Don’t Have Access to a Quality Dog Trainer? Here Are Seven A+ Online Training Classes

I often hear from readers who want to do something fun with their dogs and teach new behaviors using positive reinforcement, but who don’t have access to good trainers in their area.

While I don’t recommend that you seek assistance for severe problems like aggression, reactivity, or separation anxiety without meeting a qualified behavior professional in person, I do suggest that you check out these amazing online education programs to improve your skills as a trainer as well as your dog’s behavior. All of these programs were developed by fantastic trainers and focus on improving your relationship with your dog by using reinforcement to create reliable behaviors.

+ CyberDog

CyberDog is a basic manners course based on the beginners’ curriculum from the Karen Pryor Academy. KPA-certified training partners Sarah Owings, Helix Fairweather, and Lynn Martin will help your dog learn basic skills like targeting, recall, loose-leash walking, waiting at a boundary, and settling on a mat. The eight-week program costs $250.

+ CyberAgility

This is exactly what it sounds like: agility instruction from the comfort of your home. Also created by Helix Fairweather, this fun online course costs $160. Using clicker training, shaping, targeting, and other positive training techniques, not only will you learn new games to play with your dog, you’ll graduate with better training skills!

+ Susan Garrett

This internationally renowned agility champion offers two online courses. Puppy Peaks is a great focus- and teamwork-building program created for puppies but helpful for dogs of all ages, while Recallers is designed to help you build a reliable recall, regardless of distraction or environment.

These fantastic courses are available only a few times a year, and while I haven’t taken them myself, I’ve heard rave reviews! Sign up for Susan’s newsletter on her site to make sure you don’t miss out.

+ KPA Dog Trainer Foundations

I had the pleasure of contributing to this great new course from Karen Pryor Academy. It’s designed as a clicker course for devoted pet owners or competitors who want to hone their training skills, or it can be a prerequisite for those who lack training experience and are interested in enrolling in the dog trainer program. It aims to give attendees a solid understanding of clicker principles, and how to clicker train “the Karen Pryor way.” Registration is $359 for seven lesson units that take eight to twelve weeks to complete.

+ Sylvia Trkman

Two-time world agility champion Sylvia Trkman offers online educational programs for a variety of skill levels, including puppy training, tricks, agility, and foundations. You can enroll as a participant, submitting videos and receiving feedback on your training from Sylvia and classmates, for $220 to $250 per course, or as an auditor for $120 to $150.

+ Sumac Johnson

Sumac Johnson’s Wag It Games program offers online classes throughout the year, including Rally Obedience, Homeopathy, Living Room Agility, Sniff It, and even my new favorite, Treibball — there is something fun for every dog and dog owner to try! You can attend classes as a student, or as an auditor at a reduced price. Check the site for details and start dates.

+ Donna Hall

Donna Hall is a talented Canadian trainer offering customized online classes in subjects including Service Dog Training, Treibball, Basic Clicker Skills, and Foundation Manners. I’m a big fan of her YouTube pages and videos.

Are you interested in signing up for an online program? Have you participated and would like to share some feedback about your experience? Please tell us in the comments. Until next time, happy training!

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Is access to your vet’s backroom a reasonable expectation?

Care to tag along next time your pet is whisked to “the back” of the vet clinic for an injection, a diagnostic test, or a nail trim?

Perhaps you are curious about what actually goes on back there. Maybe you believe that your best buddy will feel more secure if you are present. Whatever the reason, know that if you desire to go where your pet goes and see what your pet sees, this is a perfectly reasonable expectation in most circumstances.

Admittedly, some vets simply don’t like having clients tag along. If your doc falls into this camp, some patient persuading on your part may help. Provide reassurances that you will be on your best behavior, and remind him or her that large animal vets do practically all of their work in front of their clients.

I happen to love when my clients wish to accompany their pet and me beyond the exam room. In fact, I find myself inviting them to follow more often than they think to ask. I prefer they get a first hand look at what I am doing and seeing, rather than simply listening to my after-the-fact verbal description.

Admittedly, I’m proud of my facility and feel great when clients see our bustling staff, content patients in clean comfy cages, and state of the art diagnostic and patient monitoring equipment. Complaining about what vets charge is all the rage these days. When clients see all that we’ve got going on in the back of the hospital, our fees make a lot more sense!

Before my clients set foot beyond the exam room, I gently coach them on the art of being unobtrusive, including avoiding instructing nurses on how to restrain their pet and asking a bazillion questions while I am performing a procedure. I always reserve the right to send clients back to the exam room if I perceive that their anxiety level is becoming contagious, and I describe in advance what they will be seeing. This deters some, which is a good thing. There’s nothing like a fainting or vomiting client to get the day off to an exciting start!

Your request to enter the bowels of the hospital might be denied if:

-Your pet is better behaved without you there (all vets have experienced aggressive patients in the exam room who become gentle as lambs when separated from their humans).

-There is something going on that is private (for example, a grieving client) or too graphic for you to see (trust your vet on this one).

-Your dog or cat will be in an area of the hospital that is off limits to you. For example, in my hospital, in order to avoid radiation exposure, no one other than the patient is allowed in the room where X-rays are taken. Gentle sand bags are used for restraint along with mild sedation if needed.

- The staff is aware that you have a lot to say and no one will be able to get anything done because they will be too busy responding to your questions.

Have you ever accompanied your dog or cat to the back of the hospital? Was it a good experience for you? How about for your pet?

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