PROGRESSIVE DOG TRAINER DIPLOMA

Start: 13 September 2025

Saturdays – over 3 months – see schedule below for class details.

Progressive Dog Trainer Diploma is your essential introduction to the art and science of dog training. This course lays the groundwork by immersing you in fundamental theories, practical techniques, and behavioural insights that enable you to understand and communicate with dogs effectively. You will acquire a well-rounded skill set, covering everything from basic obedience to positive reinforcement methods, ensuring that you are equipped to build a trusting relationship with your canine clients. Designed for those beginning their journey in dog training, this programme provides a clear, structured learning path that paves the way for future specialisation. By the end of the course, you will not only have mastered the basics but will also be prepared to tackle more advanced challenges with confidence and expertise

Course Requirements:

Some practical experience with dogs.
Commitment to sessions over 3 months (see dates and times below)
Time to read subject-specific literature and prepare assignments.
A dog to work with on practical assignments at home.
Technology Requirements: Windows 7-10 or Mac OS X, Internet connection (broadband or wireless 3G/4G/LTE), speakers and microphone, webcam or built-in camera.
Your own dog to work with.

Course Modules

1. Ways of Explaining Canine Behaviour

The effects of biology on behaviour
Natures approach to behaviour
Nurtures approach to behaviour
How food affects behaviour
Associative learning
Do dogs think?
Canine intelligence
Various ways dogs communicate
Canine instincts
What is a behaviourist?

2. Understanding Canine Behaviour

Introduction to developmental psychology
The newborn puppy
Associative learning in the newborn puppy
Reflex actions
Initial development in the newborn puppy
The puppy’s vision
The puppy’s hearing
Lapping behaviour
Early experiences with semi-solid foods
The Nature/Nurture debate
The behaviour of the mother
Natural selection
Elimination behaviour in the newborn puppy
The behaviour of the father
The importance of play in the newborn puppy
Why do puppies play
The play bow
The role of hormones
Social development
Canine senses
Artificial selection
What is an adult dog?
Sexual maturity
Physical maturity
Psychological maturity
The dog as a predator
Instincts
Types of aggressive behaviour
The dog as a social animal
The structure of a pack
Personality expression
Vocalisation
Posture
Scent marking
Burying food
The elderly dog

3. Body language

What is meant by body language?
Personal space
Various types of body language
Faces and their expressions
What the mouth can convey
Staring
Yawning
Body postures
The confident dog
The shy dog
Distraction signals
The stress signal
Play
The play bow and play dance
The older dog and play
Tail language
Positions of the tail
Wagging

4. Canine Learning

Charles Darwin’s biological adaptations
The nature verses nurture debate of learning
Environmental influences on behaviour
Canine learning
The parental influences on learning
Critical and sensitive periods of the puppy’s development
Classical conditioning
Chaining
Instrumental or operant conditioning
Reward and punishment in learning
Reinforcers and punishment in learning
Primary and secondary reinforcers
Reinforcement schedules
Shaping behaviour
Sensitisation
Cultural transmission
The importance of play
Insight learning
Habituation

5. Dog Training

Why train dogs?
The senses and training
Schedules of reinforcement
Primary and secondary reinforcers revisited
Choice of primary reinforce
Benefits of using positive reinforcement
Putting the theory into practice
Basic training of house training, the recall, the sit, sit/stand, down, watch and progressing
to heel with problems and solutions. Impulse
control, prevention of aggression over food and
toys, leash management. Leave-it, take-it, give-it.
Puppy socialisation
Running classes
The advantages and disadvantages of using Clicker Training
Summary of training principles
Trainer skills

6. Canine Form and Function

Understanding what form and function are
Canine sight
Canine hearing
Canine olfaction
Canine taste
Canine touch
How different breeds originated
The difference between natural selection and artificial selection
Hound Group
Terrier Group
Gundog Group
Utility Group
Toy Group
Working Group
Pastoral Group

7. Avoiding Problem Behaviour

The thinking behind this module is to equip
students with the ability to provide dogs with
the required social environment to avoid common

8. Defining Aggression

Introduction to canine aggression
Defining aggression in human terms
Social communication
Can aggression be thought of as a natural and/or beneficial behaviour?
Selective breeding and its influence on behaviour
Nature /Nurture Debate
Group dynamics
Social behaviour
The dog’s expressive body language
The need for understanding body language
Stress levels contributing to aggression
Calming signals and displacement behaviour
Are there any circumstances where aggression is appropriate?

*Course Details:*
Venue:	Dates:	Times:	Address:
Cape Town	September: 13,20,27 October: 11,18,25 November: 8,15,22,29	Saturday 2pm – 5pm (all classes)	Combination of live webinar classes and practical lessons at Vista Nova Highschool, Loerie Ave, Pinelands, Cape Town, 7405
Johannesburg	September: 13,20,27 October: 11,18,25 November: 8,15,22,29	Saturday 1pm-4pm (online classes) 8:30am-11am (practical classes)	Combination of live webinar classes and practical lessons at Mutt Club, 5 Bloemfontein street, Founders Hill, Modderfontein, Edenvale,1645
Virtual – Online Only	September: 13,20,27 October: 11,18,25 November: 8,15,22,29	Saturday 9am-11am October 11,18,25 Rest of the classes are at 2pm	Live On-line Classes only

8-Module Course – Intensive Study Over 3 Months

Course Structure:

Assessment: Students will be evaluated through weekly assignments, 2 projects, and a practical obedience exam at the end of the course.
Completion Criteria: Every module and the practical exam must be passed to earn the diploma. Strict attendance is required for qualification.
Commitment: Students should allocate 4-6 hours per week for assignments and projects.

Fees:

Practical Course: R9660
Virtual Course: R8970

Payment Options:

Upfront Payment: Pay for the entire course upfront (includes booking fee).
Installment Option (Practical Course):
- R1000 non-refundable booking fee required upfront to confirm registration.
- R2887 due by 12 September 2025
- R2887 due by 25 October 2025
- R2886 due by 29 November 2025
Installment Option (Virtual Course):
- R1000 non-refundable booking fee required upfront to confirm registration.
- R2657 due by 12 September 2025
- R2657 due by 25 October 2025
- R2656 due by 29 November 2025

Download course info.

NB: To register for this course, please send an email cbti@petsensecollege.co.za to receive the applicable registration document.

Note: Please do not download the registration form from the website as it does not apply to this course.

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Some comments from our students.

Casey was a great teacher! She was, patient and corrected students in a very kind manner, never saying they did anything wrong but rather what they could rather do and why! Thank you Casey for sharing your knowledge and stories to help us better understand the content! July 24

J Cleenverck

I really enjoyed this course. I learned A LOT that I didn’t know before. Through practical classes & the internship, I’ve learned how to apply the knowledge gained to everyday life with mine & my clients dogs’. Being a pet sitter & working with dogs every day, the knowledge gained through the PDT course as well as the additional knowledge gained through the internship was absolutely essential for me. Celia is very patient & sincerely understanding as well as insightful & the lessons were informative as well as fun. Thank you. 🙂 Nov 2019

Adrian K

I am very glad I signed up for this course. I now understand how important it is to understand dog body language and their psychology to run my dog school. I learned how to do the exercises so that mistakes aren’t made and I don’t think one realises how important it is to make sure you are perfect in your training skills to ensure the dog and the owner learns the best way. Thank you for running this amazing course. March 2021

Terry C

It was truly enriching and insightful. I learned alot about Canine behaviour and gained valuable insight for managing various behaviours in a dog school environment. The facilitator was exceptional; her explanations were succint yet comprehensive, both in theory and during in-person classes. She always made time to delve into certain topics, which enhanced my understanding significantly. Moreover, I found the content to be sufficient and well-structed, facilitating a smooth flow of learning throughout the course. Overall it was a fantastic experience and I’m grateful for the opportunity to have been part of it. April 2024

Blaise M