Who is this course for?
Are you a dog sitter or walker who finds it challenging to work with dogs that are fearful or reactive toward new people or other dogs? Maybe you’ve had a difficult experience with a reactive dog, or you’d like to support dogs with behavioral challenges but feel unsure or nervous about how to do it safely and confidently.
If any of this sounds familiar, this course is designed for you.
While this course is designed specifically for pet care professionals who provide sitting, walking and boarding services, we welcome other pet care professionals as well.
What is this course about?
This course is designed to equip pet care professionals with the skills needed to provide services for dogs with behavior challenges, such as difficulty with new people, fear or hostility towards other dogs or other significant challenges.
This seven-unit course will teach dog sitters and walkers how to work through a Getting to Know You (GTKY) process, enabling them to confidently work with dogs who might otherwise be considered too challenging for typical care providers.
Participants will learn how to conduct new client interviews, develop Getting to Know You plans, conduct Getting to Know You visits, work with clients and other staff, use outdoor and indoor environments during visits and evaluate the progress and completion of the process. A core emphasis of the course is developing strong dog communication skills to prevent and address the fear, anxiety and stress that many dogs with behavior challenges experience.
Overview All seven units have a video session, and four of the seven units include a live session with an instructor. The live sessions provide in-depth instruction from Challenging Dogs staff as well as the opportunity to learn from other pet sitters. The course includes assignments and quizzes to reinforce learning and skill development.
Time Requirements The total time to complete the course is approximately 13 hours. The time requirements are divided into these sections:
Recorded video sessions: Each of the seven units has a recorded session for learners to review. These sessions range from 10 to 32 minutes. Total time for viewing all recorded sessions is approximately 2 hours.
Live sessions: Four of the seven units have a live session with an instructor and other learners. Each of the live sessions is one and a half hours. Total time for live sessions is 6 hours.
The four live sessions will be conducted via Zoom. Class size for live sessions will be limited to encourage dialogue with the instructor and to facilitate participation in case studies. Sessions will be held in the evening from 7:00 – 8:30 pm Eastern time.
Assignments and knowledge checks: Completing assignments and knowledge checks will take approximately 5 hours. This includes two hours of videos on dog body language and communication.
What is the cost?
The fee for the course is $349.
Register now to secure your place! If you register by February 28, 2026 enter this code at checkout to get a 15% discount on the course fee: byfeb28