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Struggling to train your dog? You’re not alone…
Millions of dog owners are struggling with the same problem.
The challenge is finding good, qualified help at an affordable price. In-person training is at least $50/hour…
And the odds of having a world-class dog trainer in your immediate area are low.
This is why online dog training is becoming increasingly popular.
Online training courses offer on-demand lessons, access to expert support, a private community of other dog owners, and lessons from world-class dog trainers.
However, there are a lot of different dog training courses available online, and not all are made equal. The last thing you want to do is spend your hard-earned money on a poorly put-together dog training program that wastes your time.
This post will cover the top 9 best online dog training programs available to help you find the best option for you and your pup.
Let’s jump right in.
Table of Contents
What Is An Online Dog Training Course?
It seems like every day there is a new online course available for just about everything. So, of course, there are plenty of online dog training courses!
These can be an excellent option for those who want the convenience of learning from home or who have tight schedules that do not allow for attending traditional classes.
Not to mention, online dog training courses are often less expensive than hiring a private trainer.
But what exactly can you expect from an online dog training course?
Most online dog training courses will include a combination of written materials and videos. The written materials will provide background information on various topics related to dog training, such as canine psychology.
For aspects of training where video demonstration isn’t particularly necessary, you’ll often find written content (sometimes with images, diagrams, or GIFs).
The videos inside online dog training will usually demonstrate different training techniques.
In some cases, the videos may be live-streamed so that you can interact with the instructor in real time.
However, they can also be pre-recorded videos with the ability to email or message instructors with any questions you may have.
Additionally, online dog training courses will often include some sort of forum or social media group where students can interact with each other and the instructors.
This is a great way to get feedback on your progress, ask questions, and connect with other dog lovers!
Now that we’ve discussed the general setup of online dog training let’s look at the best programs available.
Top 9 Best Online Dog Training Courses
1) K9 Training Institute
K9 Training Institute is one of the most comprehensive, best dog training courses available.
The Masterclass is self-paced, so you can go through it as quickly or slowly as you need. And with lifetime access to the materials, you can always go back and review anything that you may have forgotten.
They also include 10 weeks of coaching from training experts to help guide you through the process of training your dog to listen.
In addition to lifetime access to the Masterclass and 10 weeks of personal coaching, you get 3 bonus classes.
- How to housetrain your dog
- Curing a dogs separation anxiety
- How to correctly teach kids to interact with your dog
The course does a great job at covering everything you could possibly need to create the obedient, well-behaved dog you’ve always dreamed of.
What’s also great about K9 Training Institute is they have a completely free workshop to get you started.
So if you want to learn more about how their training is likely different than anything you’ve seen before, you can check out their free workshop to learn more.
What I Like/Dislike About K9 Training Institute:
Like:
- Simple but effective strategies.
- 90-day money-back guarantee.
- Lifetime access to the Masterclass.
- 10-Weeks of personal coaching from expert trainers (huge for getting questions answered).
- Bonus training in very common problem areas.
- More affordable than in-person training.
- Force-free training methods.
- Helps you better understand how to communicate with your dog.
- Video demonstrations with untrained dogs.
Dislike:
- No community for people to share progress/wins (yet, this could change in the future).
- Some videos are a little long.
2) SpiritDog Training
SpiritDog Training’s Masterclass has one of the largest video libraries of dog training classes that we’ve found.
What’s especially great about SpiritDog Training is the way it’s structured. Each problem behavior is broken down into its own course to teach you step-by-step how to solve the problem behavior.
This means you’re not spending time learning about things that don’t apply to your dog.
Over 50,000 dog owners have used SpiritDog Training’s methods, with an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars.
Some of the more popular courses inside SpiritDog Training’s Masterclass are:
- Tackling Reactivity
- The Ultimate Puppy
- Loose Leash Walking
- Fantastic Focus
- Perfect Obedience
- The Calm Down Course
- The Confidence Booster Course
- And much more
You also get access to a vibrant Facebook community where trainers and other dog owners are considerably active.
SpiritDog Training also comes with a 60-day money-back guarantee, which is a crucial aspect of any online training program.
What I Like/Dislike About SpiritDog Training:
Like:
- Has a very modern online portal that’s easy to use.
- Has written, image, and video content to benefit all different types of learners.
- 60-day money-back guarantee.
- Every problem behavior is covered in depth.
- Over 50,000 happy dog owners have gone through her training.
- All lessons use positive reinforcement training.
Dislike:
- One of the pricier options available.
3) Dr. Dunbar’s Dog Academy
Dr. Ian Dunbar is a world-renowned dog trainer and creator of Dr. Dunbar’s Dog Academy.
He’s the founder of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT) and has over 40 years of experience. Over his career, he’s trained well over 100,000 dogs.
All of their lessons are science based dog training methods. Dr. Dunbar’s Dog Academy has hundreds (yes, multiple 100s) of videos in their library.
Whether you want to train your dog the basics or more advanced behaviors, Dunbar’s Dog Academy has everything you could possibly need.
Some of the sections you’ll have access to include:
- Behavior Problems Compendium – This course focuses on solving anxiety, excessive barking, destructive chewing,aggression, fearfulness, jumping up, pulling on a leash, and much more (194 lessons).
- Essential Puppy Training Course – Everything you need to know about raising and training a puppy (131 lessons).
- The Treatment and Prevention of Dog Aggression: Biting and Fighting – All you need to help a reactive/aggressive dog (30 lessons).
These courses cost hundreds of dollars on their own. But Dr. Dunbar’s Dog Academy gets you access to everything they have for a monthly subscription of just $20.
They also have a 30-day money-back guarantee to ensure you feel their trainings are worth every penny.
What I Like/Dislike About Dr. Dunbar’s Dog Academy:
Like:
- Low-cost monthly membership that you can cancel anytime.
- 100s of video lessons covering all aspects of dog training and ownership.
- Wide variety of dog training resources: Ebooks, podcasts, worksheets, and periodic live webinars and Q+A sessions.
- Access to a private Facebook group.
- All lessons teach positive reinforcement methods.
- Large focus on making training enjoyable for both you and your dog.
Dislike:
- Potential for information overload with so many training classes available.
4) Petco Dog Training
Petco Dog Training takes a more traditional in-person approach to their online dog training.
While most other courses are self-paced and can be completed at any time, Petco Dog Training requires you to show up to 4 group sessions held on zoom.
As opposed to being given a video library and going through it at your own pace, you’ll be paired up with a maximum of 5 other people to join a professional trainer on a live call.
During these calls, you’ll learn puppy basics, adult basics, and how to address common problem behaviors like jumping, excessive barking, leash pulling, etc.
During the puppy basics portion of the training, you’ll learn about potty training and crate training, proper walking behavior, how to prevent/stop nipping, socialization tips, and teaching them to always come when called.
The adult basics portion focuses on fundamental commands like sit, stay, and come, correcting and managing undesirable behavior, and adjusting to new environments.
What I Like/Dislike About Petco Dog Training:
Like:
- Set periods where you’re learning from an expert dog trainer live.
- Small group classes, so you get the attention you need.
- Learn the basics of dog training and how to address common problem behaviors.
- More customized training.
Dislike:
- You have to attend group sessions at specific times (as opposed to being self-paced).
- No video library to learn on-demand.
- Once you’re done with the 4 sessions, you have no more support.
5) Home School The Dog
Home School The Dog is one of the more affordable online dog training courses we’ve found.
Their course is self-paced and can be completed at any time.
It includes:
- Over 40 dog training videos and tutorials.
- PDFs.
- More than 12 interactive games to make training fun.
- Facebook community for support and to engage with other dog owners learning the same material.
- Recorded Q&A sessions with answers to FAQs.
- As well as other resources to help you train your dog.
You get instant access to the content for 4 months for the $49 price point.
The course also comes with a 14-day money-back guarantee. So even though it is a much cheaper option, you’re still covered with a risk-free guarantee.
What I Like/Dislike About Home School The Dog
Like:
- The use of interactive games makes training a fun experience.
- The low price point is paired with a money-back guarantee.
- You get access to a private Facebook community to share wins and ask questions.
- 24/7 access to videos and tutorials as soon as you sign up.
- 6 bonus trainings are included.
- Useful for dogs at any stage of life.
Dislike:
- Only get 4 months of access. While that should be plenty of time, most online dog training programs grant lifetime access.
6) Puppy Trained Right
The Puppy Trained Right course is taught by a breeder with over 40 years of experience.
The program is self-paced and can be completed at any time.
It’s designed for dog owners who want to raise a well-behaved puppy from the start.
The course covers everything from potty training to socialization, obedience commands, and more.
More specifically, a few things you’ll learn are:
- Members Introduction & Training Points to Follow
- Training Puppy To Ring a Bell To Go Potty
- Picking Puppy Up Safely
- Sit. A Few Do’s & Don’ts
- Fetch
- Walking on Loose Leash
- Down (lie down)
- Stay – Come
- Jumping Up & Impulse Control
- Crossing a Threshold or Step Down
- Cautious Puppy, First Day Home
You’ll get 1-year of access to all the course content for a one-time fee of $299.
This program prides itself on being so simple even kids as young as 13 can learn how to train their loving four-legged companion.
7) The Good Dog Program
The Good Dog Program is a great online training program to help teach any dog the basics.
The course is self-paced and can be completed at any time.
It includes how to teach a dog to:
- Sit
- Stay
- Come
- Stand
- Give
- Get in
- How to play nice
- And much more
The cost of the course is just $47.
The owners of Success Dogs also created a program for advanced/fun commands. It’s called The Superhero Game Plan.
It’s a separate dog training course from The Good Dog Program and also costs $47.
Some of the unique trainings you’ll learn in this course are:
- Retrieving a drink from the fridge.
- Putting their toys away.
- Helping with the laundry.
- Getting a tissue after you sneeze.
- Riding a skateboard.
Or any other command you can think of. Based on what you’ll learn in this course, you’ll know everything you need to train your dog in the most advanced tricks/behaviors.
8) MasterClass (Brandon McMillan)
Brandon McMillan is the Dog Trainer at Masterclass.com. He’s a professional dog trainer and behaviorist who has worked with some of the most famous dogs in Hollywood.
This online course is designed to give you the skills and knowledge to train any dog.
You’ll learn everything from obedience commands to how to potty train a puppy.
Brandon also teaches you how to understand dog psychology and body language. This will help you better communicate with your furry friend.
The course is broken down into 15 video lessons, each teaching you all you need to know about a particular behavior.
It’s one of the most high-production online dog training courses, paired with a great, engaging instructor.
As with all courses on Masterclass.com, you cannot buy a single course. Instead, you need to subscribe to them, which means the cost is $240/year.
9) Brain Training For Dogs
Adrienne Farricelli is a professional dog trainer and behaviorist with over a decade of experience.
She designed this course to help owners train their dogs at home without needing a professional trainer.
It’s designed for all dog owners, regardless of your dog’s age, size, or breed.
She structures the course in a very unique and interesting way.
It starts with Preschool training, then Elementary school, High school, College, University, Graduate, then Einstein.
Gradually moving from the basics and core fundamentals to more advanced behaviors.
Her course also comes with a private community forum to engage with other dog owners on a similar journey.
Brain Training For Dogs is another course on the lower end of the price spectrum at $47.
Online Dog Training Vs. In-Person Dog Training: Which Is Better?
In-person dog training has been the standard for many years, but online dog training is becoming increasingly popular. There are several advantages to online dog training, including convenience, cost, and flexibility.
With online dog training, you can train your dog from the comfort of your own home at a time that is convenient for you. You also have the ability to pause and rewind the video lessons as often as you need.
In addition, online dog training is typically more affordable than in-person dog training.
While in-person dog trainers typically charge by the hour, online dog training courses usually offer lifetime access to their training. However, some structure their online training similarly to in-person where you have time where you meet with them virtually for training.
Finally, online dog trainers typically offer a wider range of behavioral fixes than in-person trainers. An online dog training program may provide you with everything you need to create a well-rounded, obedient dog. Whereas in-person dog trainers are likely to focus on one particular problem.
That being said, in-person dog training has its own set of advantages and disadvantages.
One advantage is that you work directly with a trainer in your home. Additionally, in-person trainers can offer more personalized attention and tailor their approach to your dog’s individual needs.
Another benefit to in-person training is that they hold you accountable! If you have a trainer come to your home, you don’t have much choice but to spend time training your dog.
With online dog training, you have to take it upon yourself to watch the contents of the program and then take action on what you’ve learned.
However, if you can hold yourself accountable and use the training that you’ve learned, online dog training is better, in my opinion.
You get to work with world-class trainers that you wouldn’t otherwise be able to because it’s unlikely they live in your neighborhood. You also get their best information for a fraction of what it would cost to learn from them in person.
Reasons To Consider Online Dog Training
There are several reasons you might want to consider online dog training instead of in-person training, or even in addition to it.
As we discussed earlier, online dog training is more convenient since you can do it from home and on your own schedule.
It’s also typically more affordable than in-person dog training since most courses offer lifetime access for a one-time fee.
In addition, online dog training programs typically offer solutions to a wide range of common behavioral problems.
Some offer solutions for a specific problem similar to what an in-person trainer would do. But others offer a complete solution to all dogs’ most common behavioral issues.
So, if you’re looking for comprehensive training that will give you everything you need to create a well-rounded, obedient dog, online dog training is a great option.
Free Vs. Paid Online Dog Training
Many people wonder why they would pay for online dog training when all the information is available for free somewhere on the internet.
I used to have the same thought before I started paying for programs and courses on a variety of topics.
The real difference is in how much time you want to spend.
My personal story with free vs. paid information is why I am a big believer in paying for courses rather than solely using YouTube and Google.
When I started my career, I didn’t want to spend money to learn. I saw a wide variety of free content on YouTube and figured I could piece it together and make it work.
This lead me down a path of 9 MONTHS of spinning my wheels and getting nowhere. I felt defeated, discouraged, and frustrated.
Finally, I decided to purchase someone’s program.
Which is when everything started to change for me.
Not only did I finally start to make serious progress, but I learned that everything I was doing was based on out-of-date information. Tactics/strategies that worked a couple of years ago but not now.
So while free training has its place, it ultimately comes down to what you value more. Your time or your money.
And after that experience, I realized I valued money more than my time. Which I don’t plan on doing again in the future.
Does Online Dog Training Actually Work?
I’m sure you’re wondering by now… does online dog training actually work?
The answer is, it depends.
It depends on how committed you are to follow through with the training. Just like with anything in life, if you want to see results, you have to put in the work.
If you’re willing to do that, online dog training can be extremely effective.
I’ve seen countless people achieve excellent results with their dogs by using online dog training courses.
And I firmly believe that when someone takes action with the correct information (the right information is essential and what this post covers), they can get exactly what they want.
6 Tips To Help You Be Successful With Online Dog Training
If you’re considering online dog training or have already purchased a course and want to make sure you get the most out of it, here are 6 tips to help you be successful.
Pick The Right Course: There are a lot of courses out there, and not all of them are created equal. Ensuring you’ve done your research and chosen the course that’s best suited for you is crucial.
Follow The Directions: It sounds simple, but I can’t tell you how many people purchase a course and then don’t follow the directions. If you want to see results, make sure you’re following the training plan to a T.
Create A Schedule: One of the benefits of online dog training is that you can do it on your own time. But with that said, I still recommend creating a schedule and sticking to it as much as possible. This will help ensure you’re making consistent progress. Many courses only require 10-15 minutes of training a day, so training can fit into anyone’s schedule.
Be Consistent: Speaking of consistency, it’s essential to be consistent with your training. Dogs learn best when they are trained consistently. So make sure you’re setting aside time each day to work on training.
Be Patient: Dogs learn at their own pace, so it’s important to be patient with them (and yourself). Don’t get frustrated if your dog isn’t progressing as fast as you’d like. Just keep working at it, and they will eventually get it.
Ask For Help: If you’re ever feeling stuck, most courses have some sort of support system in place (usually email or a private Facebook group). So don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for help if you need it.
Paying for a course also gives you access to the instructor’s expertise, so take advantage of that.
And that’s it! If you follow these tips, you’ll be on your way to success with online dog training.
Final Thoughts
Our choice for the best online dog training program is the K9 Training Institute.
They have a unique approach to training that helps ordinary dogs become as well-behaved as service dogs.
I hope this post has been useful in helping you decide whether or not online dog training is right for you.
And if you do decide to go down the route of online dog training, I wish you all the best in your journey. Just remember to be patient, consistent, and follow the directions, and you’ll achieve great things.