The Certified Membership application will ask for basic information on your training and instructing experience, including past employment and references. To evaluate your instructing knowledge and skills, it will also include these examination questions. Please review them before submitting payment, as the application fee is non-refundable.

General directions to complete the application can be found here, and we strongly recommend you read them. Guidelines for creating the required video can be found here. Please be sure to read them over to ensure submitting an acceptable video.

Tell us about your own dogs:

• What breeds are they?
• What type of training have you done with them?
• Describe any training and/or behavior problems you have experienced and describe the steps you took to resolve the issues.

Tell us about the three most important things that influenced the development of your approach to training. What were they, when and how did they impact you? These may be authors, specific books, seminars, videos, mentors, etc.

What background information do you get from your students? If you use a form, you may attach/upload it as your answer to this question.

List all the collars, leashes and other training tools you recommend. Indicate if you would recommend the tool for a beginner student. Also indicate how often you recommend or use each tool.

Describe where you hold your lessons. Do the locations vary? If so, how do you decide where the lessons will take place? Explain the advantages and disadvantages of each location.

Tell us about what you teach in each lesson:

1. How did you decide what will be taught in each lesson? Include a copy of your curriculum, if you use one.
2. What do you do if you cannot complete all the planned material in a particular lesson?
3. What do you do if your student(s) are not ready for the material planned?

This question has two parts. BOTH PARTS must be completed.

Tell us the instructions you would give your students to teach the following behaviors to their dogs:

1. Sit while being petted by a friendly stranger
2. Come when called into the house from the yard

This question has two parts. BOTH PARTS must be completed.

1. SEND US A VIDEO that shows the first lesson where a student is teaching the Down command to their dog
2. Tell us the steps you take to teach the DOWN command. A DETAILED ANSWER IS REQUIRED

CHOOSE ONE of the following options

1. Explain how you teach Loose Leash Walking to your students. Tell us what you expect from a dog who is trained to walk on a loose leash. Describe EACH STEP of your instruction, lesson by lesson. Be as specific as possible. A DETAILED ANSWER IS REQUIRED
2. Send us a video that shows the first lesson where you start to teach Loose Leash Walking to your student(s)

1. Jumping up on adults; jumping on toddlers
2. Stealing food off counters/tables
3. Puppy constantly biting at hands when being petted, physically restrained or handled

CHOOSE ONE of these scenarios and tell us what you would do in the following situation.

A DETAILED ANSWER IS REQUIRED

1. In week three of your class, the group is working on the down command. An elderly lady is having trouble getting her 11 month old Lhasa Apso to obey. The dog growls and snaps at her hand when she reaches for the dog’s collar. She draws back and stops trying. The student mentions that "Precious" is likely to snap like this any time she does not want to do something.
2. It is your first lesson with new client. She is single mother with two kids and an English Springer Spaniel. Whenever the dog does not want to do something it goes under a table or chair and attempts to bite if the mother tries to reach under to get the dog. If the kids try to make it do something, it snaps, and has actually bitten the 5 year old boy.

CHOOSE ONE of these scenarios and tell us what you would do in the following situation.

A DETAILED ANSWER IS REQUIRED

1. It is the first night of class. A large dog about 2 years old is constantly straining at the leash, lunging at any dog that comes near. The owner is having trouble controlling the dog. He cannot keep the dog's attention long enough to complete even the simplest task.
2. At your first lesson, a lady has a German Shepherd dog that immediately begins out of control barking. He continues to bark as you start the lesson. Your client is unsuccessful in quieting the dog and before long it is apparent that she is very upset with his behavior. She cannot hear any of your instructions.

Tell us what you would do in the following situation.

A DETAILED ANSWER IS REQUIRED

A seven month old Shetland sheepdog is very nervous at the first lesson. It trembles and hides behind the owner when anyone comes near. The owner is offering treats and praise in an attempt to coax the dog into action, but it isn’t working.

Tell us what you would do if your student was having the following problem.

A DETAILED ANSWER IS REQUIRED

A young couple have a year old Yorkie that urinates and defecates in the house. They refuse to try crate training the dog, and do not have a suitable place to leave her outside when they are gone, although they do have a fenced yard. They presently shut the dog in a bathroom while they are gone and at night. Both the man and the woman work during the day, but the wife is able to come home during her lunch hour. The dog is immediately taken outside, but doesn't always "go." She often slips into either the dining room or the spare bedroom to eliminate, even after being outside. Their main complaint is that the dog will not "ask" to be let out.