SDTI Monthly Newsletter
July 2026 Edition
Get future newsletters in your RSS reader Better Training Starts Here: Clarity, Consistency, and the Human Factor in Training Success
We explore how training clarity, thoughtful progression, and handler awareness directly influence service dog outcomes.
NEWS This Month
New Tool
Resource Finder
Don't know where to start? Answer a few simple questions and we'll point you to free and paid resources that fit your situation.Free Guide
Before you begin
Want to know what's involved before starting the owner-training process? Our free organized guide walks you through it all.New Library Blog Post
Finding the right dog
Want to learn how to find, choose, or evaluate a service dog candidate? Explore our complete collection of posts on the topic.Featured Resource This Month
🎓Foundation Skills Bundle
Learning how to be a good trainer for your service dog involves you learning the theory and practical so your dog can learn easily. This month we are offering 20% off on top of the already 25% off the bundle of foundation skill classes. Total will be: CA$147.20 or ~ US$105 for all 6 classes!
Once you take these classes you will be able to teach your dog any behavior or task that is needed as a service dog that your dog is physically capable to performing (barring trauma).
Be sure to apply the coupon code when purchasing the bundle.
Includes the following classes:
1. Capturing
2. Social Learning
3. Targeting & Luring
4. Classical Conditioning
5. Shaping
🐾 Tricks for Service Dogs (Body Awareness)
Mini Quiz Challenge
When planning a training session for a service dog, what is the most effective general approach?
A) Train until the dog shows signs of fatigue so you know you’ve done enough
B) Focus on a set number of successful repetitions (like 10) and end while the dog is still engaged
C) Keep training until the behaviour works in every possible environment
D) Only train when the dog is highly motivated, regardless of schedule
Did You Know?
That if a behaviour only works in one environment, it’s not a finished skill yet—it’s still in the early stages of learning, even if it looks solid at home?
That your dog’s ability to perform a behaviour in public depends just as much on recovery time as it does on repetition? Learning continues long after the session ends.
That handlers often retain less from a training session when they try too many new ideas at once? Learning improves when one concept is introduced, practiced, and revisited over time.
Featured Resources
Free Blog Post: How to Simplify Scheduling Training Sessions with my Service Dog
One of the most common questions I hear is, “How much training should I be doing?”
The answer depends on your dog, your lifestyle, and where you are in your training journey. More training is not always better. The goal is to create a schedule that allows both you and your dog to learn effectively without becoming overwhelmed.
Service dog training is a marathon, not a sprint. Small, consistent training sessions performed regularly will usually produce better results than occasional marathon sessions.
Free Blog Post: Service Dog Training Success: Balancing Training, rest and Real Life
Many people worry about whether they are training enough.
In reality, successful service dog training is rarely about squeezing in more training sessions. It is about finding the right balance between learning, practice, rest, and everyday life.
Your dog is learning every day, whether you are actively training or not. The goal is to create a schedule that supports steady progress without overwhelming either of you.
Paid Blog Post: (free this month!) Train the Human Brain First: Where Dog Training Really Begins
Dog training is usually thought of as teaching the dog—new behaviours, better responses, clearer communication. But over the years, I’ve come to see something that shifts the entire foundation of how we train.
We are not just training dogs. We are shaping human thinking in real time
Video: Check out our playlist of 5 Habits of Professional Dog Trainers
If you want to see these training techniques in action, check out our video series! They are oldies but goodies and the information is all still relevant!
Training Tips
Use Existing Daily Structure to Plan Training Sessions
Anchor training sessions to things you already do each day—before meals, coffee breaks, walks, or evening routines—to make consistency effortless.
Short Sessions More Effective Than Long Ones
When training in new environments, keep sessions shorter rather than longer. Take several breaks. Let the location do part of the training work for you.
One Concept at a Time-for dog and handler!
Focus on understanding one concept well rather than trying to master everything at once. A clear “next step” is more valuable than a long checklist.
Events This Month
FREE QA Chat
Topic: Training the Humans, Training the Dogs.
Date: Saturday, July 11, 2026
Time: 1:00 PM PDT (Pacific/Vancouver) | (UTC-7)
Your Local Time: Click here to see this in your time zone
Do you have questions about teaching people or teaching dogs? Bring your questions, share your experiences. Meet the community!
The QA Chat will be recorded and added to the library so if you cannot attend, it will be available. At just CA$11 per month (~US$8.10), it’s a great way to support us. Sign up for a day, get access for the month. Cancel anytime!