Skip to content

Dog trainer courses

Understand dogs.
Become a dog trainer.

Service dog instructor training from the ground up. Live lectures and practical work with a mentor.

View the syllabus
Duration
6 months
Per month
$102.58
Group start date
Check the date

About the course

Train for a career working with dogs.

For anyone who wants to work with dogs professionally. No experience is needed to start: progress from the basics to practical work and final exams.

Course essentials

6months of
training

No experience needed

First month
2 sessionsper week
From the second month
3 sessionsper week
Format
Online / in personZoom or a lecture room
Class times
Daytime / evening

Live lectures

Ask your teacher questions during class and get answers.

Choose your training with a clear understanding of the profession.

A place to start

You can start without experience in dog training. Before enrolling, consider the time you will need for live lectures and independent practice, and agree how practical training will be arranged in your city.

Check the practical arrangements

Where you will train and with which dogs, who will supervise the practical work, how you will receive feedback and what is required for the final assessment.

The learning process

From lectures to practice.

Lectures with a teacher

Discuss the material and ask questions during class. Recordings let you revise a topic or catch up on a missed session.

Participants sitting at a table with open books and notebooks in a classroom with canine anatomy posters

Practical work with a mentor

Practise your skills with dogs under an experienced instructor's guidance. Your mentor will offer advice and feedback.

A participant with a Shiba Inu makes a hand gesture while talking to another participant

What you achieve

Diploma in professional training

After you pass the final exams, the school awards a diploma in professional training. Certification and entry to the register are governed by NSHSS regulations.

No school in your city yet? You can do your practical training with online support from a mentor.

How online practical training works

Our strongest graduates are invited to work at the school. The team also helps graduates set up their own practice.

Course content

The syllabus.

Nine areas of study. Open a topic to see what the training covers.

01Canine biology, neurology and physiology

Understand how a dog's body, brain and nervous system work, and how they affect its behaviour.

02Training techniques

Learn methods and techniques for training dogs of different breeds, from basic to advanced levels.

03Behaviour modification

Skills and methods for handling challenging cases and modifying behaviour.

04Scent science

Study the scientific properties of scents, their effects on dogs, and how these can be used in training and work.

05Health and care

Basic veterinary knowledge, proper nutrition, coat and dental care, and more.

06Ethical interaction with dogs

Study the principles of ethical treatment of dogs and understand their true needs.

07Introduction to ethology

Study canine behaviour in natural conditions. In training, ethology provides the foundation for understanding canine psychology.

08Working with owners

Skills for working with dog owners, providing consultations and developing individual plans.

09Practical training

Practical training under an experienced dog trainer, working with different dogs in real-life settings.

The people behind the programme

Those who share their experience.

Practical experience in service dog training and instructor education.

Oleg Romanovich Radomyslsky

Programme author

Oleg Romanovich Radomyslsky

Head of the canine service of the International Police Corporation of Public Security

Service dog training instructor since 1986

Experience and qualifications
  • International expert at the Swiss Police Academy
  • Head of the Protection Dog discipline within the Ukrainian Kennel Union's sports committee
  • Ukrainian Kennel Union (UKU) judge
  • Service dog training instructor since 1986
  • Ukraine's only specialist in training guide dogs for blind people
  • Author of a textbook on guide dog training
  • Developed the ‘SOLBI’ programme in 1996 for training escort and protection dogs (dogs providing personal protection)
  • Author of an explosives detection dog training programme
Valery Borisovich Vysotsky

Programme author

Valery Borisovich Vysotsky

Chair of the expert assessment committee of the police academy's canine faculty

Author of more than 100 articles in Ukrainian and international publications

Experience and qualifications
  • Author of dog training programmes
  • Author of more than 100 articles in Ukrainian and international publications
  • Head of the Ukrainian Kennel Union (UKU) sports committee
  • Author of ‘The Escort Dog’, ‘Caucasian, Central Asian Shepherd Dogs and Other Wolfhounds’, ‘You Have Bought a Wolfhound’, and 6 monographs
  • Vice-president of the Native Breeds Club
  • Author of national training and assessment programmes for Escort Dogs and Guard Dogs
Participants and instructors standing with their dogs in a long line at an outdoor training ground

Students' experiences

What they say about studying.

23 reviews from participants in different study groups. About learning, practical work and their first steps in the profession.

Before you enrol

Your questions answered

Can I start without experience?

Yes. The course begins with the basics of canine behaviour and training. You will need to set aside time for live sessions and practical work. Discuss practical arrangements and mentor support in your city before enrolling.

What does the syllabus cover?

The basics of canine biology, physiology and behaviour, teaching skills, working with owners and practical training. This page outlines the main subjects; ask the school for details of the topics and assessments before paying.

How is practical training arranged in another city?

A mentor supports your practical training. Agree access to dogs and a training venue, how feedback will be provided and the requirements for your final work in advance. Availability of a particular format depends on your location.

What document do graduates receive?

After you pass the final exams, the school issues a document confirming professional training. NSHSS certification and the right to work in a particular country are separate matters. Check local requirements and any necessary permits before starting professional practice.

When does the course start, and how much does the whole course cost?

The school will confirm the next intake date. The course lasts 6 months at $102.58 per month, totalling $615.48. Paying for the full course upfront gives you a 15% discount: $523.16. Read the contract and cancellation terms before paying.

How do I know whether this career is right for me?

Discuss your experience, the work you hope to do and the time you can devote to studying with the school team. A dog trainer works with both dogs and their owners. A diploma alone does not guarantee employment, income or the opportunity to open a branch.

The next step

Your next step.
Become a dog trainer.

Leave your contact details and city. The school team will help you understand the training formats and explain how to join a group.

Prefer to message us directly?

Message us on Telegram support@dogschool.od.ua
A participant crouching beside a white dog at the school's training ground