NEW ZEALAND'S FIRST PROFESSIONAL ACADEMY FOR DOG HANDLING

Delivering an NZQA Approved Qualification

The National Dog Handling Academy (NDHA) is New Zealand’s leading formal educational academy for the training and certification of future & existing dog-handling professionals.

STUDY. HANDLE. LEAD.

LEARN TO BE A FULLY QUALIFIED DOG HANDLER

The National Dog Handling Academy (NDHA) is the only dog handling qualification that delivers an NZQA approved certification, designed specifically for qualifying dog handling professionals. Our mission is to strengthen safety, professionalism, and dog welfare within the industry by delivering structured, progressive qualifications that combine classroom learning with practical dog-handling experience.

OUR DOG HANDLING COURSES

JUNIOR HANDLER

QUALIFICATION

TOTAL LEARNING HOURS

APPROVED

Entry into the dog handling industry, preparing those for kennel & boarding positions. This course is a introductory qualification and is mix of hands-on dog handling & online modules.

JUNIOR + INTERMEDIATE

HANDLER QUALIFICATION

100

TOTAL LEARNING HOURS

APPROVED

Hands-on in person dog handling & online modules that focus’s on & prepares you for professional leadership in full-time dog handling roles in like off-lead pack walking in public & private spaces.

JUNIOR + INTERMEDIATE + SENIOR

HANDLER QUALIFICATION

150

TOTAL LEARNING HOURS

APPROVED

Fully equipped to be an independent professional handler or in a management role. Train, mentor & supervise other handlers. This is a full qualification in dog handling & is mostly hands-on learning.

MEET OUR GRADUATES

SAMI

JUNIOR HANDLER QUALIFICATION

“I learned so much about animal welfare and the small but important details you wouldn’t typically pick up without doing a course like this. They have amazing teachers. They’re patient, kind, and incredibly knowledgeable. Their passion for working with dogs and teaching others really shines through, and it genuinely inspires you to develop that same passion yourself.”

DANI

JUNIOR HANDLER QUALIFICATION

“I loved how simple it was. Full of knowledge specifically key areas of what is required for our job. Learning at the NDHA made simple and easy, you aren’t overloaded with information, and being able to put our knowledge to the test through quizzes and practically. Kat is an amazing teacher. For someone who is a visual learner, The NDHA provided an environment that felt catered to my learning style”

JASMIN

JUNIOR HANDLER QUALIFICATION

“The course was very informative and really well thought out. It never felt rushed, and the feedback throughout was incredibly helpful. Overall, the NDHA was a really positive experience. I’m excited to continue with the next section and keep building my skills.”

EMILY

JUNIOR HANDLER QUALIFICATION

“The NDHA was great with amazing teachers who were patient, knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about dogs and teaching others. The small group environment created a relaxed, supportive space where it was easy to ask questions, have open conversations, and learn from her wealth of experience. Overall, it was an incredibly positive, inspiring experience.”

PIPER

JUNIOR HANDLER QUALIFICATION

“The NDHA had excellent mentors and trainers they offered me fantastic advice and learning experiences through the NDHA and working along side each other, I struggled with my confidence starting off in the pack walking industry and very quickly they taught me everything i needed to know and had me walking 9 dogs with ease.”

ZOE

JUNIOR HANDLER QUALIFICATION

“What I really loved about the NDHA was the mix of theory and practical learning. We’d go through detailed explanations of different handling styles and animal behaviours, then immediately head out and put it into practice with the dogs. Having Kat there to guide us and make corrections on the spot was incredibly helpful and made the learning really stick.”

KATIE

JUNIOR HANDLER QUALIFICATION

“I really valued the ability to ask lots of questions and learn from our teachers expertise. The course content was in-depth and highly informative, while the practical elements allowed us to put what we’d learnt into practice in a nice environment. The small group dynamics also made the experience more personal, supportive, and engaging.”

COURSE PHOTOS

The in-person sessions are a combination of outdoor hands-on training with a pack of dogs, followed by in-class reflection during the final portion of the day to consolidate what we’ve learned.