INTERNATIONAL

Dog trainer School

with special emphasis on behavior and problem solving.

Registrate for Level 1 here! Starting 25th of January 2021!

Is this education right for me?

Do you want to become a professional dog trainer and specialize in the field of behaviour and a dog language?

Do you want to work part-time or full-time training dogs and owners and also work as a behaviourist helping owners
through private consultations?

Or are you already a dog trainer and want to specialize and aquire more science based knowledge?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, this education might be the right one for you!

This high quality education will give you excellent practical and theoretical skills of dog training and dog behaviour.
Upon completion, you can start your own business or be qualified to work for other dog training schools and institutions,
or apply for the Nordic Education Centre for Dog Trainers own internship program.

We teach only positive and up-to-date science based training methods.

Information about the course

The module based 4 level course comprises 20 weeks online classes and a total of 18 days of practical training.

Choose practical training in Estonia or Norway.

All teachings will be in English, as will be the assignments and the reading list.

For the practical classes the students will be required to bring their own dogs (exceptions can be made for those living abroad).

Participants are accepted from the age of 18yr. Upon successful completion of the course the participants will be awarded a diploma.

Level 1

Online course: Introduction to dog behaviour, dog language and problem solving.

Who is it for?
This course is perfect for anyone who want to learn about up-to-date positive dog training, problem solving and dog language.

The course is open to everyone with an interest in dog behaviour.

Subjects:

Our training philosophy, positive training methods and tools
Dog language: calming signals, aggressive signals and barking
Natural dog behaviour
Canine communication and our body language
Aggression, fear and anxiety in dog
Stress in dogs
Problemsolving using desensitizing and counter-conditioning
Walk nice on leash and the use of harness
The puppy, the young dog and the senior dog
Health: diet and pain in relation to behaviour

Duration: 20 weeks online

Teachers:
Lisbeth Borg de Waard, Norway
Anne Lill Kvam, Norway
Dr. Amber Batson, England
Jenny Goldby, Australia

Pre-recorded online lesson by Professor Marc Bekoff and other international dog trainers.

Price: 350 €

Language: English

Upon completion you will be awarded a certificate.

How does it work?

This online course is a 100 % at-home study.
Approx. 30 hours video lessons available to you 24/7 in our online course plattform, in addtion to live online Q&A every second week.

Every other week you will be introduced to a new subject and a voluntary pracical homework.

This course has no hand in homework or assessment quiz.

During the course you will have to read the following 2 books:

Rugaas, Turid (2005). On talking terms with dogs: Calming Signals. Shelia Harper Ltd.

Eaton, Barry (2010). Dominance in dogs: Fact or Fiction? Dogwise Publishing.

Next Level 1 starts the 25th of January 2021 – Register here!

Level 2

Practical training: Basic dog training with positive methods.

Where?
Choose between Tallinn, Estonia or The Netherlands.

Who is it for?
This course is perfect if you want to apply the theory from level 1 into practical learning. It’s for you who:

are a dog owner who wants to learn about your own dog and solve problem behaviour
already are working with dogs (instructor, breeder, vet. assistant, groomer, dog walker) and want to learn more about positive dog training, problem solving and dog language
want to be come a part-time of full-time dog trainer and behavourist

Subjects and practical training:

Basic practical observation skills of dog language
Basic understanding of facilitating activities based on the individual dogs needs and behaviour
Basic understanding of facilitating socialization and training for fearful and aggressive dogs
Basic understanding for practical learning principles using desenzitation
Basic understanding and training of stress reducing activities

Duration: 2 practical training units (Saturday and Sunday) in Tallin, Estonia or The Netherlands (place not yet decided).

Teachers:
Lisbeth Borg de Waard
Anne Lill Kvam

Price: 550 €
Excluding travel and board.

Language: English

Upon completion you will be awarded a certificate.

How does it work?
You can choose if you want to attend the practical units in Estonia (Tallinn) or The Netherlands.

The practical training will be on Saturday and Sunday full day.

For the practical classes the students will be required to bring their own dogs (exceptions can be made for those living abroad).

If you don’t have your own dog, you can bring a dog from a family member or a friend.

There are no required reading or hand in homework for this course, but if you want to apply for level 3 you need to complete an online assessment test.

Upcoming course dates:

Tallinn, Estonia
27th – 28th of March 2021
1st – 2nd of May 2021

The Netherlands
17th – 18th of April 2021
22nd – 23rd of May 2021

Please note that changes may occour due to covid-19.

Level 3

Practical training: Advanced dog training.

Where?
Tallinn, Estonia

Who is it for?
This course is perfect if you want to work as a dog trainer/instructor part-time or full-time.

Subjects and practical training:

Good understanding of dog langugage and observation skills
Good understanding of behaviour related to fear, anxiety and aggression
Good understanding of facilitating activities for dogs with basic problem behaviour
Teaching basic behaviours
Teaching private and group lessons
Working with the dog owner

Teachers:
Lisbeth Borg de Waard
Jonas Christensen
Anne Lill Kvam

Price: 950 €

Excluding travel and board.

Language: English

Upon completion you will be awarded a certificate.

How does it work?
2 practical training units in Tallinn, Estonia (full day Friday, Saturday and Sunday)
4 online weekend seminars including presentation of exam project.

For the practical classes the students will not be be required to bring their own dogs as we practic on dog owners and their dogs.

Dates for upcoming course 2021:

Online seminars:
5. – 6. June
7. – 8. August
11. – 12. September
30. – 31. October (exam presentation)

Practical in-person training in Tallinn, Estonia:
1.
Friday the 18th, Saturday the 19th and Sunday the 20th of June.
2.
Friday the 20th, Saturday the 21st and Sunday the 22nd of August.

This course has pracical assessement and you have to read the following 3 books:

Hallgren, Anders (2012). Stress, anxiety and aggression in Dogs. Cadmos Publishing Limited

Lowry, Rosie (2011). Understanding the scilent communication of dogs. Lowry Industries Ltd

Rugaas, Turid (2008). My dog pulls. What do I do? Dogwise Publishing

Level 4

Advanced behavior and problem solving.

Where?
Norway

Who is it for?
This course is perfect if you want to work as a dog behaviorist part-time or full-time.

Upon completion you will be a certified dog trainer and behavourist by Nordic Education Centre for Dog Trainers and awarded our DIPLOMA.

Successful candidates can apply for our internship to become a country representative in your own country for Nordic Education Centre for Dog Trainers, and/or teach our level 2 and 3 courses.

Subjects and practical training:

Hands-on pracical training
Field studies/consultation reports
Very good understanding of dog langugage and observation skills
Extensive understanding of behaviour related to fear, anxiety and aggression
Extensive understanding of facilitating activities for dogs with basic problem behaviour
Advanced training and problem behavoiur
Dog advocacy and ethics
Advanced instruction methods

Students do not bring their own dogs to the practical in-person seminars.

Duration:
7 months

Teachers:
Lisbeth Borg de Waard
Dr. Amber Batson
Turid Rugaas
Jonas Christensen
Anne Lill Kvam

Price: 1250 €
Excluding travel and board.

Language: English

How does it work?
2 x 5 day intensive in-person seminars in Norway.

In between the in-person seminars there is 8 full days online seminars in addition to self study and 12 hand-in consultation reports.

This course requires enhanced pracical assessements and extensive self-study for a final project presentation.

Dates in-person seminars 2021/22:
5 full days
1.
24th of November – 28th of November 2021
2.
22nd of June – 26nd of June 2022

Subjects

Dog behavior: the dog’s silent language, body language, communication, dog development and ethology, history, puppies, adolescent, mature dogs, social developments, critical periods, hormonal influences, breed characteristics, problem solving, stress, fears, aggression, health and nutrition.

Learning theory: positive training methods, desensitization, motivation, comparisons of dog learning to human learning, classical and operant conditioning, positive reinforcement.

Practical training: problem solving, observation, positive training methods teaching basic obedience and more challenging tasks like desensitization for stressed dogs and dog-to-dog aggression.

Physiology: anatomy, movement, how exercises influence behaviour and massage techniques.

The dog trainer: how to design your courses, counsel individuals and motivate owners, instruction and observation techniques as well as building confidence as a public speaker, marketing and running your own small business, customer service and pedagogy for humans.

Exam:
Presentation of a project.

The course will be taught in English, and all reading materials and assignments will also be in English.

Countries for level 2 - 4

We offer practical training for level 2 – 4 in:
Estonia
The Netherlands
Norway
Overseas (starting 2022)

Choose to follow the practical in-person training in the country most convenint for you.

Price and payment

Prices:

Level 1: 350 €

Level 2: 550 €

Level 3: 950 €

Level 4: 1250 €

A non-refundable deposit of 100 Euro upon registraion.

Part-payment available with subject to extra charge.
For payment plan see registration form.

The price includes all teaching, support and online teaching plattform.

The price does not include: books, travel and board.

Course litterature

Mandatory readings

Level 1:

Rugaas, Turid (2005). On talking terms with dogs: Calming Signals.
Shelia Harper Ltd.

Eaton, Barry (2010). Dominance in dogs: Fact or Fiction? Dogwise Publishing

Level 2:

No mandatory readings.

Level 3:

Hallgren, Anders (2012). Stress, anxiety and aggression in Dogs. Cadmos Publishing Limited

Lowry, Rosie (2011). Understanding the scilent communication of dogs. Lowry Industries Ltd

Level 4:

Bekoff, M., Pierce, J. (2019). Unleashing Your Dog. New World Library.

Bekoff, Mark (2008). The emotional lives of animals. New World Library

Hallgren, Anders (2015). Ethics and ethology for a happy dog. Cadmos Publishing Limited

Rugaas, Turid (2008). My dog pulls. What do I do? Dogwise Publishing

Rugaas, Turid (2008). Barking, the sound of a language. Dogwise Publishing