Diploma in Service Dog and Canine Management

Medicine Hat College

Canada,Alberta

 1 Shortlist

24 Months

Duration

CAD 25,300/year

Tuition Fee

CAD 125

Application Fee

Sep 2025

Apply Date

Canada, Alberta

Type: College

Location Type: Urban

Founded: 1965

Total Students: 8,890 +

Campus Detail

Main Campus Address

299 College Drive Southeast, Medicine Hat, AB T1A 3Y6, Canada

Diploma in Service Dog and Canine Management

Program Overview

The Service Dog and Canine Studies Management Diploma provides students with both a practical and a theory-based education. The program runs for 18 consecutive months, consisting of four semesters of in-class learning and culminating in an 8-week work term in the final semester. During their first four semesters, students work together and share responsibilities of housing, training, and caring for a group of young service dogs in training for 14 months. Partnering with Canadian service dog organizations, Medicine Hat College provides puppies for student’s experiential learning. Working in groups, students raise the dogs through puppyhood and adolescence, after which the dogs return to organizations for further training before being placed with clients.


The program delves into the use of service dogs to alleviate symptoms of disabilities, outlining the use of and training for hearing, diabetes alert, seizure response, autism assistance, mobility assistance, PTSD, and psychiatric service dogs. Students develop effective and ethical training skills for both canines and humans, emphasizing group work, critical thinking, and empathetic coaching and communication. The curriculum includes studying animal behavior, canine learning theory, and dog training methods supported by leading professionals and governing bodies internationally, including the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association. 


Students gain hands-on experience in lab classes, practicing positive reinforcement training skills with the program’s service dogs in training. Business courses in communication, marketing, management, and accounting prepare students for entrepreneurial opportunities. Graduates are equipped for careers such as service dog trainer apprentice, pet dog trainer, kennel manager, and roles in animal shelters. Work-integrated learning opportunities include placements in service dog organizations, shelters, kennels, and other canine-related settings, providing valuable professional experience.