Trainer directory · California
Service-dog trainers in California
3 organizations in Californiathat meet our editorial bar — ADI accreditation, IAADP recognition, certified trainers, or 10+ years of clean track record.
Local: California
- Canine Companions ↗Santa Rosa, California
The largest non-profit assistance-dog provider in the US. National HQ in California with regional centers serving the western US. Placements are free; multi-year wait list. Service dogs, skilled companions, facility dogs.
ADI accreditedEstablished 10+ yearsMobilityMedical assistPsychiatric - Guide Dogs for the Blind ↗San Rafael, California
One of the original guide-dog schools in the US, founded 1942. Free placement for handlers with vision disabilities; campuses in California and Oregon.
ADI accreditedEstablished 10+ yearsGuide - Atlas Assistance Dogs ↗Berkeley, California
Owner-trainer support model — they help you train your own dog rather than placing one with you. Strong fit for handlers who want the bond a self-trained dog brings without going it alone.
Established 10+ yearsCCPDT certifiedPsychiatricMobilityMedical assist
Cross-state programs (also worth knowing)
These organizations place dogs nationally or maintain certified-trainer directories searchable by state. None of them paid us to list them.
- International Association of Assistance Dog Partners (IAADP) ↗
Cross-disability handler advocacy organization. Member benefits include emergency veterinary support and education resources. Not a training program — a peer organization for handlers with any service-animal type.
- Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers ↗
If you’re hiring an independent trainer, look for the CPDT-KA or CPDT-KSA credential. CCPDT’s site has a directory of certified trainers searchable by state.
- Karen Pryor Academy Trainers ↗
KPA-certified positive-reinforcement trainers, searchable by state. Strong fit for service-dog foundation work; many have specialized assistance-dog experience.
California state laws
Federal ADA / FHA / ACAA rules apply nationally, but California may layer on additional protections, definitions, or service-dogs-in-training rules.
California rights overview →