The 6 Best Dog Training Programs
Who Offers the Best Dog Training Program?
It's estimated that there are over 60 million dog owners in the United States. Most of them have come to realize that dogs don't come already programmed, without the need for dog training. Just like children, pets need to be taught right from wrong, and how to behave in certain situations.
This can be especially challenging since animals don't speak the same language as humans. There are dozens of dog training resource materials available to you for purchase over the Internet. Some are built on a history of success, while others offer a single person's viewpoint. All have one thing in common - they try to give you an effective way to communicate with your dog.
Friday, February 26th
2021 Dog Training Program Reviews
K9 Dog Training Club
- Cost: From $27 to $37 one-time fee
- Refund: 60 day money-back guarantee
Combining helpful instructional videos with personalized attention, the K9 Dog Training Club offers the most comprehensive program currently on the market.
While many dog training programs are created by "experts" who may not actually have the kind of expertise needed to give you detailed, useful skills for working with your dog, Dana Gallagher has over 10 years of experience with training dogs using a positive reinforcement system. She even has an intro video where she introduces herself, her five dogs, and some of the many accolades she received for her past successes.
Some of the topics Dana shares include the following:
- How to Stop Unwanted Barking
- How to House Break Your Puppy
- How to Stop Eliminating at the Wrong Place
- How to Train Your Dog to Stay Off the Couch
- How to Train Older Dogs
- Agility Training Through Hand Touches
You have two options for Dana's program: the Perfect Pooch Train-At-Home System, an online course that covers all of the latest, most dog-friendly techniques for training your pet, which sells for $27; or, you can choose the full package that includes that system as well as videos that teach Dog Food and Nutrition, Safe Body Handling, the 7 Secrets to Change Behavior, and Separation Anxiety. This package is priced at $37 and also includes a unique perk: VIP Insider Club Access, giving you the ability to interact with other members of the K9 Dog Training Club community and the chance to email Dana directly with any more in-depth questions you have. We think this is an absolute bargain for a one-time cost of $37.
If for some reason you aren't satisfied with your purchase, you have 60 days to request a full refund, no questions asked. Try that with an in-house dog training program!
We think many dog lovers will feel much more empowered to build a good relationship with their pets with Dana's program, specifically because they can see videos showing exactly how it's done rather than a book that tries to describe the process. Because of the incredible value of the K9 Dog Training Club, the money-back guarantee, and the expertise of the program's creator, we give it a five-star rating as our top choice among dog training programs.
Peach on a Leash
- Options for both scheduled and flexible online courses
- Affordable pricing
- 100% customer satisfaction
- Helpful blog articles
Peach on a Leash is a dog training company based out of Alpharetta, Georgia. The owner and head trainer, Alex Sessa, is a pet behavior expert with over a decade of experience. She has attained prestigious certifications and gone through rigorous studies to master her skills as a trainer. Sessa manages a team of other certified trainers who work with dogs in-person as well as in the online training courses.
Since Peach on a Leash serves Metro Atlanta and northern suburbs, many people take advantage of the online courses they offer instead. You'll receive follow-up support between online classes either by phone or email. In addition, you'll have lifetime training support through email and access to an exclusive online client community group.
Some online dog training classes are held at a time scheduled by Peach on a Leash, while others are available for you to complete on your own time. The list of courses include:
- Recall Redefined (flexible schedule)
- Door Manners (flexible schedule, not yet available)
- Leash Walking (flexible schedule, not yet available)
- Family Dog 101 (scheduled course)
- Reactive Dog Class (scheduled course)
Peach on a Leash schedules their courses out about 3 months at a time, so it's a good idea to check every once in a while to see if they are offering a scheduled online course at a time that fits your needs. The cost for an online scheduled class ranges from $55 for 4 weeks to $160 for 6 weeks. The cost for the Recall Redefined course starts at $39. Prices are not posted for classes that haven't been launched yet, but we imagine they run less than $100. Overall, the prices for these online courses are very affordable and competitive.
A blog on the Peach on a Leash website is updated every couple of months with free and useful articles that would prove useful to dog owners. Information about puppy biting, selecting the right dog for you, using online training courses, socializing your dog, and more can be found on the blog.
There is no Better Business Bureau rating for Peach on a Leash, but customers rave about the effectiveness of their in-person and online courses. With over 140 online reviews, not one of them is below 5 stars. Customer satisfaction speaks loudly and alongside Peach on a Leash's frequently-updated website, affordable pricing, and dog training options, we highly recommend using their services.
Secrets to Dog Training
- Cost: $39.95 one-time fee
- Refund: 60 day money-back guarantee
This training program covers nearly everything that a responsible dog owner needs to know. It is well organized and easy to follow along so anyone can use it without difficulty. The website is full of testimonials showing how the training program has worked for people from all around the world, and for all kinds of dog breeds.
Daniel Stevens, the author of Secrets to Dog Training, focuses on the importance of being the "alpha dog" and the idea of "dog whispering." The e-book is broken down into straightforward chapters as follows:
- DOG 101: It's A Dogs Life
- DOG 102: Caring for Your Dog
- DOG 103: Training Methods Revealed
- DOG 201: Secrets to Understanding Your Dog
- DOG 202: Dog Problems Solved
- DOG 203: Commands to Start
- DOG 301: Dog Whispering Uncovered
- DOG 302: More Dog Problems Solved
- DOG 303: Advanced Commands and Tricks
Some of the training commands specifically addressed in Secrets to Dog Training are Sit, Come, Okay, No, Roll over, Seek (find), Hold and leave, Sit and Stay (advanced), Beg, Down, Fetch, Heel (stages 1 to 3), Shake, Crawl, Wait, Jump, Catch, Climb, and Stand.
Daniel Stevens does not just regurgitate what others are saying, but has developed his own dog training system through years in the industry, and has many case studies to back it up. Some of the dog behavioral problems he specifically covers are Aggression, Thieving, Biting and nipping, Travel problems, Coprophagia (poop eating), 2 dogs in the house, Destructive behavior, Death in the family, Digging holes, Bad breath, Disobedience, Cat chaser, Dominance aggression, Flatulence, Fear of the leash, Fleas, Fights between dogs, Jot weather and heatstroke, Nuisance barking, Jealousy, Off-leash problems, Jumping on furniture, Jumping on people, and Worms.
The manual is comprehensive for obedience training and worth the money by itself. However, there are six bonus books that really round out an entire dog training approach from potty training to security instruction. The six bonus books are:
- Dog Grooming (14 page book with 11 tips)
- Security Train Your Dog (11 page book with 6 tips)
- House Training Methods (10 page book with 12 tips)
- Secrets to Becoming the Alpha Dog (10 page book with 14 tips)
- Secrets to Dog Training On the Go (mp3 format)
- A Quick Guide to Dog Aggression
Additionally, you can email Daniel and his team at Secrets to Dog Training with any specific dog training problem you might have. They will follow up and send you personalized advice on how correct the problem.
This dog training program is great for a loving dog owner who believes that dogs are naturally pack animals and need to have that role of leadership filled within their lives. Secrets to Dog Training is an excellent dog training program filled with helpful, useful information.
All Day Dog Adventures
- Family-run business
- Options for group and private online dog training
- 100% positive feedback from customers online
- In-person and online training courses available
- Option for comprehensive consultation before selecting classes
All Day Dog Adventures is a family-run business that focuses on fun, explorative, and rewarding ways to train dogs. They offer both online and in-person classes. Their training facility is located close to Glacier National Park with over 2 million acres of land for dogs to explore. The owner and head trainer, Neil Day, has over 15 years of experience and works alongside his wife to create effective online dog training courses.
There are five online services that All Day Dog Adventure offers. However, not all of them have launched yet and no specific date is given for when they will be available. They include:
- Online Dog Scent Training: $100 for 4 week course (coming soon)
- Online Group Dog Obedience and Manners Class : $100 for 6 week course (coming soon)
- Online Private Dog Training: packages ranging from $320 to $740
- Online Trick Dog Training: $99 for 5 week course (available certain times of the year)
- Online Puppy Basics Training: $100 for 6 week course (coming soon)
We wish there were clearer information on the dates that all of the dog training courses would be ready for use. It would also be nice if you were able to start any of them at your own convenience rather than waiting for All Day Dog Adventures to launch a new class schedule. The idea is that by sticking to their schedule, you can check in with your trainer online and submit your training videos for feedback within a timely manner. This might keep some people accountable to completing their course, while others might prefer working around their own timetable.
Before selecting an online course, it might be a good idea to do an online dog behavior consultation through All Day Dog Adventures. The cost is $240 for a 2-hour consultation. You'll fill out a questionnaire about your dog and then plan a time to speak one-on-one with a trainer going over behavior issues like aggression, resource guarding, barking, and more. From there you'll receive a written training plan to follow that targets the specific needs of your dog.
All Day Dog Adventures doesn't mention a guarantee on any of their courses, so we suggest asking them about it if you decide to sign up. In case you find that the methods used here don't resonate with your dog, it's good to know what your options are ahead of time.
There is no Better Business Bureau rating for All Day Dog Adventures, but customers who have used their services have fantastic things to say about them around the internet. Clients say Neil is a kind, patient, and knowledgeable trainer who creates lasting differences with people's dogs. As far as we've seen, there isn't a single negative review about All Day Dog Adventures to be found.
Overall, All Day Dog Adventures seems like a good place to turn to for dog training online. However, at this time it isn't really an option since most of their classes aren't available yet. The website isn't frequently updated, but that's hopefully because this is a small family-owned business that puts a lot more energy into the actual dog training aspect of their company rather than making their website pretty and updated. We recommend keeping an eye out for classes to launch if you're able to wait, otherwise it might be best to get started with another online service if you need to train your dog right away.
Dog Owners Boot Camp
- Cost: $27.77 one-time fee
- Refund: 90 day money-back guarantee
If you're looking for the most up-to-date information about how to train your dog, you might be a little disappointed with Dog Owners Boot Camp. According to the site, the "new 3rd edition" was published in 2006 and is still being sold at a limited-time "promotional" price. But, have dogs and their owners really changed that much in the last 10+ years? Probably not. For that reason, we thought it was worth seeing what Dog Owners Boot Camp had to offer.
Starting with the main Boot Camp How-To Guide, you'll find information that can help you through every step of the process of choosing a puppy, training your dog, even saying your final goodbyes when it's time for him or her to cross the "rainbow bridge". Other useful topics include:
- Discouraging Digging
- Causes of Aggressive Behavior
- Tips for Stopping Fence Climbing/Digging
- Preparing Your Dog for a New Baby in the Home
- Dealing with the Dominant Dog
- Understanding Positive Reinforcement
You'll also get two bonus sections within the Boot Camp book, Grooming: More than Looking Good and Healthcare Guide.
You should also know that the creator of Dog Owners Boot Camp, Marilyn Burnham, offers her program from her years of experience as a groomer. If you're expecting in-depth insights from the perspective of a professional trainer, this program might not be the ideal dog training course for you.
On the other hand, Dog Owners Boot Camp is one of the most affordable manuals available: $27.77. Add to that a generous 90-day money-back customer satisfaction guarantee and you've got a genuinely risk-free way to see if the techniques and advice provided can help you improve your furry friend's problem behaviors or start off on the right paw with your new puppy.
Although we'd like to see updates to both the dog training program itself as well as the website, we give Dog Owners Boot Camp a good rating for affordability and a solid money-back guarantee.
Puppy Trained Right
- All-in-one puppy training class
- Program designed by breeder with over 40 years of experience
- Option to buy pet accessories with online course
Our first impression of Puppy Trained Right was that their website can't compete with some higher-rated dog training companies. However, the company has heart if you're willing to read all the information to understand what is offered here. The program is designed by an unnamed breeder who has over 40 years of ownership experience. We aren't sure how many dogs he has actually trained or what dog owners have to say about the course, since information on this company is very limited.
To use Puppy Trained Right's services, you'll first purchase the course online. The cost is $299, which is on the higher end of training classes that we've found. From there you'll receive a login to access materials online to watch videos and read puppy training articles. We assume you'll have access to the online database indefinitely, but it isn't specifically noted anywhere.
The Puppy Trained Right course includes instructional videos on basic obedience like how to safely pick up your puppy, walking your dog on a loose leash, playing fetch, speaking commands, and more. You'll be able to read 42 articles on topics like biting, jumping, feeding, dental care, puppy play, and impulse control. There are printable checklists to help potty train your puppy as well.
We weren't able to find any unfiltered reviews about the Puppy Trained Right course from customers. They don't have a Better Business Bureau page to reference either. Unfortunately, there isn't a lot of information on the background of Puppy Trained Right, its effectiveness, guarantees, or anything else that we would like to see before spending $299 for an online class.
If you want a basic instructional video to review when you buy a new puppy, surely you'll find at least some value from Puppy Trained Right course. However, since there are other options out there, this isn't our first choice. We recommend exploring the higher-rated dog training online services before buying this online course.
Continued from above...
When looking at all the different dog training programs available today, there are certain factors you need to consider. Some of these include:
- Effectiveness. Does the dog training program carry through on its claims? Is there a history of success in using the training?
- Methods. Are you comfortable with the dog training methods used? Does it cover the specific dog training needs you require?
- Cost. Is the cost of the dog training reasonable for the value it provides? Is there a refund available if you're not satisfied?
TopConsumerReviews.com has reviewed and ranked the best dog training programs available today. We hope this information helps you train your dog right away!
Dog Training Program FAQ
Puppy Training Basics
When it comes to training your puppy, there are a few tips to keep in mind to help guide you through the process. By following a few key points, you can maintain consistent training and avoid letting things get ruff.
If you are using the crate method for housebreaking your puppy, never leave him/her inside of the crate for more than two hours at a time. Puppies cannot control their bathroom habits yet, so make sure to let them out frequently. Your pet will soon grow to understand that he/she should go outside of the home to relieve itself and your housebreaking approach will be a success.
Never use physical punishment as a form of puppy training. This will only result in your pet being afraid or nervous when you are near. Instead, reward good behavior and ignore them if they fail to respond on command. For instance, if you instruct your puppy to "sit", gently push down on his/her backside and repeat the command. When your puppy is seated, reward him/her with a treat and praise. If your pet refuses to sit, walk away and try again in a few minutes. Training takes time and patience, but should never involve your pet being afraid of you.
You can begin training your puppy as early as 8 weeks old. He/she may not respond immediately, but you will be building a foundation for your pet's learning at an early age. Continue working with him/her for short intervals every day and instill positive reinforcement as you train.
Whenever you plan to attempt obedience training with your puppy, make sure that you have his/her favorite treats on hand to serve as a reward. In addition, puppy training should be approached at a time that is calm for both you and your pet. If he/she is anxious about something, it is not likely that the training attempt will be successful. Instead, your puppy should be relaxed and able to focus on the training task at hand.
If you are housebreaking your puppy, be sure to watch him/her closely during the earliest days of training. If you allow your pet to roam freely throughout the house, it is especially important to be mindful of their whereabouts. If your puppy has an "accident" on the carpet, which is possible if he/she is unattended, catching them in the act is the only way to deter future behavior of the same. If you later find the problem spot and you verbally scold your pet, he/she will not understand or associate the "accident" with bad behavior. If you catch them in the act, however, a firm "NO!" will let them know that you are displeased with their actions.
When training your puppy, always be consistent in your commands. For instance, if you are attempting to teach your pet to sit, always use "sit" as your command. Avoid using alternate terms that may confuse your pet and never yell or shout your instructions as this will make your puppy feel as though he/she is being scolded. A normal, instructive tone will be much more effective in your approach to puppy training.
It's important to realize that the amount of obedience training, housebreaking and instruction needed will largely depend on your pet. Some breeds are highly intelligent and may learn quickly according to your puppy training techniques. If your pet does not respond as quickly as you think it should, simply spend additional time working with him/her and you will have a perfectly-trained pup in no time.
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