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The Very Best FREE Dog Training Videos (YouTube and Beyond)!

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Dog Training By Kayla Fratt 24 min read January 4, 2023 46 Comments

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best free online dog training videos

Want to start training your dog but arenโ€™t ready to put down a big cash deposit for a dog trainer? Luckily there are plenty of free dog training videos on the web that can jump-start your dog training!

Whether youโ€™re thrilled to teach your brand-new puppy some new tricks, you want to try a dog sport thatโ€™s not available in your area, or you need help with your dogโ€™s serious behavior concern, there are online dog training resources that can help.

Weโ€™ll list out some of the best resources here!

Note: Some of the paid videos we recommend further down have affiliate links, which means K9 of Mine may get a commission if you choose to buy a paid course (don’t worry, we mostly talk about free stuff). We haven’t let this affect our recommendations, but we thought you should know! 

Best Free Dog Training Videos Online: Train That Pooch!

From puppy training to teaching your dog to stay, there are plenty of great free dog training videos out there. Letโ€™s look at some of the best free dog training videos on the Internet!

1. Dr. Dunbarโ€™s Dog Behavior and Training

Trainerโ€™s Qualifications: Dr. Ian Dunbar is a veterinarian, PhD, and behaviorist who founded the Association for Professional Dog Trainers. Heโ€™s something like the father of modern dog training, and honestly there are few trainers out there who are more qualified than he is.

All of Dr. Dunbar’s videos are hosted on his own website – Dunbar Academy – so we couldn’t embed any of his videos here, but below is a TED Talk he gave on dog behavior. Yeah – this guy knows his stuff!

What We Love: Dr. Dunbar is frank and charming without being too flashy. You can easily pair the online videos with his podcast (iWoof) and his free E-Books.

If youโ€™d like to go more in-depth than his free videos, Dr. Dunbar offers a Top Dog Academy option as a $20/month subscription package, giving you more access to Dr. Dunbarโ€™s nearly-endless knowledge.

  • Dozens of dog training videos, seminars & workshops covering everything from puppy training and problem behaviors to dealing with dog aggression and dog training for kids!
  • Four ebooks on dog training
  • Live online webinars
  • Training worksheets & logs
  • Access to a private Facebook group where owners can connect
  • Personal email advice from one of the team’s experienced trainers

Plus, there’s always new material being added!

Dr. Dunbar has taught thousands of seminars on these subjects, and his knowledge shows.

Constructive Criticism: Some people find Dr. Dunbarโ€™s voice a bit dry, and complain that they could fall asleep to his English accent. Some of his methods are not the most progressive around, but they are still incredibly well-backed in research.

Best For: Everything from before you get your puppy to dealing with behavior problems. Dr. Dunbar is a true puppy whiz, but his behavior modification skills shouldnโ€™t be ignored, either!

Avoid For: Dr. Dunbar is good for just about anything. If Dr. Dunbar is selling it, Iโ€™d buy it.

2. Kikopup

Trainerโ€™s Qualifications: Emily Larlham does not seem to have any professional credentials, but like Tab Shamsi (below), she seems well-educated and has excellent videos. She focuses on building a trusting relationship with your dog through kind, science-backed training methods.

What We Love: Emily (Kikopup) keeps her videos concise and demonstrates with a variety of dogs. She does an excellent job with multi-dog training, something thatโ€™s hard to find good examples of elsewhere. Her trick training is truly top-notch.

Constructive Criticism: Emily sometimes has some pauses in her speech in a way that can be a bit distracting.

Best For: Tricks, building your relationship with your dog, and working through behavior problems.

Avoid For: Serious behavior concerns, as most of the content is on the lighter side. Not best for people who really like flashy, high energy videos.

3. Howcast: How To Train Your Dog with JoAnne Basinger

Trainerโ€™s Qualifications: JoAnne Basinger is a graduate of Jean Donaldsonโ€™s Academy for Dog Trainers, a prestigious school for professional trainers. She is also a member of the Association for Professional Dog Trainers and is an experienced marine mammal trainer. In other words, this woman knows her stuff!

What We Love: JoAnne keeps her videos short and to the point. She does a great job of showing a few different options for each skill in a very short timeframe. JoAnne is clearly skilled and well-educated.

Constructive Criticism: Unfortunately, it seems like JoAnneโ€™s Howcast videos are pretty limited. There are only 24 videos on the site, and it doesnโ€™t seem like Howcast is producing more. This means that you might not be able to find what youโ€™re looking for from JoAnne.

Best For: All-around dog training, especially puppy training, new shelter dog training, and tricks.

Avoid For: Anything that she doesnโ€™t cover, such as behavior problems or advanced tricks and sports.

4. Journey Dog Training

Trainerโ€™s Qualifications: Full disclosure – this is my channel! Iโ€™m an Associate Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (learn about the rigors of that certification here).

I learned to train dogs volunteering at a rescue that specialized in rescuing and re-training โ€œunadoptable dogs.โ€ Since then, Iโ€™ve trained thousands of shelter dogs and helped hundreds of families with their difficult dogs.

What We Love: I record most of my videos first on Facebook Live during my โ€œTraining Tuesdayโ€ free lessons. That means you can join me at 7pm EST on Facebook and interact with me while I film a lesson on a given topic. This is pretty unique from other free video trainers!

Constructive Criticism: My video quality isnโ€™t as top-notch as others out there, so it can be frustrating to watch some of my videos on a bigger screen. I promise, Iโ€™m working on upgrading my equipment (and my editing skills). My lessons are much longer than many others, which isnโ€™t great for a quick bit of information.

Best For: People who like to ask questions while they learn, since the Facebook Live aspect offers an additional level of interaction. Also a good choice for dogs with behavior problems such as aggression and anxiety.

Avoid For: Competitive dogsports, and people who are bothered by โ€œlow production valueโ€ videos.

5. Zak Georgeโ€™s Dog Training Revolution

Trainerโ€™s Qualifications: While Zak George seems to be on the same page as many professional dog training organizations with his methodology, it doesnโ€™t seem like this celebrity trainer has any education or credentials that make him stand out knowledge-wise.

What We Love: Zak Georgeโ€™s videos are truly made for YouTube — his videos are chopped up into tidbits of easy-to-understand info. Heโ€™s cheerful and charismatic, and his training is all rooted in positive reinforcement. We love that heโ€™s so popular – heโ€™s really helping bring positive dog training to more people.

Constructive Criticism: Some of Zakโ€™s videos on behavior modification highlight his lack of training in aggression cases — he does not use the appropriate safety precautions, and I would not recommend following his advice for working with aggressive dogs.

He can also be a bit โ€œtoo YouTube-yโ€ for my taste, with an over-caffeinated feel and dramatic shots. It sometimes feels more like marketing and entertainment than true education. His more recent videos are also full of promotions for his dog food line.

Best For: Basic obedience, puppy training.

Avoid For: Behavior modification, especially regarding aggression.

More About Zak George

Want to learn more about Zak George? Kayla has done a full breakdown and review of Zak George’s dog training methodology and practice. Check it out!

6. Training Positive with Tab Shamsi

Trainerโ€™s Qualifications: Like Zak George, Tab Shamsi doesnโ€™t seem to have any professional affiliations, specific education, or dog training credentials. Nevertheless, his skills are solid and his training methods align with the modern science of learning theory.

What We Love: Training Positive is more down-to-earth and earnest than Zak George, making him easier to watch in my opinion — it feels less frenetic! His training skills are solid and he does a great job of breaking down the skills.

Training Positive is the only YouTube trainer that I have personally used to teach my dog a trick, whereas Iโ€™ve used the others on this list only to demonstrate for clients.

Constructive Criticism: I canโ€™t find much about Shamsiโ€™s training credentials online, which might not matter if youโ€™re focused on tricks and obedience. However, I donโ€™t like seeing uncredentialed trainers teaching behavior modification. From a viewing standpoint, he might also be a bit less exciting to watch than Zak George for people who like the YouTuber style of video.

Best For: Basic obedience, puppy training, dog sports, and trick training.

Avoid For: Aggression, anxiety, and other behavior concerns.

7. K9 of Mine on YouTube

That’s right, K9 of Mine has its very own YouTube channel! We cover a lot of canine-related content, from dog food reviews and DIY dog gear to training essentials, especially for reactive dogs.

Trainerโ€™s Qualifications: This channel is run by K9 of Mine’s founder Meg Marrs, and while she doesn’t have any training certifications, she has several years of experience volunteering with shelter animals and working with her own reactive dog.

What We Love: Meg doesn’t just offer training tips, she also reflects a lot on how difficult it can be owning a dog with behavior issues. A lot of viewers really appreciate her approach and acknowledgment of just how difficult working with a reactive dog can be!

Constructive Criticism: Meg isn’t a certified dog behavior consult, so her training advice is based on what she’s learned working with other professionals and from her own research and personal experience with her own reactive dog. But, Meg will be the first person to tell you that you need to work with a certified dog behavior consultant when dealing with an aggressive dog.

Best For: Reactivity, loose leash walking, nuisance barking, basic skills.

Avoid For: Severe aggression and other serious behavior concerns.

Hey wait – why isnโ€™t Doggy Dan on this list?

You might notice a conspicuous absence from this list of free dog training videos: Doggy Dan. Doggy Dan also provides paid courses, but his free videos are generally where people start.

When I was researching this article, I signed up for Doggy Danโ€™s free course. It started off well enough — he doesnโ€™t advocate scaring the you-know-what out of your dog in an attempt to get her to behave. But just a few seconds later, he says he also doesnโ€™t use treats.

Uh, what?

Iโ€™m sorry, but itโ€™s just about impossible to really get much done with dogs without either scaring them or using food rewards. Sure, some dogs will work in exchange for petting, praise, and toys (Iโ€™ve got a ball fiend who would actually rather have a ball than chicken). But for most dogs, food is their preferred paycheck.

In fact, science says that dogs just donโ€™t work as hard for praise and petting as they do for treats. Your training will be slower and less effective. So I was pretty skeptical as soon as I saw that in his training videos.

The final straw for me, though, was seeing how Doggy Danโ€™s dogs interacted with him. In one of his free videos, his dog stands stock-still, with wide eyes and lip licking. The dogโ€™s ears are back and its tail is tucked — many classic calming signals. The dog does not want to be near Doggy Dan.

I found the videos so upsetting that, following watching them, I decided to write an entire review breaking down why Doggie Dan is not an appropriate dog training resource.

Dogs donโ€™t lie. I donโ€™t recommend taking advice from a trainer whose dog is not filled with joy about its training. Doggy Dan advocates a pack-leader based โ€œbalancedโ€ training approach that I strongly disagree with (and so does almost every professional dog training organization out there: AVSAB, APDT, PPG, CPDT).

While Doggy Dan does have some good, positive reinforcement-based and science-based sections of his course, I simply canโ€™t recommend him based off of my experience with his free class.

Donโ€™t just take my word for it: another pro trainer wrote this excellent assessment of Doggy Dan as well.

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There also are a variety of other online resources where you can learn to train your dog, ranging from free blogs to private coaching sessions. Weโ€™ll take a look at the pros and cons of those approaches, too.

Letโ€™s go through the pros and cons of online dog training.

The Pros and Cons of Free Dog Training Videos

It seems like you can do just about anything online these days — including learning how to train your dog.

As a professional dog behavior consultant, Iโ€™ve got a pretty sharp eye for the good, the bad, and the ugly of other trainers. That said, I actually love online dog training videos, in general.

Free Dog Training Videos and Online Courses: The Good Stuff

There are tons of reasons why free dog training videos are awesome. Sure, they’re free – but there are other reasons why these videos are awesome too!

Free or Lower-Cost. This means that itโ€™s easy to dabble and shop around to find a trainer whoโ€™s right for you. If you donโ€™t like someone or itโ€™s not working for you, no biggie. Just move on.

Private dog training can be incredibly expensive, so itโ€™s pretty awesome that free videos allow you to get access to good information, even if youโ€™re an owner on a tight budget (see our full article on affordable dog training resources for more budget-saving training tips).

Other versions of online dog training, such as private coaching or online group classes, also tend to be much cheaper than in-person options. When you take into account the gas savings (or hotel savings if you were considering a seminar), online training is a no-brainer cost-wise.

On-Demand Format. In-person courses and trainers take time to set up. Even if youโ€™ve got unlimited money and a flexible schedule, odds are there isnโ€™t a new class for exactly what you need that starts this week (or even next week). But with online dog training, you can get started right now.

Location-Independent. Finding a good dog trainer, especially for a specific issue, can be depressingly difficult. Even when I lived in Denver, I struggled to find an agility trainer who offered classes close to me and/or at a time that worked for me.

Online classes are available wherever internet is fast enough for your chosen course format. Thatโ€™s a pretty huge step up!

Access to the Best of the Best. From puppy school to competitive obedience, itโ€™s hard for a local trainer to โ€œdo it all.โ€ Online training lets you get access to the absolute best of the best dog trainers, even if that trainer lives in another country.

This is especially true for behavior problems and dog sports. While most basic obedience and โ€œpet dog trainingโ€ (teaching your dog basic cues and manners) is decently easy to cover with your local training options, it can be hard to troubleshoot difficult problems or get to the higher levels of competition with just your local options.

That all said, online dog training is not perfect. In-person dog training isnโ€™t going anywhere anytime soon, and there are some good reasons why.

Free Dog Training Videos and Online Courses: The Bad Stuff

Nothing is perfect, and free dog training videos online do have a number of drawbacks and pitfalls.

No Feedback on Your Own Skills. Dog training, especially movement-based skills like pulling on the leash, requires some precise mechanical skills. Itโ€™s easy to plateau in your skills if you donโ€™t have someone watching you. A trainerโ€™s skillful eye can help identify that your dog isnโ€™t sitting because you are leaning backwards, or that your dog continues to shy away from a stranger because of that strangerโ€™s body position.

Some online dog training schools deal with this problem by allowing you to send video of your training sessions for feedback. This can lead to more detailed feedback because your trainer can re-watch things in slow motion, which is pretty cool! However, this is not going to be an option in any free video lesson.

Difficult to Ask Questions. If you get stuck, it can be difficult to ask an online dog trainer for questions. Each format is different, but most YouTube dog trainers simply arenโ€™t going to respond to every single question. You get what you pay for in most cases, and free courses probably wonโ€™t offer much in the way of support from the trainer.

The Wild West of Training Techniques. Weโ€™ve discussed in other articles how dog training is a frighteningly unregulated field. Unfortunately, but not surprisingly, the Internet is even worse than the โ€œreal worldโ€ as far as this goes. Since just about anyone can set up a smartphone and make a video about dog training, itโ€™s easy to end up watching videos from some charismatic know-nothing. Thatโ€™s why itโ€™s so important to hold online dog trainers to the same standards as in-person dog trainers.

Not Well-Suited for All Learning Styles. If you learn best by practicing with real-time feedback, dog training videos are probably going to be pretty frustrating. If you opt for an online dog training course instead of a free dog training video, you might get more variety in how information is presented. But itโ€™s still not quite the same as an in-person class!

Might be Algorithm-Focused Rather Than Education-Focused. Online dog trainers are forced to pander to Google and YouTubeโ€™s algorithms, which are based on click-through-rates, watch time, and other metrics that reflect user behavior rather than the educatorโ€™s skills.

If an online dog trainer is paid based on advertising fees (which is probably the case if the course is free) or selling her courses, sheโ€™s incentivized to write eye-catching headlines and spend her time being as entertaining as possible.

Unfortunately, good training doesnโ€™t always make good TV. In other words, the Internet rewards the flashiest, not necessarily the best.

Many of these pros and cons really come down to finding the best dog trainers on the Internet, rather than just the gal or guy who floats to the top of a tech companyโ€™s algorithm!

Other Free Online Dog Training Resources: Guides, Blogs, & More!

If youโ€™re looking to really deepen your understanding of dog behavior and dog training (or youโ€™re more of a reader than a watcher), there are tons of excellent resources available online for you that arenโ€™t in video form.

Of course, you can get truly excellent information from us right here at K9 of Mine. We cover everything from how to pick out the right dog to how to socialize an aggressive dog — and most of our training advice is written by yours truly, a pro dog trainer!

That said, weโ€™re not the only dog experts on the internet.

If youโ€™re looking for really good dog behavior advice online, here are a few other good places to go for free dog training advice:

  • Positively: Victoria Stilwell (from Animal Planetโ€™s Itโ€™s Me or the Dog) is a well-educated dog trainer who runs her own training academy. Her site is focused on short, easy-to-understand training information for just about anyone! That said, sometimes her paragraphs are long and difficult to skim, especially on a phone screen.
  • Karen Pryor Academy: If Dr. Ian Dunbar is the father of modern dog training, Karen Pryor is the mother. A former professional dolphin trainer, Pryorโ€™s book Donโ€™t Shoot the Dog changed dog training forever. Her site is also full of digestible chunks of excellent training information. Like Positively, Karen Pryor Academy has blogs that are sometimes a bit โ€œchunky,โ€ feeling more like a page from a book than a blog post.
  • Dr. Jenโ€™s Dog Blog: This young veterinarian is the real deal. Dr. Jen is a clear writer who loves writing excellent training myth-busting posts. Her writing is succinct and clear, and she is not afraid of incredibly difficult topics. As a bonus, Dr. Jen also has a very down-to-earth podcast all about dog training issues.
  • Denver Dumb Friends League: This shelter has a free behavior helpline program that offers one-hour phone consultations to owners who need help with their problem pets (but they do not work on aggression cases over the phone). They also have a variety of free behavior handouts on everything from potty training to training games. I helped write many of these when I worked at the shelter, and I really stand behind the information provided.

Attention, Podcast Fans! If youโ€™re more of a podcast listener and prefer to consume content via audio, make sure to check out our list of the best free dog training podcasts (featuring many of the trainers weโ€™ve already discussed here).

There are tons of different ways to gather dog training knowledge – just pick your poison and have at it!

Online Dog Training Paid Options: 1-1 Coaching, In-Depth Courses, & Specialized Skills

The best things in life arenโ€™t always free.

A lot of true dog training experts offer online dog behavior help for a fee. Before you cringe and scroll back up to the free options, remember this: if youโ€™re not paying for it, youโ€™re the product.

What does that mean? Any โ€œfreeโ€ program is going to be funded somehow – generally through ads or through up-selling you to a course.

On the other hand, if you pay for a product, youโ€™re paying for the instructorโ€™s time and knowledge. Since theyโ€™re not making money with ads, product placements, or affiliate sales, paid courses are extremely motivated to provide you with the very best information that they can.

Of course, free resources are trying to give you good information too. But thatโ€™s not their only way to make money, so they might be a bit more focused on marketing a product or selling affiliate links than going to seminars and learning how to provide you with the very best training information around.

Another bonus of paid courses is that most of these paid online dog training options have some sort of specialty you probably wonโ€™t find anywhere on the web for free. Keep that in mind before purchasing!

Best Paid Course for All-Around Training:

1. Dr. Dunbar’s Dog Behavior & Training (Paid)

Iโ€™ve already sang the praises of Dr. Dunbar above when talking about his free programs.

At just $20 per month, Dr. Dunbarโ€™s Top Dog Academy training program is a total steal! Go ahead and test it out over a long weekend or when youโ€™ve got some spare time.

dunbar academy

For $20, youโ€™ll be able to get through a good amount of material in a test month and decide if itโ€™s worth sticking with the program. Given how great his information it is, I honestly donโ€™t see a better option out there.

2. 30 Things to Teach Your Dog in 30 Days

OK full disclosure – we’re definitely biased since this is our course! However, there’s tons of great value here – we produced 30 videos showing your 30 essential skills to teach your new dog in your first 30 days together!

You’ll learn essential dog owner skills like:

  • How to build a lasting, trust-filled bond with your dog.
  • Essential training skills to help your dog be successful in his new home like “leave it”, “drop it”, “stay”, “off”, and other basics.
  • Home grooming tips that will save you money spent on costly groomer visits.
  • Toys, games, and challenges to prevent boredom and prevent destructive behaviors.
  • And much more!

The course is also a flat rate – there is no monthly fee, so once you purchase the course, all the videos are your to peruse as quickly or slowly as you’d like.

This course normally goes for $100, but we’re giving K9 of Mine readers the course for 50% off – get 30 videos for just $50 bucks when you use code SAVE50 at checkout!

Have a new puppy coming home? We also have a great pup-focused program called the Puppy Raising Blueprint – and you can get that course for 50% off too with code SAVE50!

3. Brain Training For Dogs

Brain Training for Dogs is a program by Adrienne Farricelli. Adrienne is a Karen Pryor Academy graduate, a certification that holds a decent amount of weight.

Her online training program is highly praised by other trainers, though I have to admit that I havenโ€™t tested it personally. Her program also provides access to an active forum and online community.

brain-train-for-dogs

Adrienne has really invested in making the program easy to follow and user-friendly, which is incredibly important. It does seem like the program is very trick focused, which could be disappointing for owners who are really focused on practical training. However, at just a one-time flat rate of $47, itโ€™s cheaper than date night in most U.S. cities.

Best for Separation Anxiety: Malena DeMartini-Price

Malena DeMartini-Priceโ€™s Program: This is the real deal. Malena DeMartini is basically the world expert in separation anxiety — she literally wrote the book on it. Malena and her team offer a suite of options for owners with dogs who have separation anxiety issues.

From her $99 โ€œMission Possibleโ€ program to an $840 intensive online seminar (with much more in-depth one-on-one support), Malena is there for you and ready to resolve your dogโ€™s panic at being alone. Given that most separation anxiety behavior consultants charge around $100 per hour to meet with you, this self-study $99 course is a no-brainer to try first!

Best for Dogs with Behavior Concerns: Journey Dog Training

Again with the full disclosure, Journey Dog Training is my own site. I currently offer two one-on-one services and am building self-study courses to keep costs low.

Whereas the other online dog training programs on this list are largely self-study courses or webinar-style classes focused on puppies, tricks, sports, and obedience, I almost exclusively work with dog behavior issues.

I offer an unlimited email support package for $20/month where owners can simply go back-and-forth with me about their dogโ€™s training, and Iโ€™ll give tips and next steps as you progress. Iโ€™ve successfully helped dogs with food aggression, extremely fearful puppy-mill dogs, dog-cat introductions, and reactive dogs in this format.

For more in-depth help, I also offer one-hour video training services that range from $35 (for basic training) to $50 per hour (for behavior issues). This is a great way to get one-on-one help for training problems either on an ongoing basis, or to troubleshoot a pesky problem. I

Itโ€™s similar to the free helpline provided by Denver Dumb Friends League (where I got my training in remote behavior help), but with three big differences: I offer recurring and ongoing support, Iโ€™ll work with aggressive dogs, and I will do video instead of just phone.

Best for Dog Sports and Building Training Skills: Fenzi Dog Sports Academy

Fenzi Dog Sports Academy (FDSA): While โ€œFDSAโ€ isnโ€™t the only trainer on this list that Iโ€™ve personally dabbled with (Iโ€™ve watched videos and/or worked with almost everyone on this list), FDSA is the only program on this list that I personally have paid for in order to continue my own education.

Thatโ€™s how good FDSA is.

Every two months, FDSA starts a new โ€œtermโ€ where there are nearly fifty different courses running at once. These courses are taught by true experts in each field, like Sarah Stremming for agility, Stacy Barnett for scentwork, and obedience with Hannah Brannigan.

FDSA is broken into roughly ten different โ€œschoolsโ€ ranging from Behavior and Foundations to Rally Obedience and Health and Fitness. Within each school, you can select a given course (at a 100 to 500 level of difficulty), then choose to take the course at a gold (generally $260 for a six-week course), silver (generally $130 for a six-week course) or bronze level ($65 for a six-week course).

The gold-level students get the most interaction with the instructor (and they pay the corresponding premium) while the bronze-level students are more of just โ€œlurkersโ€ that get to learn but donโ€™t get to ask questions.

Itโ€™s a pretty amazing setup that is very different from just a series of PDFs and pre-recorded videos made into a class. I honestly can say that I learned more in my last FDSA course on TEAM Obedience than I did in my in-person agility classes in Denver.

* * *

So there you have it. From free YouTube videos to Malena DeMartiniโ€™s $840 online course, dog training has hit the digital age. And with a bit of sleuthing to find the right format and the right instructor, you can learn just as much from an online trainer as you can from an in-person trainer.

What have you learned from online dog trainers? What format do you find works best for you and your dog?

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Kayla Fratt

Kayla Fratt is a conservation detection dog trainer and Certified Dog Behavior Consultant. She is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant with the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, a member of the American Society for K9 Trainers, and is a member of Dog Writerโ€™s Association of America. She lives in her van with her two border collies traveling the country to help biologists detect data with her nonprofit, K9 Conservationists. Before coming to K9 of Mine, Kayla worked at Denver Dumb Friends League and Humane Society of Western Montana as a Behavior Technician. She owns her own dog training business, Journey Dog Training and holds a degree in biology from Colorado College. When sheโ€™s not writing or training Barley and Niffler, Kayla enjoys cross-country skiing, eating sushi, drinking cocktails, and going backpacking.

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46 Comments

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Matt Lancaster

One name that I’d love to see on this list is Susan Garrett. She is one of the most inspiring and thorough of all YouTubers and has great courses as well. She dives into the science, has the background, and leads with love and positivity.

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Ben Team

We’ll check her out, Matt. Thanks for the suggestion!

Reply
Lisa

100% agree โค๏ธ Her podcast Shaped by Dog is awesome.

Reply
kath

have you ever looked into K9 Training Institute. they talk about training your dog with the same techniques they use on service dogs. im very curious to see if youve ever heard / looked into this company . thank you

Reply
Ben Team

We’ll check ’em out, Kath!

Reply
Matt Carter

i am sharing one link which can help you.
https://sites.google.com/view/pet-care-e-book/home.

Reply
Sarah

My experience with Adrianne and her Dog Training method https://sites.google.com/view/trainyourdogeasy101/home has been groundbreaking, influencing the work I am able to do with animals. She is an asset to the dog training community and dog owners worldwide.
I have specifically chosen Adrianneโ€™s methods to work with an older rescue dog with aggression. His progress has been exceptional, and an intelligent, engaging dog that was slated for death in a shelter, is now a valued, loving and loved member of our family.
I canโ€™t imagine having this level of success with this animal without her method of dog training. It has allowed me to interact with my dog reaching his deepest feelings and helping him resolve them in a manner that is safe for him, and the people he interacts with daily. His future is bright indeed, and I owe this to Adrianne and I can’t be thankful enough.

Reply
Ben Team

Thanks for sharing, Sarah!
๐Ÿ™‚

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Netlie

Hey, I love this article thanks, Iโ€™m thinking of going with dr dumper’s dog behavior and training course. I noticed you mentioned brain training for dogs but didnโ€™t really give the full breakdown of the course. What do you think about brain training for dogs? I keep reading reviews about it but canโ€™t make up my mind because the price might make it look substandard compare to other training courses.

I understand it says it has a ton of features but for that price, I donโ€™t want to waste 47$ just to find out it wasnโ€™t worth it at all.
After reading this review i can kind of justify it but then again in this other review they love braining training for dogs a bit too much so not so sure if they are just saying it’s great https://sites.google.com/view/best-online-dog-training/home. I would love your opinion on the program from an expert’s point of view. I just want to know if itโ€™s actually worth it and not a waste of money. Thanks, Kayla!

Reply
Jacquie

I love all the information here however I would love to know who can advise in aggression in our x breed puppy. He can b completely happy on our walks or in the garden when suddenly he growls barks and lunges at us to bite. We are completely amazed and have no idea what happens to him. Bit scary

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Ben Team

Hey there, Jacquie.
That does sound scary! You should probably reach out to a canine behaviorist to have your pooch assessed. From there, you can make a better plan.
Best of luck!

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Patti

I just got a cute tiny female chihuahua but she is miserable. She growls when I just pet her. I donโ€™t understand? Can I get her to stop or will she always do it. She goes nuts if I try to put her on her back to check her belly. Can I get her to stop?

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Ben Team

Hey, Patti.
It’s hard to tell from afar, but it sounds like she may be frightened. Understand that you have to give dogs plenty of time to adjust to their new surroundings, and many don’t like being rolled on to their backs against their will. Try to just take things slow with the little gal, and if you don’t see any improvement, reach out to a canine behaviorist.
Best of luck!

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Nova

Hey i love this article thanks, Iโ€™m thinking of going with dr dumbers dog behaviour and training course. I noticed you mentioned brain training for dogs but didnโ€™t really give the full breakdown of the course. What do you think about brain training for dogs. I keep reading reviews about it but canโ€™t make up my mind because the price might make it look substandard compare to other training courses.

I understand it says it has a ton of features but for that price I donโ€™t want to waste 47$ just to find out it wasnโ€™t worth it at all.
After reading this review i can kind of justify it but then again in this other review they love braining training for dogs a bit too much so not so sure if they are just saying its great https://dogfuse.com/brain-training-for-dogs-review/ . I would love your opinion on the program from an experts point of view. I just want to know if itโ€™s actually worth it and not a waste of money. Thanks kayla!

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Ben Team

Hey there, Nova.
We’re glad you enjoyed the article, but I’m not sure if Kayla will have a chance to respond (she stays pretty busy training doggos!).
But, you can reach out to her training business here.
Thanks for checking out the site!

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Jessica Bosso

What are your thoughts on Absolute Dogs out of the UK? They have free stuff up on the internet but they have paid courses.

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Michael

Hi – first time visiting your site. This was a great resource for me and great update for our COVID online world, thanks!

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Ben Team

Glad you liked the site, Michael.
Be sure to bookmark us!

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Roxann

I am fostering a dog who is frightened of my husband and will try to bite him. She loves me and will pretty much do anything I ask of her. We have tried make things better for her – he sits on the floor, makes his voice higher and offers her treats (which she does take from him but all the while growling at him at the same time.) He wants to be her friend but she won’t allow it and today she tried to bite him. We are frustrated in trying to figure out why but thinking that something must have happened to her before she came to us. She loves all the women she meets but doesn’t like men at all.

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Meg Marrs

Hi Roxann, have you talked about this with the shelter you are fostering with? They usually have tons of great resources to help with dog behavior issues. I’m not a trainer but one thing I’ve been trying to get better at is letting dogs approach you on their terms. If the pup is frightened of your husband, instead of him forcing himself on her, just have him give her space. It’s not unusual for shelter dogs to prefer women over men since in the shelter they are largely exposed to more women than men (most volunteers at shelters tend to be women). It doesn’t mean she’ll never warm up, but she needs time to adjust and get used to your husband at her own speed. One technique you could try is “treat and retreat.” Try having your husband throw treats or kibble across the room. When the pup turns back towards your husband, throw another treat. Basically, you want to let the dog start associating your husband with treats, but she gets to decide if she wants to approach your husband and acknowledge him or not. If she does, she gets a treat! if she doesn’t, no biggie, just move on and try again later. I’d just advise not to force the dog to interact with your husband if she is scared or not interested. Forcing her into scary situations she isn’t ready for can make everything backfire!

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Abdulaziz

The one where Zac explain the things, seem really informative. So, thanks for sharing.

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maxime

Hi Kayla! I was wondering if you have heard of this dog training program before! http://trimurl.co/dogs It looks like a greate program to help people train dogs. I was just looking for some opinions beforei made my decision. By the way i love the content you have been posting lately!

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Tythedogguy

Wonderful Dog Training Journey, by Published Such an Amazing Videos. Thanks for this wonderful post!

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Debra

There are a ton of great dog training articles and videos on my website, https://peoplelovinganimals.com/category/dog-training, and on my YouTube channel, People Loving Animals.

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Ashley Passino

BTW he also chokes out dogs and hangs them by their leash, as well… To make them either stop biting, or to calm them down if they are aggressive.

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Ashley Passino

I HIGHLY recommend Victoria Stilwell as a dog trainer. I have watched how she trains dogs and she uses the positive reinforcement method, (hence the name for her training brand, positively), and also very close to my personal method I have used for the vast majority of my life. Only thing I don’t see eye to eye with her on, her use of choke chains, and support of breeders. I don’t condone either. I also am happy at what I DIDN’T see, cesar millian. The “dog whisprerer”. He has been caught on tape abusing dogs.. (watch the video on YouTube, “Showdown with Holly”, he punches her for biting him AFTER trying to get her to bite him!) He also admits on a different episode (that or interview) that he has no former training… Probably why he punches dogs….

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Meg Marrs

Yes we initially had some Cesar Millan videos suggested but as we learned more about his training methods we chose to remove him.

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Tori Reese

I have practiced various training programs, some of them being ones listed. Some work really well and some not so much. Everyone always enjoys free options, though their effectiveness may be limited. I agree about the importance of feedback. I do love the Brain Training for Dog training program because of the low price but tremendous value including feedback and a forum for dog owners to ask questions. All that being said, none of them will work if the owner doesn’t commit the time and effort to the training. However, if they do, the results they get from that effort will be one of the experiences between them and their four-legged baby that they will ever have.

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Kayla Fratt

You’re spot on about the training effort! Glad you found a program that works for you.https://www.k9ofmine.com/wp-admin/edit-comments.php?p=900#comments-form

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Kim

THank you for this article

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Kayla Fratt

Glad we could help!

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Tiffany Vasquez

Perfect

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Pauline S. Huguley

The videos are excellent! There are a ton of things to learn from these videos. I especially loved Zakโ€™s training as thatโ€™s very easy to follow. Hope to see more educational things from you! Iโ€™m gonna go try out some of these now! Wish me luck!

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Brooke Wilson

Our dog barks at dogs that bark at him and then we have to pull him and go another Direction we need help please thank you

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Meg Marrs

Hi Brooke – taking with a local trainer in your area will likely be the best course of action for you.

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Alivya

How do you make your 3 mth old puppy not to bite you till you bleed

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Landon Lance

Thank you Meg for this website it gave me everything I needed to Know ๐Ÿ™‚ ๐Ÿ˜‰

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Jennifer Broughton

I am looking for help with my Maltese who is definitely suffering from small dog syndrome which is more than likely my fault. Is there any site or person you would recommend for a step by step guide?

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Zaw

Very useful and informative.

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Ann

Need help with my dog can you help

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Sam

Great resources you have put up! Appreciate your sharing..happy dogs!

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Meghan

Thanks Sam! Happy to share the knowledge.

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Elaine

These are awesome resources for training! Thanks for sharing them. ๐Ÿ™‚

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Meghan

You are welcome! Hope they can be helpful.

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Olugbenga Aderibigbe

Hello,
I have sent messages to Doggy Dan and have not gotten a response.
Please,which online dog training school do you really think will serve my need in becoming a versatile dog trainer,\.
Thanks.
Regards,
Olugbenga.

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Meghan

I’m sorry to hear you haven’t received good feedback. The services and videos listed here should be a great start to learning how to train dogs! I’d also suggest checking out Udemy (they have tons of online classes) or local certification. Let me know if you still have trouble and I’ll create a more extensive guide on paid online dog training schools!

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