Student Handbook

Welcome to Good Dog Academy

Welcome

At Good Dog Academy, our dedicated and experienced team is committed to supporting your success. We are here to guide, encourage, and assist you throughout your program experience.

Mission Statement

Good Dog Academy’s mission is to provide comprehensive, evidence-based, and up-to-date education for aspiring and existing dog industry professionals, as well as the general public, with the goal of raising standards in pet dog training, behaviour, and care.

GDA's Humane Training Model

At Good Dog Academy, humane training means more than simply being gentle. It reflects a commitment to compassion, safety, evidence-based training practices, and professional responsibility. We define humane training as kind, respectful, science-informed, and supportive of both the dog’s and human’s overall wellbeing.

Our Humane Training Model promotes a thoughtful and progressive approach to behaviour change through the use of positive reinforcement, careful observation, ongoing assessment, and collaboration with veterinary and behaviour professionals when appropriate.

Humane Training Model

1. Identify training goals and desired behaviours.

2. Develop a realistic training plan using Good Dog Academy’s Formula for Success and positive reinforcement principles.

3. Observe, document, and evaluate progress, including both successes and setbacks.

4. If progress stalls, assess and document possible contributing factors such as the environment, emotional state, learning history, physical health, or communication challenges.

5. Revise the training plan to better reflect the dog’s current needs, abilities, and emotional wellbeing.

6. Implement the updated training plan using humane, positive reinforcement-based methods.

7. If the dog continues to struggle, consult a qualified veterinarian to rule out pain, illness, or other underlying medical concerns that may be contributing to the behaviour.

8. If medical concerns have been ruled out and challenges persist, consult with a certified and experienced dog behaviour professional for additional guidance, collaboration, or a second opinion.

9. Adjust the training plan based on professional recommendations and continue monitoring progress.

10. If behavioural concerns remain unresolved, particularly those involving fear, anxiety, or aggression, referral to a board-certified veterinary behaviourist may be recommended for further evaluation and possible behaviour modification medication support.

11. If at any point the dog’s behaviour presents a safety risk to the guardian, other people, or other animals, immediate referral to a qualified professional experienced in aggression cases and risk assessment is strongly recommended.

Using This Handbook

The purpose of this handbook is to serve as a reference guide for students enrolled at Good Dog Academy. It contains important information about our programs, policies, procedures, and expectations to help support you throughout your learning journey. Please take the time to read this handbook carefully and refer back to it as needed during your studies.

This Student Handbook is searchable.

Enrollment & Participation Requirements

Application, Waiver, Release & Acknowledgement

Good Dog Academy’s Professional Dog Trainer BASIC and Professional Dog Trainer BUNDLE programs as well as our Canadian Standards Program, require you to fill in an application form, waiver, release and acknowledgement. Please click on the hyperlinks to preview the forms. 

Waiver Requirement: A completed waiver is mandatory for participation of these programs.

Payment Requirement: Graduation certificates will be issued only upon receipt of full payment.

School Policies

Code of Conduct

Good Dog Academy expects all students and graduates to uphold a professional and respectful Code of Conduct during and after their program of study. Failure to adhere to the Code of Conduct may result in immediate dismissal from the program without refund. In cases involving graduates, Good Dog Academy reserves the right to revoke certification when conduct is found to be in violation of these standards. Questions or requests for clarification may be directed to the Administration Team.

1. Students and graduates are expected to follow and uphold Good Dog Academy’s Humane Training Model.

2. Students and graduates must conduct themselves in a respectful and professional manner toward fellow students, staff members, clients, dogs, and Good Dog Academy Inc.

3. Harassment, bullying, intimidation, discrimination, slanderous remarks, or violent behaviour will not be tolerated in any form, whether online or in person.

4. Verbal abuse, threats, or aggressive behaviour of any kind toward students, staff members, clients, or members of the public will not be tolerated under any circumstances.

Admissions Policy
Good Dog Academy is committed to enrolling students who demonstrate a genuine interest in learning and who are likely to successfully achieve their educational and professional goals.

Privacy Policy
Under the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA), students have the right to access their student file upon request. Personal information collected by Good Dog Academy is used solely for educational, administrative, and student support purposes and will never be sold, shared, or licensed to third parties.

Safety, Scope & Responsibility
Good Dog Academy trainers must always work within their professional scope and prioritize the emotional, physical and public safety of all involved. Humane training includes knowing when to refer out, when to pause and when to collaborate with veterinary and behavioural experts to support the dog’s full wellbeing.

We adhere to the Canadian Association of Professional Dog Trainers STOP List to ensure all practices are aligned with humane, ethical standards.

Employer-Sponsored Enrollment Policy
At Good Dog Academy, we recognize that some employers choose to invest in their employees’ professional development by sponsoring enrollment in the Professional Dog Trainer Certificate Program. While we value transparency with sponsoring employers, we are equally committed to protecting student privacy and confidentiality.

The following policy applies to employer-sponsored enrollments:

1. Program Progress Updates

   Employers who have paid for an employee’s enrollment may request general progress updates at any time. These updates may include information such as program participation, completed modules, and overall progression through the coursework.

2. Grades and Assessment Information

   Specific grades, assignment feedback, quizzes, assessments, or other detailed performance evaluations will only be shared with the employer if the student provides explicit consent. Good Dog Academy will obtain confirmation from the student before releasing any grade-related information.

3. Student Privacy and Confidentiality

   Good Dog Academy is committed to maintaining the privacy and confidentiality of all student records. Unless written consent has been provided by the student, employers will only receive general information related to enrollment status, participation, and program completion.

This policy is intended to support a respectful balance between employer involvement and student privacy while fostering a positive and professional learning environment.

External Organizations Seeking Collaboration
Good Dog Academy welcomes partnerships and opportunities that support the education and professional growth of our students and graduates. This includes employment opportunities, mentorships, internships, volunteer placements, and collaborative partnerships.

All requests from external organizations must be submitted in writing to academy@gooddog.ca and include the organization’s name, website, contact information, a description of the opportunity, and an overview of the organization’s training philosophy and professional affiliations, where applicable.

Requests are reviewed by the Director of Training and/or Registrar to ensure alignment with Good Dog Academy’s humane, force-free, and evidence-based standards. Good Dog Academy reserves the right to decline any request that does not align with our mission, ethics, or professional standards.

Approved opportunities may be shared with students or graduates through official Good Dog Academy communication channels. Personal student information will never be shared without explicit consent.

Organizations interested in ongoing collaboration or partnership opportunities may be invited to enter into a formal partnership agreement. Any organization found to engage in unethical practices, aversive training methods, or misrepresentation of credentials may be removed from partnership listings or future collaboration opportunities.

Scope of Practice & Professional Expectations
Students and graduates of Good Dog Academy are expected to work within an ethical and professional scope of practice that prioritizes the welfare, safety, and wellbeing of both dogs and people. Graduates should represent their education, experience, and credentials honestly and avoid providing services beyond their level of competence or training.

Good Dog Academy promotes humane, evidence-based, and force-free training methods. Students and graduates are expected to apply these principles in their professional interactions, training practices, and public representation of the industry.

Dog trainers are not veterinarians, veterinary behaviourists, groomers, nutritionists, or legal professionals unless separately qualified and credentialed in those areas. Students and graduates are expected to recognize the limits of their expertise and refer clients to appropriate qualified professionals when medical, behavioural, nutritional, legal, or safety concerns fall outside their scope of practice.

Professional expectations include:

• Treating clients, colleagues, students, staff, and dogs with respect and professionalism.

• Maintaining honesty and integrity in marketing, communication, and representation of credentials.

• Continuing to pursue professional development and evidence-based education.

• Prioritizing safety and humane treatment in all training and handling practices.

• Maintaining client confidentiality and professional boundaries.

• Seeking guidance, mentorship, or referral support when working with complex or high-risk cases.

Failure to uphold these professional standards may result in disciplinary action, dismissal from a program, or revocation of certification.

Graduation Requirements 
Theory courses and the Final Exam require a grade of 90% to pass.
Practical Skills Development assignments require a grade of 80% to pass.

Graduate with Honours
Good Dog Academy is rewarding excellence with an Honours Graduation Badge when you complete ALL Theory courses and Final Exam with a grade of 100%. You are allowed two attempts at each test.

To make sure that you are recognized, please send an email to academy@gooddog.ca after your Final Exam to let us know! You will receive your Honours Graduation Badge with your program graduation package to display on your website and social media.

Complaints & Professional Conduct Review
Any person may submit a complaint regarding a Good Dog Academy Professional Dog Trainer Certificate holder who they believe is not acting in accordance with Good Dog Academy’s Code of Conduct or Humane Training Model.

All complaints are reviewed fairly and confidentially. Good Dog Academy may gather information from the complainant, the trainer involved, and any relevant witnesses or supporting documentation. The information will be reviewed by Good Dog Academy faculty to determine whether professional standards have been upheld.

Where appropriate, complaints may be resolved through clarification, education, or corrective guidance. If concerns are substantiated, disciplinary action may be taken, including warnings, additional educational requirements, suspension, or revocation of certification.

This process is intended to protect the integrity, professionalism, and humane standards of Good Dog Academy and its graduates.

Complaints or questions may be submitted to academy@gooddog.ca.

General Information

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Tuition, Pricing & Payment Information

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Student Support  Learning Resources

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Video Submission Master Guide

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Professional Dog Trainer Certification Program Overviews

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Professional Dog Trainer Certificate Program (PDT)

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Canadian Standards Program (CSP)

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Continuing Education Opportunities

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Requirements

Good Dog Academy is proud to be a progressive company that is always curious about new research and development in the dog industry. 

We have multiple courses under development at this time.

We have included our newest revamped courses in our BUNDLE offer. You can also choose to take these courses individually if you are not registering for the BUNDLE.