ONLINE COURSE · NEW LESSON EVERY MONTH
Puppy to Partner
Raise your puppy into a calm, confident future service dog, one month at a time. A new lesson opens every 30 days.
- Lessons6 · about 1.8 hours
- Practiceabout 26 weeks
ABOUT THIS COURSE
Puppy to Partner is a six-month program for puppies from about 8–16 weeks old. Each month a new lesson opens with the skills and experiences that matter most at that age: socialization, handling, house manners, early focus and the first steps toward public work.
A new month opens every 30 days, and we email you when it does. The program is included with the Training Membership.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
Month by month
-
1
15 min
Month 1: Name, handling and a safe start
Name response in the house, daily gentle handling, and a crate or pen your puppy settles in.
-
2
Opens day 30
Month 2: Socialization done right
Five new, positive experiences each week: sounds, surfaces, people and places.
-
3
Opens day 60
Month 3: Focus, sit and down
Sit and down on a verbal cue, and eye contact for 3 seconds.
-
4
Opens day 90
Month 4: Leash skills and the mat
A few steps of loose-leash walking and a 1-minute settle on a mat.
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5
Opens day 120
Month 5: Calm in new places
Short, calm visits to 3 pet-friendly places with a settle on the mat.
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6
Opens day 150
Month 6: Ready for Foundations
Review all skills and start the Service Dog Foundations course.
WHO IT'S FOR
Handlers raising a puppy (about 8–16 weeks to start) who want to prepare them for future service work.
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
Does my puppy get a training record?
Puppy to Partner builds foundations and doesn't end in a task record. When your pup is ready, move on to Foundations and the task courses.
Can I start with an older puppy?
Yes. Work through the opened months at your own pace; later months open on schedule.
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 Puppy to Partner today
Self-paced lessons, a practice log and a signed training record when you finish.