Learn to See the Dog Before You Train the Dog

Earn Your Certificate of Completion in The Canine Operating System™ Foundations

In this guided 14-day professional micro-course, you will learn how to stop guessing, observe canine behavior objectively, recognize the influences surrounding behavior, and create a preliminary Canine Operating System profile.

Valued at over $1500 Enroll for $89 through august 10, 2026,

Live course begins August 17, 2026
One-time tuition: $89

Spots Are Limited

Enroll Now for $89

Includes four online modules, a live opening class, professional workbook activities, a final case application, a private one-on-one review with Joe Dickinson, and a Certificate of Completion.

You will not finish this course qualified to diagnose behavior or create complete behavior-modification plans. You will finish knowing how to begin professionally: observe before assuming, gather the right information, recognize what may be influencing behavior, and identify what must be evaluated before training decisions are made.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN TO DO

This is not a course that simply gives you information about dogs. You will learn a practical framework for beginning to evaluate canine behavior more professionally.

By the end of the course, you will be able to:

• Separate objective observations from labels, opinions, and assumptions

• Describe canine behavior using clear, professional language

• Recognize how genetics, environment, learning history, reinforcement, relationships, and current state may influence behavior

• Organize known facts, possible influences, and missing information

• Identify important questions that should be answered before training begins

• Recognize when safety concerns or professional referrals may need to be considered

• Complete a COS Preliminary Canine Behavior Profile

• Explain why professional training decisions should begin with assessment—not assumptions

You will leave this course with a new way of looking at behavior and a professional process you can begin using immediately.

WHAT IS INCLUDED

Your $89 enrollment includes:

• Live opening class with Joe Dickinson on August 17

• Four guided online learning modules in Google Classroom

• Professional teaching videos and written learning material

• The COS Foundations Workbook

• Objective behavior observation activities

• Case-based learning assignments

• Professional observation and preliminary assessment forms

• Knowledge checks throughout the course

• Final COS case application

• 20-question final exam

• Private 20–30-minute course review with Joe Dickinson

• Personalized feedback on your final COS profile

• Certificate of Completion after successfully completing every requirement

ONE-TIME TUITION: $89

No subscription. No additional course fees.

HOW THE 14-DAY COURSE WORKS

This is a guided two-week course with a firm beginning, completion deadline, and personal final review.

  1. ENROLL AND JOIN THE CLASSROOM

After enrolling, you will receive an email with the Google Classroom code, instructions for joining, and the link to schedule your required private course review.

Join the classroom immediately so you receive all course announcements.

  1. ATTEND THE LIVE OPENING CLASS

The course officially begins with a live class on Monday, August 17, 2026.

LIVE CLASS TIMES:

Hawaii: 2:00–3:00 p.m.
Alaska: 4:00–5:00 p.m.
Pacific: 5:00–6:00 p.m.
Arizona: 5:00–6:00 p.m.
Mountain: 6:00–7:00 p.m.
Central: 7:00–8:00 p.m.
Eastern: 8:00–9:00 p.m.

During this class, Joe will introduce The Canine Operating System™, explain the course expectations, and prepare you to begin your first module.

  1. COMPLETE THE COURSEWORK

Work through the four modules inside Google Classroom between August 17 and August 31.

The lessons are self-paced within the scheduled course period, allowing you to complete them around your work and personal responsibilities.

All coursework should be completed before your private review.

  1. ATTEND YOUR PRIVATE COURSE REVIEW

Schedule and attend your required 20–30-minute one-on-one review between August 29 and August 31.

Joe will review your COS Preliminary Canine Behavior Profile, discuss your observations, and give you personalized feedback.

  1. EARN YOUR CERTIFICATE

Once you have successfully completed every requirement, your Certificate of Completion in The Canine Operating System™ Foundations will be awarded.

WHAT YOU MUST COMPLETE TO EARN THE CERTIFICATE

This certificate represents the successful completion of applied coursework—not simply the purchase of a course or attendance at a class.

To earn your Certificate of Completion, you must:

• Complete all four learning modules

• Complete the knowledge checks

• Submit all required activities and assignments

• Complete your COS Preliminary Canine Behavior Profile

• Earn a score of at least 80% on the final exam

• Schedule and attend your private course review between August 29 and August 31

All requirements must be completed by Monday, August 31, 2026.

Your certificate will document completion of The Canine Operating System™ Foundations in professional observation and preliminary canine assessment.

This is a foundations certificate. It does not certify you as a professional dog trainer, behavior consultant, or full Canine Operating System practitioner.

MEET YOUR INSTRUCTOR

JOE DICKINSON

Founder and Lead Instructor of Western States K-9 College

Joe Dickinson has spent more than 25 years working professionally with dogs and the people responsible for them. Throughout her career, she has trained more than 10,000 dogs, worked with complex behavior cases, educated future professional trainers, and helped students learn how to think beyond a single method or training philosophy.

Joe is the author of Training Through the Eyes of Your Dog and an AKC evaluator for Canine Good Citizen, STAR Puppy, Community Canine, and Urban CGC programs.

Her teaching challenges students to stop relying on labels such as stubborn, dominant, jealous, or aggressive—and start carefully observing the individual dog, the environment, the learning history, and the complete situation surrounding the behavior.

Your private course review means you will not finish this course after simply watching videos. You will apply the COS framework and receive direct, personalized feedback from Joe on your work.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • This course is designed for people considering a career in professional dog training, current pet-care professionals, newer trainers, and anyone who wants to develop a stronger foundation in canine observation and preliminary assessment.

    This is not a basic obedience or “how to train your dog” course.

  • No. The course begins with foundational concepts and teaches you how to develop a more professional way of observing and documenting canine behavior.

  • No. You will need safe access to observe a dog for a short assignment, but the dog does not have to belong to you. You will not be required to train or physically handle an unfamiliar dog.

  • Yes, within the scheduled course period. The course opens August 17 and all requirements must be completed by August 31.

    You decide when to complete each lesson and assignment during that period.

  • The live opening class is included and strongly encouraged. It introduces the COS framework, explains the assignments, and prepares you to begin the course successfully.

    Your final private one-on-one review is required to earn the certificate.

  • Joe will review your COS Preliminary Canine Behavior Profile with you, discuss how you applied the framework, answer questions, and provide personalized feedback.

    The review lasts approximately 20–30 minutes and must be scheduled and attended between August 29 and August 31.

    WILL THIS CERTIFY ME AS A PROFESSIONAL DOG TRAINER?

    No. You will earn a Certificate of Completion in The Canine Operating System™ Foundations.

    The course teaches professional observation and preliminary assessment skills. It does not qualify you to diagnose behavior, create complete behavior-modification plans, or represent yourself as a certified professional dog trainer.

  • You will receive an automated email containing:

    • Your Google Classroom joining instructions
    • Your classroom code
    • Live opening-class information
    • The link to schedule your private course review
    • Your important course dates and requirements

    You will need a Google account to access the classroom.

  • This follows a fixed schedule. All coursework, the final exam, and your required private review must be completed by August 31 to qualify for the Certificate of Completion.

  • You can begin applying the COS observation framework to the way you watch, document, and think about canine behavior.

    If you want to continue your education, Western States K-9 College’s complete Professional Dog Trainer Certification teaches the deeper interpretation, training methodology, behavior modification, client coaching, and training-plan development that follow assessment.

LEARN TO SEE THE DOG BEFORE YOU TRAIN THE DOG

Professional training does not begin with a tool, a technique, or an assumption. It begins with understanding the dog in front of you.

Join the limited pilot course and learn how to observe behavior objectively, recognize the influences surrounding it, organize what you know, and identify what must be evaluated before training decisions are made.

THE CANINE OPERATING SYSTEM™ FOUNDATIONS

Live course begins: August 17, 2026
Private course review: August 29–31, 2026
Final completion deadline: August 31, 2026
One-time tuition: $89
Limited students

ENROLL NOW FOR $89

After enrolling, check your email for your Google Classroom instructions and private review scheduling link.