Partnership & Certification Pathways

Most organizations working with Service, Therapy, and Facility Dogs operate without a consistent, standardized way to evaluate performance. That gap creates confusion, inconsistency, and increased risk—for handlers, organizations, and the public.

Certify Canine was built to solve that.

We provide a performance-based certification system that validates real-world behavior, supports accountability, and creates a clear standard for working dog teams.

Whether you’re a professional, an organization, or an agency, there is a pathway designed for your role.

All certification pathways include access to Certify Canine’s insurance-backed system and certification database, ensuring teams are both recognized and supported under national standards.

Dog tasking

Individual Certifier

For trainers and canine professionals ready to step into a higher level of responsibility.

As a Certify Canine Certifier, you are not just training dogs—you are evaluating and validating working dog teams against real-world standards.

This pathway allows you to:

  1. offer structured, credible certification
  2. expand beyond training into evaluation
  3. operate within a neutral, standards-based system
  4. contribute to raising the industry standard

Investment:

  1. New Certifier: $275
  2. Annual Renewal: $185

Organizational Membership (Team Certification)

For programs managing multiple dogs and handlers who need structure, consistency, and accountability.

Without a clear system, organizations often rely on internal judgment—which can vary from team to team.

This pathway provides a repeatable, standardized process for certifying working dog teams within your organization.

With Organizational Membership, you can:

  1. create consistency across all teams
  2. provide a clear certification pathway for clients
  3. reduce liability through defined evaluation standards
  4. manage certification at scale with clarity

Investment:

  1. Annual Organization Membership: $750 includes 1 certifier membership
  2. Per Team Within Organization Certification: $275 (new) / $195 renewal

Agency & Program Partnerships

For organizations that utilize—or are planning to integrate—working dogs into their environment.

Many agencies are expected to interact with working dog teams but lack clear guidance on:

  1. what qualifies a reliable team
  2. how to assess behavior in real-world settings
  3. how to reduce risk and liability

Certify Canine provides a framework for clarity.

Through partnership, you gain:

  1. access to certified, validated working dog teams
  2. guidance on implementation and best practices
  3. support in understanding handler and dog expectations
  4. a system designed to improve safety, consistency, and confidence

Where Do You Fit?

  1. Want to evaluate and certify dogs → Individual Certifier
  2. Need to certify teams within your program → Organizational Membership
  3. Looking to safely integrate working dogs into your environment → Agency Partnership

Why This Matters—and Your Next Step

Working dogs operate in public, high-pressure environments where consistency and reliability are critical. Without clear standards, expectations begin to vary, decisions become subjective, and overall risk increases. Certify Canine provides a structured system where performance is verified, standards remain consistent, and teams are held accountable—creating clarity for handlers, organizations, and the public.

If you’re ready to bring structure, consistency, and accountability into your work with working dogs, the next step is simple: apply or connect with our team to determine the pathway that best fits your role.


GO TO APPLICATION FORM
REGISTER