Learning Theory & Reward
How dogs actually learn, and why the alpha myth gets walkers bitten.
10 lessonsThe proven, positive way to train dogs, at home or for a living.
Positive-reinforcement dog training from Top Dog SF, the dog-care business that has done it every day since 2004.
Built by trainers who hold
The certification
A credential that means something.
Certified Professional Dog Walker covers safe handling, reading body language and what to do when something goes wrong. Earned, not bought.
- assessed courses
- 6
- assessed courses
- lessons with knowledge checks
- 49
- lessons with knowledge checks
- to pass, retakes free
- 90%
- to pass, retakes free
$199One payment, lifetime access, 14-day money-back guarantee.
or 4 interest-free payments of $49.75 with Klarna or Affirm at checkout.
Top Dog SF Academy · Denver · est. 2004
Certified Professional Dog Walker
Your name here
Certified for Denver
No. TDSFA-····-·····
topdogsfacademy.com
Six courses. One standard.
Knowledge checks in every lesson and a final assessment for each course, retaken free until you pass.
Canine Body Language
Read the whole dog, in context, before a fight starts.
Fear & Aggression
Assess risk, keep distance and know when to refer out.
Local Laws & Park Etiquette
Permits, leash law and off-leash rules for the city you walk in.
Dog Safety
The rules and reflexes that keep every dog, client and walker safe.
Solo Walks
Equipment, scheduling and the walk protocol behind a premium 1:1 service.
14 lessons
For pet parents
Just want a well-behaved dog?
The trainers who certify professionals teach your puppy at home, a few friendly minutes a day.
- Puppy TasterFour short exercises. No card needed.Free
- Puppy FoundationsThe full at-home course, first steps to confident manners.$39
- Good Dog ClubA real trainer to ask, live Q&As and new lessons monthly.From $24/mo
Not ready to start? Get our housetraining plan, free.
Why Natalie built the Academy
Natalie Tondelli Walsh started as a dog walker and became an SF SPCA-certified trainer. Ninety seconds on where the standard comes from.
Rated 4.9★ across 200+ reviews. The Academy is the training Top Dog SF uses itself.
“Top Dog SF has been absolutely amazing! The staff is professional, caring, and always keeps me updated.”
“Best decision we made! He gets exercise, training, and socialization all in one.”
The trainers behind every course
Common questions
Something else? Email the team
Is the certificate recognized?
It's issued by Top Dog SF Academy, operating since 2004, with curriculum from SPCA-certified trainers. It shows you've been assessed against a professional standard of safe, humane dog handling.
How long does it take?
It's self-paced. Most people finish the six courses over a few weeks of short sessions, and access doesn't expire.
What if I don't pass?
Retake the assessment as many times as you need, free. You need 90% to pass. The goal is competence, not gatekeeping.
Do you use shock collars or dominance methods?
No. Everything we teach is positive reinforcement, and we explain why the old "alpha" model gets people bitten.
Is this only for San Francisco walkers?
No. The handling, behavior and safety courses apply anywhere, and the local-laws course adapts to you with city and state law packs and exam questions for where you walk.
Can I train my own dog here too?
Yes. The Pet Parent track brings the same marker method home. Start with the free Puppy Taster, then Puppy Foundations.
Good dogs deserve well-trained people.
Walk into the work knowing exactly what you’re doing. One payment, yours for life, with a 14-day money-back guarantee.
