ONLINE COURSE · LEVEL 2
Sound Alert training course
Teach your dog to hear the doorbell, a timer or an alarm, come and touch you, and lead you to the sound.
- TaskAlerts handler to specific sounds by touching and leading
- Lessons4 · about 70 minutes
- Practiceabout 6 weeks
ABOUT THIS COURSE
Sound alert is a core task for handlers who are deaf or hard of hearing, and useful for anyone who sometimes can’t hear important sounds. Your dog hears a sound, comes to you, touches you and leads you to where the sound is coming from.
This course trains alerts to a doorbell and a kitchen timer. You can add more sounds with the same steps.
Safety: for smoke alarms, your dog should alert you and you should leave the house. Practise with a recording at low volume, never a real fire.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
Lesson by lesson
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1
10 min
The alert touch
Your dog comes to you and nudges your leg on cue, from across the room.
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2
20 min
Sound means come and touch
When the doorbell rings, your dog comes and touches you without a spoken cue, 7 out of 10 times.
-
3
20 min
Lead me to the sound
After the touch, your dog leads you to the door or timer.
-
4
20 min
Add sounds and real life
Your dog alerts to 2 different sounds in real situations over a week.
You'll log at least 12 practice sessions before signing your record.
WHO IT'S FOR
Handlers who are deaf or hard of hearing, or anyone who sometimes can't hear important sounds. Your dog should have a solid recall.
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
Which sounds can my dog learn?
Any consistent sound: doorbell, timer, phone ring, alarm clock, a baby monitor. Train one at a time.
Will my dog alert to every noise?
No. Only the trained sounds are rewarded, so your dog learns to ignore the rest.
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 Sound Alert today
Self-paced lessons, a practice log and a signed training record when you finish.