The Certified Hachi Way Trainer credential is a private professional certification awarded by The Hachi Way to trainers who have successfully completed The Hachi Way training and assessment pathway. This page sets out exactly what that means: what a certified trainer has completed, how they were assessed, who certifies them, and what the credential does and does not claim.
What "Certified Hachi Way Trainer" means
Certified Hachi Way Trainer is a private professional certification issued by The Hachi Way. It is not a government qualification, a statutory licence, a nationally recognised training qualification, or a certification issued by an Australian government agency or independent industry body.
Dog training in Australia is unregulated. There is no statutory licence for dog trainers and no government accreditation scheme. Anyone can call themselves a dog trainer. That is exactly why this standard exists: The Hachi Way sets its own bar, publishes it on this page, and only puts its name behind trainers who have cleared it.
Who issues the certification
The certifying body is The Hachi Way. The Hachi Way is an independently operated private methodology and certification program, operated by On Kei Diona Chu (ABN 54 766 785 542), the founder of the method. Certification is issued solely by The Hachi Way. There is no external certifier behind this credential, and we do not claim one.
The certification pathway
Certification is competency based. Attending the program is not certification; meeting the standard is.
- Theory. Six live sessions covering the foundations of the method: types of dog training and learning theory, reading canine body language, the PACE framework (PLAY, ANCHOR, CALM, EXPLORE), equipment selection and use, behavioural needs across life stages, and session structure for in-home work. Homework is submitted after every session and reviewed.
- Supervised practice. Eight shadowing sessions with real clients and real dogs, observing and then practising consultation, reading, handling, and owner handover under supervision.
- Assessment. Competency assessment by The Hachi Way against the criteria below.
- Certification. Issued only when the trainer has successfully completed the prescribed training and met the competency requirements.
What is assessed
- Reading canine body language live: catching the build before the reaction, not describing it afterwards.
- Applying the four modes and designing daily cycles that fit a real household.
- Equipment selection, fitting, and use, chosen for the individual dog and handler.
- Teaching the owner, not just the dog: mechanics, timing, and a handover the household can hold onto after the trainer leaves.
- Program design across life stages, from puppies to seniors and multi-dog homes.
- Professional and ethical conduct with clients.
What certification means
A Certified Hachi Way Trainer has demonstrated to The Hachi Way that they have completed the prescribed training pathway and met The Hachi Way's competency requirements.
What certification does not mean
The credential is not a government qualification, statutory licence, nationally recognised training qualification, or accreditation issued by an Australian government agency, statutory authority, or independent industry body. Certification reflects The Hachi Way's own published standard, nothing more and nothing less.
Maintaining certification
Certification remains valid unless it is revoked. Certified trainers are expected to practise the method as taught and to represent the credential accurately.
Revocation
The Hachi Way may revoke certification for:
- serious breach of the methodology as taught;
- misrepresenting the certification, including presenting it as a government, statutory, or industry-body accreditation;
- misuse of The Hachi Way name or trade marks;
- serious professional misconduct;
- continuing to represent themselves as certified after certification has been revoked.
Revocation decisions are made by The Hachi Way and confirmed to the trainer in writing. A trainer whose certification is revoked is removed from the directory.
Verify a Certified Hachi Way Trainer
Every current Certified Hachi Way Trainer is listed in our directory. If someone presents themselves as a Certified Hachi Way Trainer and is not listed there, they are not certified. Tell us.