Become a Service Dog Trainer in Canada
The Service Dog Trainer Program
If you’ve dreamed of working with service dogs and supporting the individuals who rely on them, now is the time to take the first step. Enrol today to become an ABC Certified Service Dog Trainer and turn your passion into a rewarding career helping others across Canada.
Career Prospects and Salary Opportunities
Earning a Service Dog Trainer certificate online can set you on a rewarding career path, helping people with disabilities live more independent and fulfilling lives. As a service dog trainer, you’ll open the door to a variety of opportunities—whether it’s working with veterans with PTSD, training mobility or medical-alert service dogs, working with hearing dogs, or joining an accredited assistance dog organization.
The demand for service dogs has grown significantly in recent years. While U.S. data from Kaiser Health News in 2022 highlighted this trend, the need is mirrored in Canada as more people recognize the vital role service dogs play in supporting individuals with physical and mental health challenges. With millions of Canadians living with disabilities and a limited number of trained service dogs available, there’s a clear and growing need for skilled professionals in this field.
In Canada, salaries for service dog trainers can vary depending on experience, location, and the type of organization, but typically range from approximately $30,000 to $60,000 annually. As awareness and demand increase, career prospects are expected to grow accordingly.
According to labour market trends, animal care and service-related roles are expanding rapidly, and those with specialized training in service dog work are well-positioned to benefit from these opportunities.
ABC’s Service Dog Trainer Certification Program
Our Service Dog Trainer Program consists of 9 in-depth stages packed with information plus a final exam. The course provides essential knowledge to launch your career as a service dog trainer or to lay the foundation for more advanced training in the field.
Our program includes information on:
- Introduction to Service Dogs
- Service Dog Candidate Selection
- Canine Health for Service Dogs
- Living with a Service Dog
- Obedience and Maneuvers
- Task Foundations, Behavior Chains & Behavior Sequences
- Training Problems and Solutions
- The Client
- Career Building
Learn from Service Dog Training Professionals
Meet the authors and subject matter experts who were involved in the development of ABC’s Service Dog Trainer Program. They have shared their decades of dog training experience in the creation of this highly sought-after program.
Meet Anneliese Staff – Co-Author of the Service Dog Training Program
Anneliese has trained service dogs and taught clients to train their own service dogs since 2004. She specializes in working with clients with complex medical conditions that cause both physical and psychiatric limitations.
Anneliese also has extensive experience in the overall pet-care industry, including breed rescue, raising working puppies at a purpose-bred breeding kennel, operating a boarding kennel, performing various support roles in veterinary clinics, competing in dog grooming shows, managing grooming salons, sewing custom dog harnesses, fostering rescue dogs, training in animal shelters, and participating in many working dog disciplines and canine sports.
Anneliese currently lives on a farm in rural Wisconsin with her family and two Great Danes: her current mobility service dog, and her retired mobility and syncope alert service dog.
Meet Pam Barker, DVM – Co-Author of the Service Dog Training Program
Born and raised in Alaska, Pam Barker earned her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Washington State University, where she trained her first hearing assistance dog. She has also trained search dogs and been an instructor and behavior consultant. Her fields of interest include not only service dogs, but obedience and conformation, as well as racing sled dogs.
She enjoys all things outdoors, particularly riding her horse. She has published a thriller novel and is currently working on learning to play guitar. She lives with her husband, horse and two dogs in Texas, where she works as an exotic wildlife veterinarian.
Meet Sara Carson– Subject Matter Expert of the Service Dog Training Program
Sara Carson of Ontario, Canada, began her career running her own dog training facility for 5 years in her hometown of North Bay. During that time Sara expanded her knowledge teaching obedience, puppy foundations, tricks and agility to the students who attended classes at her facility.
In 2013, Sara began working with her own service dog Hero while running a business training dogs for clients in Ontario. She quickly found her niche in teaching tricks and formulating simplified methods for teaching them to others. In the years following, Sara applied these formulas while traveling in the U.S. with various stunt dog performance circuits. Her tricks would go beyond entertainment, however. Her need for Hero’s medical assistance would inspire her to use these tricks and transform them into tasks for Hero to perform day to day.
Partnering with a veteran service dog organization, Sara launched into a new arena: training service dogs for veterans with various disabilities. Tricks became complex tasks for service dogs, such as a Labrador who learned to care for a quadriplegic veteran who needed full time tasking and care. Sara’s ability to simplify her teaching methods allowed her to create a trainer team that trained various dogs for veterans across the country.
Currently, she is living in Kentucky. Her plans are to continue her adventures around the globe with her dogs, performing and teaching dog owners and their pups. Sara wrote an instructional book in 2022 called Super Dog Tricks which can be find on a shelf near you!
How Much Does It Cost to Become an ABC Certified Service Dog Trainer?
Service Dog Certification tuition ranges from 2,059.00 $1,959.00 to $3,395.00 depending on which payment plan you choose. Our tuition includes everything you will need to succeed. All your learning materials, student support and your service dog certification.
Speak with an Admissions Counselor today and see what payment plan is right for you by calling 800-795-3294.
Support Throughout Your Course
Once you enrol, you’ll be connected with our Program Manager team. They’ll support you every step of the way, offering guidance, answering your questions, and assessing your progress throughout the course.
Flexible Online Learning
Animal Behavior College’s Service Dog Trainer Course is built for flexibility, allowing you to balance your current job or commitments while pursuing your education. Course materials and exams are accessible online 24/7, so you can study at your own pace from the comfort of your home—whether you’re in a big city or a remote community. Most students complete the program in approximately 12 months.
ABC Service Dog Trainer Certification
After successfully completing the course, you’ll earn your certification as an Animal Behavior College Certified Service Dog Trainer (ABCSDT). This credential can enhance your current dog training portfolio or increase your profile when applying for roles or volunteer opportunities with assistance dog organizations across Canada. It’s a strong first step toward a meaningful career in service dog training.
Animal Behavior College does not guarantee employment after graduation.
The Service Dog Training program is provided solely for educational and training purposes. The information, training techniques, and materials offered in the program do not constitute legal advice. Students are advised to consult with qualified legal professionals in their respective Canadian jurisdictions for guidance on any legal matters related to service dog training or certification.