In-Person Dog and Team Assessments and Advanced Day Training in Nanaimo, BC
Internationally known trainer Donna Hill, B.Sc.B.Ed. is available in Nanaimo, BC for all types of service dogs and assistance dogs training. She can train your dog or train you to teach your dog or a bit of both!
From general training, public access, specific distractions to task training for mobility, hearing, Alzheimer, diabetic, anxiety, PTSD alerts etc.
A letter from your health care provider (no older than 2 years) prescribing a service dog must be submitted prior to live sessions.
In a Hurry to Certify Your Dog in British Columbia?
Read this first!
Please Note: There is a 1 month wait list for in-person training package sessions with Donna.
One Time Options can be scheduled sooner.
One Time Options:
Service Dog Suitability Evaluation
Do you have a dog? Or are considering a new dog? Find out if he has the needed temperament, health and ability to become your service dog for safe use in public. Have your dog evaluated by a professional before you start training!
Features: owner handling dog
- 60-90 minutes
- copy of evaluation results
- training tips of how to start working on weaknesses
CAD$105 Incl. GST
BC Guide and Service Dog Practice Assessment
Think your dog is ready for the BC Service Dog Assessment test? Do a practice walk through with a trainer. Find out areas where your team is weak and what you need to practice before actually taking the test. Builds team confidence knowing what the process looks and feels like.
Owner handles dog
- 60-90 minutes
- copy of the assessment results
- quick training tips to start working on weak areas
CAD$105 Incl. GST
Weekly Training Packages
Regular Weekly Training Packages
- once a week
- twice a week
- daytime or evening
Intensive Training Packages
Training sessions can be done:
- 3x per week
- 5 x per week
- or 2 x per day x 5 days (great for out of area visitors)
- daytime or evening
Train the Dog – We Start the Training For You
(Up to two people are welcome to observe our Nanaimo training sessions as long as they are not distracting the dog.)
Package includes:
- 60 minute ‘get to know you’ webcam session to identify training priorities
- 6 x 45 minute trainer trains the dog
- 45 minute train the handler transfer behaviour session
- copy of training notes
- video links for recorded sessions
CAD$495 plus GST (extra travel charges may be applied if meeting place is more than 10 minutes from our office)
Train the Dog – Advanced
- 60 min ‘get to know you’ webcam session to identify training priorities
- 10 x 45 min trainer trains the dog
- 45 min train the handler transfer behaviour
- copy of training notes
- video clips from each session
CAD$685 plus GST (extra travel charges may be applied if meeting place is more than 10 minutes from our office)
Train the Handler to Train the Dog
We teach you to teach your dog.
- 60 min ‘get to know you’ webcam session to identify training priorities
- 10 x 60 min train the dog
- copy of training notes
- video links for recorded sessions
- online lessons
Contact us for the cost.
Airline Travel in Canada
Travelling by air is advanced training for service dogs. It is higher than the public access test. You need a dog with steady nerves and accomplished in public access.
Prerequisite: Completion of our “Foundation Concepts” program plus “Public Access” or equivalent with permission.
- 60 min ‘get to know you’ web cam session to identify tasks and see if your dog is ready
- 60-90 minute in-person Public Access Assessment to make sure your dog is safe in public
- 6 x 60 min in-person trainer trains the dog for tasks that mitigate your specific disability
- copy of training notes
- video links for recorded sessions
Here is our blog post about preparing a dog for air travel.
It may take longer than 6 sessions to train some medical tasks, depending on what they are and how quickly your dog learns and generalizes them. Each dog and handler are assessed and there is no guarantee that the letter will be written if the dog is unsuitable for air travel (due to fear, aggression, previous bite history, sound sensitivity, fearful of small spaces etc.), even if she/he learns the tasks and has already been provincially certified as a service dog!
On successful completion, SDTI will write a letter for airline travel verifying that your dog has trained tasks with a professional service dog trainer which the handler submits to the airline. We are on the accepted provider list for Air Canada and have had students recently accepted by other airlines..
Contact us for the cost.
Make a Holiday of It!
Stay at local RV sites, BnB or Motel/Hotel or with family and friends. Tour Nanaimo while you are here! Stay a few extra days and explore more of Vancouver Island!
Nanaimo can be reached by car, ferry and plane travel.
Custom Packages also available.
How Do I Make Payment
Canadians can pay by e-Transfer. For international students, we can send an Paypal invoice. Payment must be received at least two weeks before the sessions to confirm them. Fillout the form below before you pay to confirm our availability.
Note: We do not take cases of dog to human, dog to dog reactivity or aggression cases, dogs with previous bite histories or dogs with high prey drive. Dogs with these behaviors are not suitable as service dog candidates.