Scent Detection Dog Handler & Instructor
Eighteen places. One cohort a year.
You will achieve recognition as an excellent Scent Detection Dog Trainer
A respected, independently validated quality mark like City & Guilds Assured helps you stand out from unverified competitors rather than competing on price alone.
Learn over three weeks of face-to-face teaching, with online support between weeks.
This City & Guilds Assured credential helps position you as a specialist that clients seek out and want to learn from.
Three intensive weeks of direct learning, then continuous support that never ends. Ongoing advice, webinars, resources, and exclusive practitioner communities. You'll master proven techniques backed by professional tools that deliver real results.
Gain that all-important confidence, and take away a full training programme for your use.
Join the College of Scent Dogs and gain the confidence, knowledge, practical skills, and deeper understanding needed to inspire others, develop exceptional scent detection teams, and make a genuine difference to the lives of dogs and their handlers.
The Scent Detection Programme
Why does it take three weeks?
It would be straightforward to compress this into a weekend and issue a certificate on the Sunday afternoon. Some do. We take three weeks throughout the year because the assessment is real, because competence in scent detection is built through repetition and reflection rather than exposure, and because we teach concepts rather than expect you to copy a single method.
If you need instructor status by the end of the month, we will not be the right college for you. If you want to still be the trainer people recommend in ten years, this is the pace that gets you there.
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Monday 1st - Friday 5th March 2027
Week One Foundations. Developing excellent foundations to take your knowledge forward.
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Tuesday 4th - Friday 7th May 2027
Week Two: Bank Holiday Monday (Covered by Online Learning) Advanced techniques and systematic search.
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Monday 6th - Friday 10th Sept. 2027
Week Three: Understand how to create engaging courses that not only draw in clients but also keep them coming back
Who is the programme for?
You do not need to be an established trainer to join us, although many of our students already have experience working with dogs. What you do need is a genuine interest in understanding how dogs work, and a dog who is happy and motivated to work with you. Please don’t ever think you are not good enough; we all started somewhere, and we are here to help.
If you are unsure whether you or your dog would be suited to the programme, please do get in touch at info@thecollegeofscentdogs.com. We are always happy to have a conversation and answer any questions you may have. We would much rather help you decide whether the programme is right for you before you book.
Remember, we are here to help. This could be the beginning of a fantastic journey for both you and your dog, and we would love to help you take that first step.
Your investment
£2,999 + VAT.
That is £3,598.80 in total, or from just £10 a day over 12 months.
One investment in three intensive weeks that gives you a genuine City & Guilds Assured Credential and a career that clients will search for.
You get City & Guilds Digital Credentials — the UK's only City & Guilds Assured scent detection certificate that clients recognise and trust.
You get a new source of income — run your own classes and workshops; the fee soon pays for itself, and then every booking is yours to keep.
You get real, hands-on training — three weeks learning directly with Dr Robert Hewings and an excellent team, so you leave knowing exactly what to do.
You get support for life — resources, webinars, expert advice and a friendly community, long after the course ends.
You get to stand out — clients choose you over untrained trainers, so you can charge what you are worth.
You get to spread the cost — from less than £10 a day over 12 months.
You get £300 off — save over £300 when you pay in full.
Best offer: save 10% when you pay in full, that is over £300 off. Prefer to spread it? Our easy payment scheme lets you pay from £10 a day over up to 12 months.
Easy Payment Scheme
Free ‘5 Mistakes’ Guide
If life gets in the way
Occasionally, something makes a week impossible, e.g. illness, work, or a dog that is not fit to train. Talk to us. Wherever we can, we will find a way for you to complete the missed week with the following cohort at no additional cost. Our full terms are set out in our terms and conditions.
Our Training Location
Location: Statfold Barn Railway. Ashby Rd, Tamworth B79 0BU.
The postcode/SatNav may take you away from ‘Statfold Barn Railway’. We also have ‘What Three Words’ that can help: holds.soup.code for the front entrance and hails.games.reason for the entrance to the classroom, where there is plenty of parking outside.
Timings: 09:00 – 16:00: Tea, Coffee and ‘Posh Biscuits’ provided.
Accommodation: Our training venue offers camping, caravan and motorhome hook-ups, with large exercise areas for your dog. This accommodation is available at an additional cost, via our venue managers, info@statfold.com
The booking secures a place for yourself and one dog. However, some people choose to bring two dogs, but these need to be rotated within your allocated ‘training/search slot’.
The first day of all our courses is predominantly classroom-based theory lessons, with plenty of breaks for you to exercise your dogs, and all our parking is within a private, safe and secure area.
Full joining instructions will be sent upon booking.
Ready when you are.
Eighteen places, once a year. If the dates work and the approach makes sense to you, the next step is simply to reserve your place. If you would rather talk it through first, or spread the cost, we are glad to do either.