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Animal Care · Certificate

Train Dogs That Change Lives
For Therapy and Assistance Roles

This course gives you the foundation to train dogs for professional therapy and assistance work in New Zealand. You will learn how to read dog behaviour, teach specific tasks, and understand the ethics and laws relevant to working in Kiwi communities.

Free first lesson
Or enrol on the spot
Rated 5 by our students
From $25
Per Week
ICOES + CPD
Endorsed Certificate
14-Day
Money-Back Guarantee
100%
Online, Self-Paced
24/7
AI Tutor
Where this can take you

Upskill. Career or Business. Made for New Zealand.

Whatever you are here for, these are the kinds of roles your new skills could lead to:

Dog Trainer
Therapy Dog Handler
Assistance Dog Training Assistant
Animal Shelter Attendant
Dog Daycare Coordinator
Animal-Assisted Activities Coordinator
Curriculum

What You’ll Learn.

5 modules · 50 lessons · Study at your own pace

01Welcome & IntroductionFree
02How Dogs Experience the World
03Reading Dog Body Language
04Stress and Calming Signals in Dogs
05How Dogs Learn: The Basics of Conditioning
06Positive Reinforcement and Why It Works
07Drive, Temperament, and Individual Differences
08Breed Traits and Their Relevance to Working Roles
09Early Development and the Role of Socialisation
10Fear, Anxiety, and Avoidance in Dogs
11Welfare-Centred Thinking in Dog Training
Included with your course

Your 24/7 AI Tutor.

It knows where you are

Your tutor sees the lesson you are on and what you have covered, so every answer fits your progress.

Explains Until You Get It

Confused by a concept? Ask for a simpler take, a real-world example, or a quick quiz to test yourself.

There at 11pm

Study when it suits you. Your tutor is available around the clock, every day of your enrolment.

Inside this course · Your tutor
What are the specific public access rights for an assistance dog in training in New Zealand?
In New Zealand, public access rights for assistance dogs in training are not automatic and depend on the certifying organisation. Fully certified assistance dogs have rights under the Human Rights Act 1993 and the Dog Control Act 1996. The course covers the different accreditation pathways and what they mean for handler and dog teams here in NZ. Would you like me to explain the role of organisations like Assistance Dogs New Zealand Trust?
ModernEdu
This certifies that
Charlotte Reeve
has successfully completed the
Certificate in Therapy & Assistance Dog Training NZ
Issued by Modern Education New Zealand
Certificate No. ME-2026-04871
Verify at modernedu.co.nz/verify
Your certificate

Proof of What You Know.

Endorsed

Endorsed by ICOES, the International Council for Online Educational Standards, and CPD-eligible.

Verifiable online

Every certificate carries a unique number an employer or client can verify on our site in seconds.

Made to share

A printed hard copy is included with upfront enrolment, and a digital version for LinkedIn and your CV.

Student reviews

What People Are Saying.

5 average rating

Set up a plant styling business, and maintain it too

The content was clear and practical — including the set-up of a plant styling business, and ongoing maintenance too.

Emily P. · Verified student

The financial part of the business

Learning about the financial part of the business.

Kristine S. · Verified student

The first weeks are the foundation, not a warm-up

The first weeks in the home are not a warm-up phase, they are the foundation. The guidance we give owners during this window can prevent months of remedial work later, making early intervention one of the most powerful tools we have as trainers.

Gaylene D. · Verified student
What you get

Everything Included.

In this course

50 lessons across 5 modules, read, listen, or watch every one
Your 24/7 AI tutor, built into every lesson
Assessments and your ICOES-endorsed, CPD-eligible certificate
12 months access, with extensions available on request

As a Modern Edu student

Student discount on any additional course
Printed hard-copy edition of your course
More student extras on the way
How it works

Four Steps to Your Certificate.

01

Try It Free

Start lesson 1 right now, free. See the course and meet your tutor before paying anything.

02

Enrol Easily

Pick the option that suits you. Every option is covered by the 14-day guarantee.

03

Make Real Progress

Read, listen, or watch each lesson. Go at your own pace with your tutor beside you.

04

Get Your Certificate

Pass your assessments and receive your endorsed, verifiable certificate.

Enrolment

Easy Ways to Get Started.

Try the first lesson free. When you are ready, split it into four with Afterpay or Klarna, save $140 upfront, or take the simple weekly plan.

Start Here · No Card Needed
Free first lesson
Start lesson 1 right now and meet your AI tutor. See exactly how the course works before you decide anything.
No card. No commitment. Your progress carries over when you enrol.
When you are ready to enrol
Recommended · Split Into Four
$139.75 ×4
Afterpay or Klarna covers the $559 upfront price for you. You get every upfront bonus and the $140 saving, then repay in four fortnightly amounts. Nothing more after that.
A second course free, your choice
Printed edition of your course included
Save $140 compared with the weekly plan
Continue With Afterpay or Klarna
Four interest-free payments of $139.75 for approved applicants. Late fees may apply.
Upfront · Save $140
$559
One payment by card if you would rather settle it in one go. Same bonuses: second course free and the printed edition.
CardAfterpayKlarna
Enrol Upfront for $559
Afterpay and Klarna split $559 into 4 payments of $139.75.
Weekly Payment Plan
$25 /week
28 weekly payments · $700 total
Upfront bonuses not included.
Start the Weekly Plan
Visa · Mastercard · Amex · Afterpay · Klarna accepted.    14-day guarantee
Not sure yet?
Before you enrol

Is It Right for You?

This course is for you if

Dog lovers in New Zealand wanting to build skills for a new career path.
Current dog trainers or vet nurses looking to specialise in therapy or assistance work.
People interested in volunteering with their dog in schools, hospitals, or aged care.
Someone wanting to understand the process of training a dog for a family member.
Anyone seeking a structured, practical online course about animal-assisted interventions.

It is probably not for you if

Anyone needing a formal, NZQA-accredited qualification. For that, check with your local polytechnic.
People who want to become a veterinarian or a registered vet nurse. This course is for training.
Anyone looking to get their own dog certified as an assistance dog through this course alone.
People who expect to get a job guarantee after completing the course.

14-Day Money-Back Guarantee.

Try the full course for two weeks. If it is not for you, we refund you in full. No questions asked, no conditions.

More from students

“I love that it has different ways to learn! I'll keep learning about each flower's conditioning needs — I feel I've learnt so much already.”

Tammie O. · Verified student

“Very informative, and I like the focus on clients. It's better to give advice in small segments — just as we do with our dogs. Small steps.”

John H. · Verified student

“Real world responses — wow. The laws, and what it means to run a facility, is an eye opener. Even the less-common-pets section was eye opening — rabbits are illegal to keep as pets here in Queensland!”

Lee P. · Verified student

Start With a Free Lesson.

Start with the free first lesson, or enrol on the spot from $25 a week.

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Certificate in Therapy & Assistance Dog Training NZ
First lesson free · $25/week · 14-day guarantee