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Advanced Canine Fitness
Certificate (Cert.ACF)

Program Description

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The Certificate in Advanced Canine Fitness is designed to provide students with specialized knowledge in canine fitness. This program will be of value to anyone who works with dogs professionally in canine sports, or in the role of trainer, behavior consultant, or other profession, or as personal interest. Students can expect to engage in extensive reading and writing throughout this program of study. Most of the questions require short answers, calculations, and/or analysis.

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Do you want an advanced understanding of the science of fitness in dogs? If so, this program of study may be just what you need.

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This program of study involves reading course notes and, where specified, articles or course texts, as well as completing written assignments, most of which are short essay answer types. Feedback and guidance are provided for assignments. Students may also take advantage of an email list with fellow students, grads, and faculty for questions and discussion, or students may email their instructor directly. CASI employs a shaping model of education, setting students up for success by providing support and guidance, as well as multiple opportunities to refine and resubmit assignments, rather than simply assigning a grade and moving on. This results in greater conditioning and minimal stress for the student.

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This program requires approximately 30 hours for assignment preparation (not including reading and study time).

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Graduates will receive an Advanced Canine Fitness certificate (Cert.ACF).

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Prerequisite Requirement: The Canine Fitness (Cert.CF) program is a prerequisite to the Advanced Canine Fitness (Cert.ACF) program.

Tuition

 

$500.00 Canadian Dollars. (Currency converter. This provides only an estimate. Tuition is in Canadian funds. Canadian residents pay applicable sales tax.

Students should emerge from this program of study with a detailed understanding of:

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  • Energy density

  • Chemical energy found in food

  • Gross energy

  • Digestible energy

  • Metabolizable energy

  • Dietary thermogenesis

  • Net energy

  • Nutrients

  • Calculating energy requirements

  • Factors influencing food intake and energy requirements

  • Meaning of complete and balanced diets

  • Different types of diets

  • Life stage requirements

  • Digestion and absorption

  • Nutrient content of ingredients

  • Nutritional program design

  • Massage

  • Stretching

  • Hydrotherapy/Aquatic therapy

  • Introduction to Chinese medicine

  • Introduction to canine rehabilitation

  • Introduction to Cryotherapy/Heat therapy

  • Introduction to Chiropractic therapy

  • Causes of obesity

  • Insulin

  • Health risks of obesity

  • Risk factors of obesity

  • Determining obesity

  • Energy balance

  • Weight reduction

  • Exercise

  • Maintaining weight loss

  • Preventing obesity

Program Package

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  • Coursework document including assignments and handouts

  • Student Handbook

Courses (Scroll Down for Course Details)

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  • Nutrition for the Canine Athlete – 407

  • Therapies – 417

  • Obesity and Fitness - 419

Entrance Requirements

 

Entrance into this program requires that you have completed a high school diploma program (exceptions can be made) and that you be at least 18 years of age. We recommend, but do not require, that students have a high school senior level science or biology course as preparation. Personal interest program of study.

Canine Fitness program

Schedule

 

This program is self-paced within a 1-year time limit starting from the enrollment date. Enroll and get started any time you want from anywhere in the world.

Course Descriptions

 

Nutrition and Fitness - 407

Instructor: Susan Barker, Dip.NS., Dip. C.N., Dip.ACBS., Dip.CFNA.

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Course Description:

This course provides a look at nutrition as it relates to exercise and performance. Topics include nutritional requirements for different types of performance dogs, the functions of fats, carbohydrates and protein in the athletic body, and the effects of glycogen loading. It also takes a look at diets and ways of increasing density and important vitamins that need to be included. This course is evaluated by way of assignments.

 

Course Texts:

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  • Course notes provided

Therapies - 417

Instructor: Susan Barker, Dip.NS., Dip. C.N., Dip.ACBS., Dip.CFNA.

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Course Description:

This course provides a look at the most commonly used therapies and how they relate to injury, exercise, maintenance, and performance. Topics include massage, stretching, hydrotherapy, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and chiropractic care. It also takes a look at canine rehabilitation as well as the use of cryotherapy and heat therapy. This course is evaluated by way of assignments.

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Course Texts:​

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  • Course notes provided

Obesity and Fitness - 419

Instructor: Susan Barker, Dip.NS., Dip. C.N., Dip.ACBS., Dip.CFNA.

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Course Description:

This course provides a look at obesity as it relates to exercise and performance. It explores the different types of obesity, its causes and some of the ways in which veterinarians determine obesity. It also explores the use of food records and discusses the importance of family participation in weight reduction programs. Topics include nutrient requirements, risk factors, breed propensities, and the theories behind obesity. It also includes methods of determining obesity, safe methods of weight reduction, preventing obesity, and how to maintain weight loss. This course is evaluated by way of assignments.

 

Course Texts:

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  • Course notes provided

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