SDC graduates have submitted the credential to government agencies in countries that do recognize trainer qualifications and have been approved as government recognized assistance dog assessors and trainers. Others have used the certification to support employment with Assistance Dogs International (ADI) member organizations.

Government recognition of service dog trainers varies widely and is evolving. For this reason, no service dog industry credential — including ours — can guarantee recognition by a specific agency or authority.

The Cooperative Paws SDC^® curriculum is comprehensive and covers the foundation knowledge and tasks needed to begin offering service dog training including:

• Different types of service dogs (guide, mobility, medical alert, psychiatric and more) and ways they can help.
• Strategies to work effectively and adapt training for people with disabilities – including mobility, vision, hearing, cognitive and psychiatric disabilities.
• Behavioral characteristics needed for service work – how to screen client’s dogs effectively and sensitively.
• Basic training and socialization needs for service dog candidates
• How to train essential service dog tasks
  • retrieve (also pull, hold, and carry)
  • balance/brace
  • hearing alert
  • targeting based tasks (push doors, turn lights, access buttons)
  • scent-based alerts (as needed for diabetic alert)
  • Task training step-by-step instructions for numerous tasks including commonly requested tasks like anxiety alert, deep pressure therapy and more.
• Behavior and training needed for public access, how to prepare dogs and owners for challenges and how to assess public access readiness
• Service dog program challenges such as matching recipients with dogs, providing education to recipients, supporting working teams and more!
• How to support working teams to ensure the dog’s training is maintained
• Strategies to incorporate service dog training into a pet dog training business in a way that is practical, and compliments your existing services.
• How to collaborate with healthcare professionals
• How to handle unique training requests such as behavior consultations with working service dogs and “at home only” service dogs

Also students have access to our extensive Learning Library of scientific research, news articles and other resources on various service dog specialties including mobility, guide, hearing, psychiatric/PTSD, autism, diabetic, seizure-alert and more. Essential business tools are included in the course (such as a contract addendum and medical release developed in consultation with an attorney) and students can ask questions via discussion areas and email.

Click here to see a screenshot of the course outline as seen on the Learning Management System.

Yes! The SDC™ program covers the process for training tasks for a wide range of service dog specialties including service dogs for psychiatric disabilities. Step-by-step instructions are provided for tasks often needed by people with PTSD such as anxiety alerts and Deep Pressure Therapy.

Additionally, the SDC™ program covers information that is important for training all service dogs, such as how to assess service dog candidates, how to train and prepare dogs for public access, strategies to accommodate people with disabilities, business tools, and much more.

Yes! The Cooperative Paws SDC® program is valuable for individuals working in non-profit service dog programs as well as for-profit businesses. Our curriculum covers a wide range of topics that apply to all types of service dog training including behavior assessment, task training, public access, and more. Additionally, the course includes specific content tailored for trainers in non-profit programs. Our course instructor, Veronica, brings extensive experience in the service dog industry, including working for and consulting with non-profit service dog training programs.

We are committed to scientifically sound, force-free training methods. SDC™ students learn how to apply clicker training and lure reward techniques to train service dog tasks. Additionally, we emphasize strategies to reduce dog’s stress and to ensure the dog’s needs are met. Service dogs do so much for their owners, they deserve to be trained through positive methods. Cooperative Paws LLC is a proud member of the No Shock Collar Coalition.

Cooperative Paws training philosophy is aligned with leading organizations like the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior and the Pet Professional Guild.

No. This course was designed for professional trainers interested in learning how to train service dogs for others.

This course is designed with built-in flexibility for busy working professionals—many of our students balance dog training businesses, families, and other responsibilities. Because the program includes hands-on training, time needs vary, but we recommend planning for about 4 hours per week. Most students complete the course with a couple of weeks to spare.

The course is self-paced within a 12-week course period, with a built-in flex week so you can adjust your workload as needed. To help you stay on track, we provide soft deadlines, pacing guidance, and email reminders throughout the course. The final deadline is firm; however, we recognize that unexpected situations can occur. Cooperative Paws offers extension and deferral options for unavoidable circumstances. Details are provided in the Student Policy Information.

The program is online but also interactive. Each lesson includes video presentations, reading materials and an “open book” quiz. Lessons include discussion areas and you are encouraged to email the course instructor, Veronica, with your questions.

There are four required projects. Three are short (one page) essays. The fourth involves training a dog two service dog skills: a retrieve with a controlled 3-5 second hold, and task you choose from a list. You will need to submit short videos of your training. Rubrics with specific requirements for each project are provided so you know exactly what you need to do. Also students have the opportunity to resubmit projects if they need to.

You will need access to a computer, the internet and email. You will need a reliable internet connection. Basic computer skills like opening attachments and sending email are needed.

We recommend using a tablet, laptop or desktop for the course, however, the course can be accessed on a smart phone as well. You need to be able to take videos of yourself training a dog with a cell phone and upload them so the instructor can view them (via YouTube, Dropbox or Google Drive) as well.

Yes. You will need to submit videos of your process training a dog two different skills that are commonly needed in service dog work. You need to have frequent, consistent access to the dog for the duration of the course. You need to be able to work with the dog several times a week in order to be able to train advanced behaviors.

The dog does not need to be appropriate for service work. All of the training for the course can occur in your home or in a training facility.

The dog you work with needs to be:

1. A healthy dog that is “easy to train.”  Dogs who are not food motivated or who do not enjoy training are not appropriate. You will be training advanced, complex behaviors and will need to do frequent training sessions. Dogs who are stressed by training are inappropriate.
2. An appropriate age to train. A young puppy is not appropriate for the course. A geriatric dog that has age-related health issues is also inappropriate.
3. There is no specific breed requirement. SDC students have worked with various purebred and mixed bred dogs successfully in this course.

You will need a computer and access to an internet connection. You also will need a smart phone to record and send video.

You will need access to an appropriate dog for the course, dog training supplies, including treats and a clicker. You may need to purchase a dowel or dumbbell if you do not already have one to train a retrieve.

Yes, the video presentations in our courses are all close-captioned.

Yes! The SDC program, created by Veronica who has both personal experience with disability and a graduate education background, was developed with consideration to diverse learning needs. Many of our students and graduates have disabilities. Our course includes:

• Content in multiple formats, including captioned videos and written materials.
• Open-book, retakeable multiple choice quizzes for each lesson.
• Detailed project rubrics, with the option to resubmit projects before the final week.
• Alternative submission methods for written essays (list form, audio recordings).
• Ongoing email support, including reminders of deadlines to help students stay on track.

The course spans a 12-week period and includes a built-in flex week. This firm deadline is important for our training objectives and most students finish with a couple of weeks to spare. This deadline also enables Veronica to provide ongoing support to students and graduates, and to sustain Cooperative Paws’ educational programs effectively.

Yes! You’ll receive a wide range of support throughout the course—training demos, handouts, articles, unlimited email access to the instructor, and the option to resubmit projects. You’re also welcome to submit extra training videos for individualized feedback.

We offer optional drop-in live coaching sessions giving you a chance to get real-time help and connect with Veronica virtually. And if you ever want more personalized support, we can connect you with trusted tutors outside the course.

The SDC Certificate program is for experienced professional dog trainers who are committed to positive training methods as per the SDC Code of Ethics.

The program prerequisites include: a credential in professional dog training (a list of recognized credentials is here), documentation of ongoing professional development and staying current in the field (such as attendance at webinars and courses), and at least one year of hands-on experience working professionally with clients and their dogs. The application process also involves submitting references, answering questions about training, and submitting an example of a step by step training process or a short video.

Please note that our on-demand courses do not have prerequisites.

Yes, we welcome international students! We have talented graduates from many countries including Australia, Canada, Greece, Germany, Ireland, the United Kingdom and South Africa in addition to the United States.

Your video should show you training a dog a behavior that the dog does not already know using clicker training. We are interested in your training mechanics not the dog’s finished performance. We do not expect to see a finished, fluent and generalized behavior in this short video.

A simple behavior usually works best. For example, 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 instance, 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 happen to 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.

Your 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.

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

Preferred method of sharing video: upload the video to Dropbox, Google Drive or YouTube and put the link to the video in your application. 

Anytime! The SDC Certificate program is offered year round on a rolling enrollment basis. Submit your application to get started at a time that works for you!

Rolling enrollment means you can apply and begin the course at any time—no set start dates. This flexibility allows you to choose a schedule that works for you.

How it works:

• Apply when ready: Include any scheduling preferences in your application. Processing typically takes 1–2 weeks.

• Start date: Once accepted, tuition is due within five business days. Your start date will be assigned based on the information you provide. The course is designed for completion in 12 weeks, with adjustments for federal holidays and up to two extra weeks around November–December.

• Firm schedule: Once set, your course schedule is considered firm so we can manage enrollment smoothly.

Yes! See here for details.

Yes! Training a dog to become a service dog typically involves a two-year process, including ongoing maintenance training throughout the dog’s working career. Graduates of our program frequently tell us that offering service dog training has provided a steady income for their businesses.

Clients may benefit from a range of training services including private lessons, group classes, board and train programs, and day training. Owner-trainers often seek assistance during their dog’s early stages, making puppy training classes important.

Service dog training clients are known for their commitment to their goals, making this an opportunity to work with dedicated, long-term clients and positively impact their lives. Additionally, seniors, individuals with chronic illnesses, or those with family members with disabilities are often attracted to trainers with experience in service dog training.

Having the skills for service dog training can also attract dog owners who aspire for their pets to be as well-behaved as a service dog.

We have a course we created just for people entering the field! Service Dog Fundamentals is designed for career changers and beginning dog trainers.

Certifications and courses as well as experience can be used towards meeting Cooperative Paws Service Dog Coach™ admission requirements. We encourage people getting started in professional dog training to look for high quality foundation educational programs that provide a combination of a solid understanding of learning theory, science-based training methods as well as hands-on, supervised experience under a qualified mentor trainer. Learn more about one of the excellent pet dog training foundation programs we recommend below:

CATCH Canine Trainers Academy