Companion Animal Sciences Institute

Internship Description:

While CASI does not provide an internship program for dog training of its own, we do recognize Internship Providers that meet specific standards that we have established. Intensive internship programs are made available to graduates of dog training or training and behavior consulting programs, by established and qualified professionals whom we approve or recommend. 

Key Features:

• Formalized and comprehensive hands on skills practice and guidance
• Assisting and co-instructing in group classes
• Credits toward AABP Professional Dog Trainer (PDT) Membership
• In some cases, CAP 1 and CAP 2 Certification

Fees:

Internship Fee: $1500 American (includes evaluation fees for CAP1 and CAP 2 certification, with internship through Courteous Canine, Inc. or Dee Ganley Training Services). This is paid directly to the Internship Provider, and this is a CASI independent program.

Internship Providers:

The intensive internship program is operated completely independently of CASI and involves a relationship between the intern and the professional trainer selected. Approved Internship Providers are chosen based on the criteria outlined below.

CASI Recognized Internship Provider Criteria:

One of the following:

•  IAABC Certified Membership
• Accredited Trainer within the Delta Accredited Dog Trainers Group Australia
•  CPDT
• AABP Professional Dog Trainer or Professional Dog Behavior Consultant

All of the following:

• Possess professional liability insurance where applicable that will include the intern or carrying out the internship in association with an organization or business that has liability insurance that will cover the intern.
  
• Agree to The Companion Animal Sciences Institute methodological stance and AABP Professional Practice Guidelines
• Prepared to dedicate appropriate time to work with the intern
• Five years of professional dog training experience minimum (professional does not need to necessarily mean paid)
• Own a registered/licensed dog training or behavioral business (for at least 3 years prior to approval) or work for an organization or business that trains dogs that has been in operation for at least 3 years.

We will expand the number of Approved Internship Providers over time. We are prepared to work with the student/graduate to identify and approve an Internship provider near them.

Providers:

South-East USA, Angelica Steinker, M.Ed., C.C.B.C., CPDT. Courteous Canine, Inc. Click Here for details.

South-East USA Ann Waterbury CPDT KA, CAP 2, PDBC New Dawn Animal Behavior Center Click Here for details.

North-East USA, Dee Ganley, CPDT, CABC. Dee Ganley Training Services. Click Here for details.

South Australia, Debra Millikan Canine Behavioural School Inc (CBS) and Adelaide Pet Dog Training (APDT). Click here for details.

Internship Criteria

Total contact hours with Internship Provider:

•  Minimum 100 hours (Provider only obligated/contracted for 100 contact hours, anything that is required beyond this for achieving a pass is considered an extension and is to be negotiated between intern and provider. Should be discussed and agreed to in agreement between intern and provider.).
  

Contact hours with Internship Provider in active training with clients:

• Minimum 80 hours.
  

Coaching clients on training the following behaviors from acquisition, to stimulus control, through to generalization:

• Sit
• Down
• Stand
• Stay
• Look
• Recall
• Off
• Loose leash walking
• Greeting people “politely”

Handling problem behaviors:

• Jumping up
• Biting on leash
• Puppy mouthing
• General excessive rambunctiousness
• Pulling on leash
• Home alone training
•  Housetraining

Issues to be covered and worked with:

• Prompting versus free shaping
• Fading prompts
• Putting reinforcers on an effective schedule
• Generalizing

Safe management skills including:

• Evaluating for aggressive behaviors in context of training
• Evaluating and predicting emotional responses and near future behavior (via the dog’s postural and vocal communication signals)
• Managing dog’s stress and frustration levels in training

How to use the following equipment:

• Clicker
• Head halters
• Crate

Hands on skills practice directly with an unknown dog:

•  Train new behavior with prompts
•  Free shaping a complex behavior

Coaching skills:

• Work with guardians in professional and effective manner
• Work with both puppies or young adolescents as well as with adult dogs
• Work with young family members and adult family members
• Working with single guardian and with family of more than 2 people
• Effectively planning and implementing a training plan (private or group)
• Coaching either a complete series of group classes or 2 separate series of at least 3 private training sessions each as the head coach/trainer supervised (only when internship provider is assured the intern is competent to carry out the task). This criterion is like an extended, practical final exam and entry level competency at this task must be demonstrated before the task is complete.

Business:

• Understanding liability and how to minimize it with due care, proactive and reactive care and liability minimizing waivers.
• Understanding insurance.
• Understanding fees and service agreements.

Passing and Not Passing Criteria

The intern will pass the internship component if the internship provider will attest at the end of the 100-hour program that the intern has developed effective basic skills in each criteria area and could work independently as a professional at an entry level of competency. If the internship provider cannot pass the intern at the end of the program, the intern provider and intern may begin an extension, the terms of which should have been agreed to prior to the internship in order to bring the intern’s competency in the problem area to a passing level. Again, this is a relationship established and maintained independently of CASI.