Your specialist route into sport performance coaching

If you are already a competent trainer and want to work at a higher level with sport dogs and handlers, this is your specialist pathway. The IICBT Level 6 Diploma in Dog Sport Performance Coaching focuses on performance, welfare and long term development in sport contexts rather than clinical behaviour work.

This degree level programme is designed at a level comparable with final year undergraduate study in the UK, but delivered as a flexible, professional course so you can study alongside your existing coaching and competition commitments.

By the time you complete the course you will be able to:

• Assess dog and handler performance using structured tools, video and data
• Design medium and long term sport programmes that balance skill, conditioning and recovery
• Integrate welfare, soundness and ethical decision making into sport coaching
• Coach handlers in mindset, communication and ringside performance, not only technical skills
• Manage risk, injury prevention and return to sport within a clear coaching scope of practice
  

You will study online at your own pace, working through structured modules and applied case study tasks designed specifically for dog sport performance coaching.

On completion you will:

• Be ready to coach dog sport teams at a higher level within IICBT’s defined scope of practice for sport performance
• Have a portfolio of performance coaching work that evidences your skills to clients, clubs and organisations
  

Why choose IICBT for your sport performance qualification

• Independent, outcomes led standards for canine practice
• Degree level programme that builds on the IICBT Level 5 Diploma
• Strong focus on welfare, long term soundness and ethical sport coaching
• Designed by behaviour and training specialists with real sport experience

A clear, performance focused curriculum

You will study eight modules that build your skills step by step. Together they cover: ethics and welfare in sport, sports physiology and conditioning, performance analysis, programme design, skill acquisition, coaching handlers and risk management, all consolidated through a professional portfolio.

Want the full detail of every learning outcome and assessment criterion?

[Download the full syllabus (PDF)]

Module 1. Advanced Professional Practice, Ethics and Welfare in Dog Sport

You will:

• Clarify the role and limits of a dog sport performance coach compared with a basic instructor or behaviour practitioner
• Apply welfare and ethical principles to sport contexts, including training load, competition demands and suitability of dogs for specific sports
• Balance owner goals, competitive pressures and dog welfare when making coaching decisions
• Recognise sport specific ethical issues such as over training, inappropriate surfaces and unrealistic timelines
• Set and maintain professional boundaries, including around junior handlers, safeguarding and conflicts of interest

Module 2. Canine Sports Physiology, Biomechanics and Conditioning

You will:

• Describe key aspects of canine anatomy, physiology and biomechanics relevant to sport performance
• Explain how age, breed, structure and injury history affect what is appropriate in sport work
• Plan basic conditioning and strength work suitable for your scope as a coach, while knowing when to defer to veterinary or physical therapy professionals
• Recognise signs of fatigue and potential injury risk in sessions and competitions
• Communicate clearly with owners about conditioning, recovery and referral when needed

Module 3. Performance Analysis and Goal Setting for Dog Sport Teams

You will:

• Gather and interpret performance data from training and competition, including video, timings and error patterns
• Identify key strengths and limiting factors for both dog and handler
• Work with handlers to set realistic, sport specific performance goals and milestones
• Use simple tracking tools to monitor progress over time
• Present findings in a way that motivates and guides teams rather than overwhelming them

Module 4. Programme Design for Dog Sport: Periodisation and Skill Progression

You will:

• Plan periodised programmes that balance skill development, conditioning, rest and competition schedules
• Break complex sport skills into progressive steps and build them into fluent chains
• Integrate flatwork, technical drills, equipment work and ring rehearsal in a coherent plan
• Adjust programmes in response to changes in the dog, handler, results or life circumstances
• Justify programme design choices with reference to evidence, welfare and sport demands

Module 5. Skill Acquisition, Learning and Motor Control in Dog Sport Contexts

You will:

• Apply advanced learning and motor skill principles to high level sport training
• Choose and adapt methods such as shaping, targeting and reinforcement strategies for complex sport skills
• Design sessions that build decision making, generalisation and resilience under distraction or pressure
• Understand how arousal, emotion and stress affect learning and performance for dog and handler
• Troubleshoot skill plateaus and performance breakdowns using a structured approach

Module 6. Coaching Handlers: Communication, Mindset and Ringside Coaching

You will:

• Conduct structured performance coaching sessions with handlers
• Use coaching tools to support focus, confidence and constructive self reflection
• Provide feedback that is specific, actionable and supportive, including under competition pressure
• Coach ring craft and competition strategy, including course walks, warm ups and post run review
• Recognise mindset challenges such as nerves, perfectionism and frustration, and respond professionally

Module 7. Risk Management, Injury Prevention and Return to Sport

You will:

• Identify common sport specific injury risks and contributing factors in your chosen disciplines
• Carry out practical risk assessments for training environments, equipment and surfaces
• Build injury prevention habits into training plans and daily routines
• Support handlers in following modified work or return to sport plans created by vets or therapists
• Decide when to modify or stop training in the interests of welfare and safety, and explain this clearly to clients

Module 8. Professional Practice Portfolio and Reflective Development

You will:

• Compile a portfolio that evidences assessment, programme design, coaching and review across sport clients or case studies
• Reflect critically on your own coaching decisions and their impact on welfare and performance
• Identify your strengths, limitations and preferred sport specialisms
• Create a continuing professional development and supervision plan for your coaching practice
• Articulate clearly your scope of practice as a dog sport performance coach and how it relates to training, behaviour and clinical professions

Advanced distance learning designed for coaches

The Level 6 Diploma in Dog Sport Performance Coaching is delivered 100% online so you can study from anywhere while continuing to train and coach.

You will:

• Work through structured online lessons, readings, sport specific case examples and knowledge checks
• Analyse video of training sessions and competition runs, both supplied within the course and, where appropriate, examples from your own work
• Complete guided tasks that mirror real performance coaching, such as programme design, performance analysis and feedback planning
• Receive written feedback and support from tutors with experience in both dog sport and behaviour based practice
  

All learning and assessment are completed through the IICBT online learning environment. There are no in person attendance requirements.

What this looks like in real life

Many learners study for around 2 to 4 hours per week in blocks that fit around their training and competition calendar. You might complete a theory lesson, then apply it by analysing a video from your last show or designing the next six weeks of training for a client team. The course is designed to fit alongside active practice rather than replace it.