Dog Obedience Training Course Curriculum

In this course, you’ll examine the goals and values of Ashworth College, time management, creating a realistic weekly and monthly study schedule, the nature and purpose of assessments, how to study effectively to prepare for and take an online examination, and developing the skill sets necessary for success in the twenty-first century. You’ll also explore the different animal care careers that are available and routine veterinary office procedures.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to do the following:

• Identify skills needed to be a confident and independent online learner.
• Summarize the skills needed to safely, professionally, and ethically perform the roles and responsibilities as a member on the veterinary healthcare team.

This course describes the history of dog training and methodologies used in the past and present. You’ll also explore how classical and operant conditioning help animals learn and how to apply positive and negative reinforcement appropriately.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to do the following:

• Compare historical and present-day dog training methods.
• Identify common applications of classical and operant conditioning in dog training.
• Explain how to properly use reinforcement in dog training.

In this course, you’ll explore how generalization, discrimination, habituation, sensitization, and a dog’s emotional state can impact a dog’s ability to learn. You’ll also review dog biology and common behaviors and learn to recognize key stages of dog development and how they influence behavior.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to do the following:

• Describe how generalization, discrimination, habituation, and sensitization all impact dog training.
• Explain how a dog’s emotional state can influence ability to learn.
• Summarize the purpose of basic dog behaviors.
• Recognize key stages of a dog’s development and their influence on the dog’s behavior.

This course explains how a dog’s breed can influence its behavior and training. You’ll also learn how to teach dogs basic behaviors using different teaching methods depending on the dogs’ motivations and learning styles, as well as how to modify problematic behaviors.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to do the following:

• Identify the characteristics of dog breeds that impact training and behavior.
• Explain how to teach basic behaviors to dogs depending on their motivations and learning styles.
• Describe how to change common dog behavior problems.

In this course, you’ll explore different opportunities and options that exist for professional dog trainers. You’ll discover how to start your own business, create contracts, establish policies, join a professional organization, and conduct both group classes and one-on-one lessons.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to do the following:

• Describe the opportunities available to dog obedience trainers.
• Summarize how to start a dog training business.
• Explain how to create a training program for group classes.
• Identify the purpose of different types of one-on-one lessons.