ONLINE COURSE · LEVEL 1
Service Dog Foundations training course
Build the skills every service dog needs first: focus, a reliable settle, loose-leash walking and calm manners around distractions.
- TaskFoundation skills: focus on handler, settle on a mat, loose-leash walking and calm public manners
- Lessons5 · about 85 minutes
- Practiceabout 4 weeks
ABOUT THIS COURSE
Every task a service dog performs sits on top of a few basic skills. A dog that can check in with you, settle on a mat, walk politely and ignore distractions is ready to learn real task work. This course builds those foundations step by step, with short sessions you can fit into a normal day.
You’ll use food rewards and clear markers, keep sessions short, and log your practice as you go. By the end you’ll have a calm, focused partner and a training record that shows the work.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
Lesson by lesson
-
1
10 min
How your dog learns
Charge a marker word and practice 3 short sessions this week.
-
2
15 min
Focus: eye contact and name response
Your dog looks up at you within 2 seconds of hearing their name, 8 out of 10 times, in the house.
-
3
20 min
Settle on a mat
Your dog goes to a mat and lies down for 5 minutes while you sit nearby.
-
4
20 min
Loose-leash walking
Walk 50 feet on a loose leash in a quiet area, twice in a row.
-
5
20 min
Calm public manners
Three outings where your dog ignores food, people and other dogs, and settles for 10 minutes.
You'll log at least 6 practice sessions before signing your record.
WHO IT'S FOR
Handlers starting out with a young or newly adopted dog, or anyone whose dog needs steadier basics before task training. No prior training experience needed.
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
How old should my dog be?
Most dogs can start at about 5–6 months. Keep sessions very short for puppies and build up slowly.
Do I need a clicker?
No. A short word like "yes" works just as well. The course shows you both.
How long are the sessions?
Five to ten minutes, once or twice a day. Short and frequent beats long and tiring.
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 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.
Level 2
Anxiety Interruption
Task: Interrupts anxiety behaviors with a nudge or paw
Teach your dog to interrupt anxious behaviors like leg bouncing, skin picking or hand wringing with a nudge or paw.
Start Service Dog Foundations today
Self-paced lessons, a practice log and a signed training record when you finish.