Canine Foundations Training Academy

Graduates will find a range of opportunities as a certified member of the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers, including employment with group, competitive and private obedience training companies, the service dog industry, board and train facilities, animal shelters/rescue organizations, veterinary clinics, daycare facilities and breeding programs, or, launching their own training company.

This program is 100% virtual!  As such, classroom links for each independent class are emailed to each student’s Georgian College email address 24 hours prior to the start of class.  

The class time for this course has been broken down into manageable intervals to accommodate the employment needs of participating professionals.  This course requires a two (2) week classroom commitment for the first two weeks, then reduces classroom time to roughly one weekend (including both Saturday and Sunday) per month for the remainder of the program.    

• Total 10 months to complete
• 2-Weeks of virtual classroom time, Monday to Friday from 0900-1700, both weeks
• 8-Saturday webinars with live Instructor question and answer time from 0900-1700
• 8-Sunday virtual practical sessions live with and Instructor from 0900-1700
• 3-Days of Exams, one written midterm, one final practical exam, and one written final exam
• 8-Quizzes
• 1-ISU – Approximately 20 hours to complete
• 33-Homework Hours (approximately 1 hour per week)
• 6-hours per week practical homework to gain 225 CCPDT Practical Hours of Experience required, through volunteering virtual training services to local rescue organizations, family and friends (225 hours in 38 weeks = 6 hours per week)

• High school diploma or GED equivalent.
• 75 Hours of experience in canine related areas such as; volunteering at an Animal Shelter, assisting or shadowing another Trainer, designing training plans or working in a veterinary clinic, grooming salon, doggy daycare or dog walking company.  Please note that this is a recommendation, not a requirement, we will be accepting students who may not have their full 75 hours of field-related experience.  These hours can be made up during the course of the program and / or after the program has been completed.
• One letter of reference from one of the following sources; Animal Rescue or Shelter Volunteer Coordinator or Shelter Manager, Obedience Trainer, Veterinarian, Employer from an animal industry related job, or, Instructor of an animal related course from a College or University.  Please note that this is a recommendation, not a requirement, we will be accepting students who may not have a letter of reference.  This letter can achieved during the course of the program and / or after the program has completed.
• 200 Word Application Essay on what inspired you to become a dog trainer.

Students will gain 225 practical hours of experience in training human handlers on how to implement humane dog training techniques during live virtual practical classes and through completion of the Referral Placement Virtual Training program.

Students are welcome to use a Referral Placement Location with which they have an existing relationship.  In the event that you do not have a pre-existing Referral Placement Location, Canine Foundations will automatically provide you with one.  Canine Foundations has pre-arranged an assortment of canine rescues / animal shelters, veterinary clinics, doggy daycares, and Canadian Kennel Club breeders to assume the role of Referral Placement Location for students who require it.