The Retrieve – FAQs

You can take this online course on your laptop, pad or smartphone. When you sign up, you will receive an email to log in. It is very user friendly and straight forward! The course includes a combination of video presentations, training demonstrations, written materials and links to relevant websites. The last lesson includes an “open book” quiz (needed if you would like CEUs) which you can take multiple times.

This course covers the step by step process of training a controlled service dog retrieve and also numerous strategies to troubleshoot this challenging skill. The course outline:

1. Introduction
   • Why is the retrieve such an essential task?
   • Components of the retrieve
   • Service dog tasks based on retrieve components
   • Retrieve training process
   • Play retrieve vs. Trained retrieve
2. Training Take
   • Best materials to begin with
   • Training process
   • Troubleshooting
   • Conditioned Emotional Responses
3. Training Hold
   • Training process
   • 5 important troubleshooting strategies
4. Training Carry and Give
   • Training carry
     • Process
     • Troubleshooting strategies for carry
   • Training give
     • Process
     • Troubleshooting strategies for give
     • Training give to another person (transfer items)
5. Training Pick-Up and Putting it All Together
   • Training pick-up from counter process
   • Training pick-up of vertical items without knocking them over
   • Complex behavior chains
   • Generalization

This course can be completed in about 4 hours. However, you have access to the course for a full 90 days. Handouts are included in PDF form so you can print and refer back to them for your personal use.

You will need to be comfortable using a computer, the internet and email. You will need access to an internet connection.

The Retrieve course does not lead to a certificate or certification. This course is for professional dog trainers interested in learning how to train an important task that has many applications. Training a controlled retrieve is an essential skill that all service dog trainers should know.

Dog trainers interested in the Cooperative Paws Service Dog Coach™ certification need to apply to the Cooperative Paws SDC® program.

No, this course is not a prerequisite for the SDC certification. However, some trainers may choose to enroll in this course before applying for the SDC certification in order to familiarize themselves with our educational programs and training approach.