Program Description

 

The Diploma of Professional Dog Training program is a rigorous and advanced, completely distance-oriented program of study intended to help dog trainers or other animal field-related professionals upgrade and expand important skills and knowledge for their careers in dog training beyond the industry standard and attain a valuable credential. It involves an intensive distance course on the principles of behavior and the technology of dog training. 

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This program does not address assessing and resolving problem behaviors. The Diploma of Canine Behavior Science and Technology program would include both training and problem behavior resolution and is worth considering if the student’s goals include working with clients to help resolve problematic behaviors.

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CASI uses a shaping model of education, setting the student up for success, and provides support/guidance and multiple opportunities to refine and resubmit assignments rather than just slapping a grade on them and moving on. This results in greater conditioning and minimal stress for the student. It also means that incorrect answers do not result in failure or low grades but rather an opportunity, with guidance, to condition the correct response.

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The graduate is awarded a Diploma of Professional Dog Training and allowed the letters PDT after their name.

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This program has video submission requirements.

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If your intention is to help resolve problematic behaviors and to include coursework that involves working hands-on with dogs, consider the Diploma of Canine Behavior Science and Technology.

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Tuition (Tuition can be paid on the ENROLL​ page)

 

$1430 (35% off for a limited time) $2,200.00 Canadian Dollars. (Currency converter. This provides only an estimate). Textbooks are not included in tuition. Canadian Residents pay applicable sales tax.

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This program requires approximately 300 work-hours.

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Courses (Click here for course details)

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• Environment–Behavior Functional Relations I – 105

• Environment–Behavior Functional Relations II – 106

• Introduction to Operant Conditioning I – 108

• Introduction to Operant Conditioning II – 109

• Schedules of Reinforcement – 115

• Differential Reinforcement – 116

• Aversive Stimulation and its Problems – 117

• Non-Coercive Behavior Engineering – 189

• Errorless Training Strategy – 121

• Basic Training Skills Workshop* – 103

• Animal Training Technology I – 122

• Animal Training Technology II – 123

• Advanced Animal Training Techniques (Shaping) – 140

• Advanced Animal Training Techniques (Chaining and Sequencing) – 141

• Shaping Workshop* – 160

• Chaining Workshop* – 161

• Training Humans – 124

• Training Dogs I – 150

• Training Dogs II – 151

• Dog Behavior I – 192

• Dog Behavior II – 193

• Training Puppies – 153

• Case Management – 190

• Professional Ethics – 191

 

Schedule

 

Self-paced within a 8–month time limit. Extensions are available at a fee if required. Enroll and get started any time you want from anywhere in the world.

 

CEUs

 

Continuing Education Credits Available. See Course Approvals page for credits available for each course.

 

Entrance Requirements (click here for details and elaboration)

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• High school diploma or equivalent (exceptions can be made)

• 18 Years of age or older

• Professional experience

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Course Descriptions

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Environment–Behavior Functional Relations I - 105

This course introduces the student to behavior and stimulation, the two fundamental variables that the natural science of behavior studies the relationship between. It explores what behaviors are and are not as well as the various categories of behavior and it discussions stimulation as it relates to behavior. 

• Behavior (responses, response classes and response class forms)

• Categories of behavior (operant vs. respondent & conditioned versus unconditioned)

• Stimulation

Approximate time required: 15 hours

 

Environment–Behavior Functional Relations II - 106

This course continues an introduction to environment–behavior relations. It introduces the functional relationship between stimulation and behavior, defines conditioning and explores the physics of behavior. Contingency analyses is covered and well as the notation for depicting contingencies. The three-term contingency is discussed in detail as well as the components contingencies that comprise it. The important of externalizing contingencies is emphasized. The course ends with an introduction to increasing complexities in accounting for behavior.

• Functional relations

• Causation in operant contingencies

• Respondent contingencies

• Conditioning

• Physics of behavior

• Effects of conditioning on behavior

• Contingency analysis

• Depicting contingencies in formal notation

• Analyzing episodes behavior

• Component contingencies in the three-term contingency

• Externalizing contingencies

• Increasing complexity in accounting for behavior

Approximate time required: 15 hours

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Introduction to Operant Conditioning I - 108

This first course in a two course sequence introduces the Law of Effect and the basic terms and categories of behavior and behavior change processes. Reinforcement and punishment, both added and subtracted and both conditioned and unconditioned processes and procedures are explored. Extinction is discussed, followed by a detailing of the variables influencing the effectiveness of both reinforcement and punishment.

• Law of effect

• Basic terms and categories

• Reinforcement (added and subtracted)

• Punishment (added and subtracted)

• Extinction

• Variable influencing the effectiveness of reinforcement

• Variable influencing the effectiveness of punishment

Approximate time required: 15 hours

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Introduction to Operant Conditioning II - 109

This second course in a two-course sequence continues an introduction to basic operant conditioning processes and principles. Antecedent principles, processes, and procedures are explored in detail, including stimulus control and its transfer, generalization and discrimination, fading of antecedent stimuli, prompting and function-altering stimulation, including motivating operations.

• Antecedent principles, processes, and procedures

• Stimulus control

• Terms and relations

• Generalization and discrimination training

• Transferring stimulus control

• Prompting

• Function-altering stimulation

• Motivating operations

• Fading and establishing function-altering stimuli

Approximate time required: 15 hours

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Schedules of Reinforcement - 115

This course introduces the student to simple and compound schedules of added reinforcement and schedule extensions, including the limited hold.

• Simple schedules of added reinforcement

• Continuous reinforcement

• Extinction

• Intermittent reinforcement

• Fixed and variable ratio schedules

• Fixed and variable interval schedules

• Fixed and variable duration schedules

• Differential reinforcement of low rate of responding

• Differential reinforcement of high rate of responding

• Differential reinforcement of diminishing rates

• Schedule extensions (limited hold, “jackpotting”)

• Compound schedules of reinforcement

Approximate time required: 15 hours

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Differential Reinforcement - 116

This course introduces the student to differential reinforcement, including its most commonly required forms in contingency engineering practice, including differential reinforcement of incompatible, alternative, and other behaviors and of low rate of responding. The course concludes with a discussion of shaping and the management of schedules of reinforcement throughout contingency engineering projects.

• Differential reinforcement

• Differential reinforcement of other behaviors

• Differential reinforcement of alternative behaviors

• Differential reinforcement of incompatible behaviors

• Differential reinforcement of successive approximations of a terminal behavior (shaping)

• Managing schedules of reinforcement

Approximate time required: 10 hours

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Aversive Stimulation and its Problems - 117

This course addresses the topic of aversive stimulation and the problems associated with its use. After an initial discussion defining the topic and terms and of why punitive methods are so pervasive, problematic side effects are covered in detail, divided generally into respondent and operant side effects. The course concludes with a discussion of the role of aversive stimulation in conditioning processes and exploration of whether punishment “works” in a practical and putative sense.

• Why is aversive stimulation pervasive?

• Defining aversive stimulation

• Respondent side-effects (aversive emotional arousal and conditioning) 

• Operant side-effects (escape behavior)

• Clarification of punishment and its role in changing behavior

• Does punishment “work”?

Approximate time required: 10 hours

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Non-Coercive Behavior Engineering - 189

This course provides guidance on how to avoid coercive methods and tools in favor of added reinforcement-based methods and identification of impediments that may be resolved without ratcheting up coercive practices. 

• Avoiding extremism and dogmatism

• Aversiveness-ratcheting strategies

• Emphasizing constructional added reinforcement-based methods

• Importance of constructional added reinforcement-emphasized behavior change strategies

• Strategy of avoiding vs. banning aversive methods and tools

• Working through the algorithm 

Approximate time required: 8 hours

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Errorless Training Strategy - 121

This course explores the general errorless training strategy as opposed to the trial-and-error approach.

• Errorless training vs. trial-and-error conditioning

• Methods of minimizing non-criterion responding

Approximate time required: 8 hours

Basic Training Skills Workshop - 103

This course takes students through a series of specific hands-on tasks, each designed to isolate and promote specific skills including:

• Timing

• Concentration

• Coordination

• Clicker accuracy/dexterity

• Quantitative tracking of behavior

Approximate time required: 10 hours

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Animal Training Technology I - 122

This course is the first in a two-course sequence that introduces the student to animal training strategies and the implementation of training plans. It begins with an introduction to modern constructional (as opposed to eliminative) and graded / errorless (as opposed to trial-and-error) methods. It details how to plan a training project, including identification of the target behavior and establishing specific behavior objectives. It provides guidance on selecting both conditioned and unconditioned reinforcers.

• General systematic training process (graded constructional approach)

• Planning and preparation

• Identifying and defining target behavior

• Preparing formal behavior objective

• Graded/constructional versus trial-and-error approach

• Identification of reinforcers and establishing conditioned reinforcers

Approximate time required: 10 hours

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Animal Training Technology II - 123

This course is the second in a two-course sequence that introduces the student to animal training strategies and the implementation of training plans. It outlines the principles and procedures involved in working through a systematic training process including acquit ion training, fluency training, and maintenance training. At each stage in training, different procedures and practices must occur and each are discussed in detail.

• Acquisition stage of training (antecedent and postcedent tactics)

• Identification of required procedure

• Handling non-criterion behaviors

• Fluency stage of training

• Maintenance stage of training

• Constructing systematic training plan

• 10 laws of training

Approximate time required: 10 hours

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Advanced Animal Training Techniques (Shaping) - 140

This course is the first in a two-course sequence that introduces the student to advanced animal training strategies and the implementation of training plans. This first course explores shaping in greater depth, providing guidance in all components of implementing a shaping plan. It begins with a detailed analysis of the shaping process, discusses its appropriate uses and inappropriate uses based on the training objectives, describes how to plan the behavior approximations and then how to implement the plan with practical advice. This course requires access to a  companion dog for engaging in training exercises.

• Analysis of shaping process

• Appropriate applications for shaping

• Planning behavior objectives and behavior approximations

• Implementation of shaping plan

Approximate time required: 8 hours

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Advanced Animal Training Techniques (Chaining and Sequencing) - 141

This course is the second in a two-course sequence that introduces the student to advanced animal training strategies and the implementation of training plans. This second course explores chaining in greater depth, providing guidance in all components of implementing a chaining plan. It begins with a detailed analysis of the chaining process, constructing and validating task analyses, describes how to train component behaviors and how to bring each under the appropriate stimulus controls, resulting in a behavior chain exhibited by a single trainer-provided cue. The course covers both forward and backward chaining procedures and under what conditions each is most suitable. This course requires access to a  companion dog for engaging in training exercises.

• Analysis of chaining process

• Constructing and validating task analysis

• Assessment of levels of proficiency of requisite behaviors

• Training compound behaviors

• Forward and backward chaining procedures

• Chain quality

Approximate time required: 8 hours

Shaping Workshop - 160

This course is a hands-on workshop, building on the Advanced Animal Training Techniques (Shaping) course, in which the student implements a basic shaping plan that they have designed. This workshop will help the student develop the following skills: timing, concentration, clicker accuracy and dexterity, relying less on trainer-mediated prompting, planning behavior approximations, identifying target behavior, maintaining suitable energy/enthusiasm, maintaining high rate of reinforcement, setting criteria for next behavior approximation. This course requires access to a  companion animal for engaging in training exercises.

Approximate time required: 12 hours

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Chaining Workshop - 161

This course is a hands-on workshop, building on the Advanced Animal Training Techniques (Chaining) course, in which the student implements a basic chaining plan that they have designed. The student will validate a task analysis, select an appropriate behavior chain, select the appropriate chaining procedure, and implement that plan. This course requires access to a companion animal for engaging in training exercises.

Approximate time required: 10 hours

Training Humans - 124

This course provides students with an introduction to training humans. It begins by covering verbal and social behaviors within a verbal community and then moves on to discuss how to encourage productive client verbal behavior. The course provides a model for training humans, including setting objectives, describing, explaining, and demonstrating, assessing proficiency, and following up. Finally, training groups of people are covered.

• Verbal behavior

• Social behavior

• Verbal communities

• Prompting productive verbal behavior

• Training humans

• Training groups of people

• Constructing and running group classes

• Working with children and disabled persons

Approximate time required: 10 hours

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Basic Training Skills Workshop - 103

This course takes students through a series of specific hands-on tasks, each designed to isolate and promote specific skills including:

• Timing

• Concentration

• Coordination

• Clicker accuracy/dexterity

• Quantitative tracking of behavior

Approximate time required: 10 hours

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Training Dogs I - 150

This course is the first in a two-course sequence that introduces the student to training dogs. It begins with a discussion of suitable and unsuitable equipment choices before covering the training of dogs to exhibit the following behaviors on cue: name, sit, down, stand, and wait in great detail from the initial acquisition stage through the fluency stage to the maintenance stage. The steps and procedures described for training the above behaviors may then be applied to training other behaviors. There is a video submission requirements in this course.

• Equipment

• Name

• Sit

• Down

• Stand

• Wait

Approximate time required: 15 hours

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Training Dogs II - 151

This course is the second in a two-course sequence that introduces the student to training dogs. It continues the detailed elaboration of training dogs through the following behaviors:  take it/drop it, recall, off, loose leash walking, and got to place in great detail from the initial acquisition stage, through the fluency stage, to the maintenance stage. It ends with a discussion of common training challenges and training under special circumstances. The steps and procedures described for training the above behaviors may then be applied to training other behaviors. There is a video submission requirements in this course.

• Take it / Drop it

• Recall

• Off

• Loose leash walking

• Go to bed/mat (location)

• Training challenges and special circumstances

Approximate time required: 15 hours

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Dog Behavior I - 192

This first course in a two-course series describes the behavioral development of dogs and variation in behavior tendencies between breeds.

• Behavioral development of dogs

• Breed variation (behavioral)

Approximate time required: 10 hours

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Dog Behavior II - 193

This second course in a two-course sequence describes the species-typical social behaviors of dogs, including contact enhancing versus aggressive or “appeasing” escape behaviors and the role of arousal. It also discussed greeting rituals and ambivalent behaviors when a subject is exposed to concurrent conflicting contingencies.

• Species-typical social behaviors

Approximate time required: 10 hours

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Training Puppies - 153

This course addresses topics specific to training puppies and includes the following topics:

• Socialization programming (and the various training tasks involved in that)

• Housetraining

Approximate time required: 15 hours

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Case Management - 190

This course provides an introduction to case management practices, including establishing a professional relationship with a client and the mist typical manner of working through cases. It includes information on service agreements, informed consent, and liability waivers, as well as in working cooperatively with veterinarians and managing liability exposure for the technologist and the client. Suggested (but not required) texts: How to Run a Dog Business by Boutelle. Click here.; So You Want to be a Dog Trainer by Nicole Wilde. Click here.; It's Not the Dogs, It's the People! by Nicole Wilde. Click here.

• Managing cases professionally

• Resources for professionals

• Service contracts and liability forms

• Informed consent

• Working with veterinarians

• Liability issues

• Sample service contract

Approximate time required: 15 hours

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Professional Ethics - 191

This course introduces students to basic ethical principles and to issues covered in professional ethics guidelines and codes of ethics, including issues of competence, confidentiality, advertising/marketing, informed consent, use of animals in research, academic ethics, aversive stimulation, resolving ethical issues, and professional boundaries.

• Basic ethical principles, including autonomy, nonmaleficence, beneficence, justice, fidelity

• Professional practice guidelines and component parts

Approximate time required: 6 hours

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