ONLINE COURSE · LEVEL 2
Open & Close Doors training course
Teach your dog to open doors, drawers and the fridge with a tug strap, and push them closed.
- TaskOpens doors and drawers with a tug strap and closes them on cue
- Lessons4 · about 60 minutes
- Practiceabout 5 weeks
ABOUT THIS COURSE
Opening a heavy door, a drawer or the fridge can be hard from a wheelchair or with limited grip or strength. Your dog learns to tug a rope or strap to open, and to push doors closed with their nose or paws.
You’ll need a sturdy tug strap attached to each handle you want your dog to use. Keep sessions short so your dog’s neck and teeth stay comfortable.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
Lesson by lesson
-
1
10 min
Tug on cue
Your dog grabs and pulls a tug strap on cue, and lets go on cue.
-
2
15 min
Open a drawer
Your dog opens a kitchen drawer with the strap, 8 out of 10 times.
-
3
15 min
Close with a nose push
Your dog pushes an open drawer or cupboard door closed on cue.
-
4
20 min
Doors and the fridge
Your dog opens and closes an interior door and the fridge on cue.
You'll log at least 10 practice sessions before signing your record.
WHO IT'S FOR
Handlers with limited grip, strength or reach, including wheelchair users. Your dog should enjoy tug games.
WHAT YOU GET
Proof of your work, wherever you go
Certificate of completion
With your dog's photo, your signature, the task trained and a QR code. Print it yourself or have us mail a printed copy.
Public training record
A page anyone can scan: the course, the task, your practice history and your signed declaration.
Wallet card
Your Training Record in Apple Wallet or Google Wallet — it updates itself when you refresh.
On your verification page
Registered with USAR? Your dog's verification page shows that you completed USAR training.
What you finish with
- A dog trained on a real task, step by step
- A practice log with optional video — the story of your work
- A signed training record with its own page and QR code
- A certificate of completion and a Wallet card
Where it helps
- Answering "what task does your dog do?" with confidence
- Showing a landlord or business your training history
- Keeping skills sharp with a yearly refresh
- Working alongside a local trainer if you use one
Handler-led training completed through a USAR online course and confirmed by the handler's signed declaration. Not observed in person by USAR.
FAQ
Questions handlers ask
Will my dog open the fridge on its own?
Only the cue earns rewards, and you can remove the strap when you're not home.
Is it safe for my dog's teeth?
Use a soft, wide strap and keep repetitions short. Stop if your dog seems uncomfortable.
What kind of certificate do I get?
A certificate of course completion for the task training you did with your dog — with your dog's photo, your signature and a QR code to your training record. The ADA doesn't require any certification for a service dog; what matters is that your dog is trained to do tasks for you, and that's exactly what the courses teach.
Can I train my own service dog?
Yes. Under the ADA, handlers may train their own service dog. What matters is that the dog is individually trained to perform tasks related to your disability and behaves appropriately in public. Our courses give you a structured plan for the task training part.
How long does a course take?
Most courses take a few weeks of short daily practice. Each course shows its lessons and the typical number of weeks. You go at your own pace — lessons stay open, and your practice log keeps track of your progress.
What do I get when I finish?
A signed training record with its own public page and QR code, and a certificate of course completion with your dog's photo and your signature. Members also get a Training ID card for Apple Wallet or Google Wallet; with a single course it's an optional add-on.
How does the membership work?
One payment ($79) gives you every course and level for a year, new courses as they come out, the Wallet card and the yearly refresh. It does not renew on its own. Before the year ends we email you: keep it going for $29.99/year if you want, or let it end.
MORE COURSES
Other tasks you can train
Level 1
Service Dog Foundations
Task: Foundation skills: focus on handler, settle on a mat, loose-leash walking and calm public manners
The core skills every working dog needs before task training: focus, a solid settle, loose-leash walking and calm public manners.
Level 2
Deep Pressure Therapy
Task: Deep pressure therapy on cue
Teach your dog to lie across your lap or chest on cue and apply calming pressure during anxiety or sensory overload.
Level 2
Medication Retrieval
Task: Retrieves medication pouch on cue
Teach your dog to find and bring a medication pouch to you on cue, from another room.
Start Open & Close Doors today
Self-paced lessons, a practice log and a signed training record when you finish.