Training for Dogs: These Exams and Certificates Are Available for Your Four-Legged Friend

Your dog shows talent and you wonder if official training really makes sense? The range is enormous: from the companion dog test for everyday life to search and rescue dogs that look for avalanches. What all these paths have in common – at the end stands a standardised exam and a recognised certificate.

Which dog trainings are officially recognised?

Nine training paths lead to state or association-recognised certificates:

• Companion Dog Test (BH)
• Utility Dog Test (IGP, formerly IPO)
• Mantrailing Certification
• Scent Work Test
• Assistance Dog Certification
• Therapy Dog Training
• Search and Rescue Dog Test
• Service Dog Qualification
• Protection Service Test

Exam fees: 50 to 300 Euro, depending on the qualification. The training duration varies from six weeks to two years – depending on where the journey leads.

What does the companion dog test cost and how does it work?

The companion dog test costs 60 to 120 Euro and takes about two hours. It is tested in three parts: loose-leash walking and basic obedience, behaviour in road traffic and social behaviour towards other dogs.

In the first part, you demonstrate basic commands such as “sit”, “down” and “stay” – on a lead and off-lead. Second part: out onto busy streets. Cars, pedestrians, distractions – your dog must remain calm despite all that. The third part looks at how it encounters strange dogs.

For so-called listed dogs, the BH is mandatory in most federal states. In Bavaria and North Rhine-Westphalia, owners of Staffordshire Terriers or Pitbulls must take the test within two years of getting a dog.

When is a working dog test worth it?

The IGP test is something for sportily ambitious teams – and costs 150 to 250 euros. It comprises three disciplines: tracking, obedience and protection work, each with a maximum of 100 points.

In the tracking discipline, your dog follows a trail 400 to 800 steps long and sniffs out hidden objects. Obedience demands precise commands – right up to retrieving over a jump wall. In protection work, the dog shows controlled engagement against a protection helper.

This training is designed for dogs with a pronounced drive to work. German Shepherds, Malinois and Rottweilers have the necessary traits. Other breeds may reach their limits.

How do you become a certified Mantrailer?

Mantrailing certificates cost 80 to 150 euros and are awarded after six to twelve months of training. What the dog learns in the process: to follow the individual scent trail of a specific person – even hours after they have passed through.

The test starts with a 20-minute-old, 500-metre-long trail. Advanced dogs work trails several kilometres long that are up to eight hours old. The German Red Cross and the Bundeswehr use such teams in missing person searches.

Beagles and Bloodhounds often come out on top here – but crossbreeds with a pronounced sense of smell can also be trained successfully. Breed is not everything.

What distinguishes assistance dogs from therapy dogs?

Assistance dogs work permanently for a person with a disability and have access to all public areas after their training. The two-year training costs 15,000 to 25,000 euros – and is often funded by foundations.

Guide dogs for the blind warn of obstacles and find stairs or exits on command. Epilepsy dogs recognise impending seizures and fetch help. Diabetic alert dogs smell dangerous blood sugar fluctuations. This is no trick – this is life-saving work.

Therapy dogs, on the other hand, work with changing patients in hospitals or care homes. Their training lasts six months and costs 3,000 to 5,000 euros. What they need to bring: stress resistance and genuine love of people.

How does search and rescue dog training work?

Search and rescue dogs specialise in rubble search, area search or avalanche rescue. The training lasts one and a half to two years – due to the voluntary structures, the examination fee is still only 200 to 400 euros.

Rubble search dogs work after earthquakes or explosions. They sniff out buried people at depths of up to ten metres. Area search dogs find lost hikers or runaway children in the forest. Avalanche dogs locate people buried in snow – sometimes within minutes.

Border Collies and Australian Shepherds are particularly well suited for this work due to their endurance and intelligence. The teams train weekly and regularly take part in operational exercises.

Can ordinary dog owners take a protection work test?

The protection work test is part of the IGP training and is basically accessible to private owners too. The dog learns to stand up to an attacker on command – and to release them again on command.

It gets tricky with liability. A poorly trained protection dog can become a real risk. Many insurance companies exclude damage caused by protection dogs. In Switzerland and Austria, additional requirements apply for such training.

For most owners, training as a guard and alarm dog is more sensible – without direct physical contact with the “intruder”.

How do I find the right training for my dog?

Look at what your dog does on its own. A dog that intensely follows every scent trail during a walk shows potential for tracking or Mantrailing work. One that happily greets strangers and remains calm in the process is better suited as a therapy dog.

Always start with the companion dog test – it is the basis for everything else. Most dog schools offer taster courses before you commit to specialised training.

Which test is mandatory for listed dogs?

The companion dog test is mandatory for listed dogs in most German federal states. It must be taken within two years of getting a dog.

How much does therapy dog training cost?

Therapy dog training costs between 3,000 and 5,000 euros for a duration of six months. The examination fee is 150 to 200 euros.

Can every dog become a search and rescue dog?

Search and rescue dogs must be physically fit, stress-resistant and highly motivated. Border Collies and Australian Shepherds are particularly well suited – but crossbreeds can also be trained successfully.

How long does assistance dog training take?

Assistance dog training takes two years and costs 15,000 to 25,000 euros. Foundations often cover the funding.

Is the IGP test harder than the BH?

Yes, significantly. The IGP test requires months of intensive training in three disciplines – the companion dog test is the entry point, not the crowning achievement.