The Real Reason Online Dog Training Fails-And How to Finally Get It Right

Introduction: The Leash at the End of My Rope

My name is Alex, and I design learning for a living.

As a professional instructional designer, my world revolves around understanding how adults acquire new skills.

I work with theories of andragogy, cognitive psychology, and behavioral economics to build effective training programs for pilots, surgeons, and engineers.¹

I know, scientifically, what it takes for a person to go from confused novice to competent practitioner.

Which is why it was so profoundly humiliating when I couldn’t teach my own dog to stop pulling on the leash.

Leo, my goofy, lovable, 60-pound rescue, was a whirlwind of chaos on four legs.

Our walks were a frantic ballet of yanking, choking, and apologizing to strangers.

At home, he was a furry cannonball, launching himself at every guest who dared to cross the threshold.

I did what any modern, determined dog owner does: I turned to the internet.

I bought the courses.

All of them.

First, it was the YouTube gurus, the charismatic trainers whose positive-only methods promised a revolution in my relationship with Leo.⁴

We played games, we used clickers, and I carried a pouch full of high-value treats everywhere.

The result? A dog who would sit beautifully in the living room for a piece of chicken, but who remained a Tasmanian devil the moment we stepped outside.

Then, feeling desperate, I explored the world of “balanced” trainers, who spoke of clear communication and fair corrections.⁶

The advice was a confusing mix of philosophies, often presented as a moral dichotomy between “force-free” and “aversive” methods, leaving me more paralyzed than empowered.⁸

I spent hundreds of dollars and countless frustrating hours.

Each new course was a cycle of hope followed by failure.

I felt like a terrible dog owner.

But as an instructional designer, another question gnawed at me: Why were these programs, created by brilliant dog trainers, failing so spectacularly to teach me? The number one reason dog training fails is a lack of consistency from the owner.⁸

But that’s a symptom, not the cause.

The real mystery was, why is it so hard for a motivated, capable adult to be consistent?

The answer, I would discover, had almost nothing to do with dogs and everything to do with how humans learn.

The courses weren’t designed to teach me.

They were designed to train my dog, and in doing so, they skipped the most critical step: turning the person holding the leash into a competent, confident teacher.

Part 1: The Flight Simulator Epiphany: The Critical Mistake Every Dog Owner Makes

The breakthrough didn’t happen in a dog park.

It happened at my desk, while I was reviewing the design for a new flight simulator program for airline pilots.

We don’t teach pilots to fly by giving them a physics textbook and the keys to a 747.

We start them in a simulator.

They learn to handle a perfect takeoff in clear skies before they ever have to think about landing in a storm.

The simulator provides a structured, scaffolded environment where they can practice, receive immediate feedback, and build skills and confidence in a logical progression.¹¹

That’s when it hit me.

I had been buying dog training manuals—collections of information, techniques, and philosophies—when what I desperately needed was a flight simulator for my living room.

This analogy became the key that unlocked the entire puzzle.

It revealed the fundamental flaw in how we choose our training programs.

• The Manual (Most Online Courses): A manual is a repository of information. It might show you how to teach a “heel” or a “sit,” but it presents this information as a series of disconnected topics. It’s a “subject-centered” approach, much like a school curriculum.¹³ The burden is on the learner to figure out how to connect the concepts and apply them to the chaotic reality of a squirrel-filled park.
• The Flight Simulator (Effective Learning Design): A simulator is a structured learning experience. It’s “problem-centered”.¹¹ It starts with the real-world task you want to accomplish—like “have a peaceful walk”—and breaks it down into manageable steps. It begins in a controlled environment and systematically adds complexity, building your skills layer by layer until you can handle the real world with confidence.

This realization changed everything.

I stopped asking, “Who is the best dog trainer?” and started asking a new, far more powerful question: “Which platform provides the best instructional design to turn me, the human, into a competent trainer?”

To answer that, I did what I do best.

I built a framework.

Drawing on decades of research in instructional design, adult learning theory, and behavioral economics, I created a new model for evaluating these programs—not on their training philosophy alone, but on their effectiveness as a teaching tool for the human on the other end of the leash.

I call it the Canine Learning Experience Design (C-LXD) Framework.

It’s a checklist for finding your flight simulator.

Part 2: The C-LXD Framework: A Modern Compass for Evaluating Dog Training

The C-LXD Framework is built on four pillars that are essential for effective adult learning.

These aren’t about dog training philosophies like “positive” or “balanced”; they are about the science of how humans build real, lasting skills.

Pillar 1: Problem-Centered Architecture

At its core, adult learning theory, or andragogy, states that adults are most motivated to learn when the knowledge has immediate relevance to their job or personal life.¹²

We are “problem-centered,” not “content-oriented.” A child learns grammar rules to eventually write an essay; an adult takes a business writing course to immediately write a better marketing plan.²

Many dog training programs are structured like a child’s curriculum: Week 1 is “Sit,” Week 2 is “Stay,” Week 3 is “Down.” This is a subject-centered approach.

The problem is, my issue wasn’t a “Stay” deficiency; it was a “Leo-loses-his-mind-when-the-doorbell-rings” problem.

A course organized around solving real-world problems is vastly more effective for an adult learner because it directly answers the “What’s in it for me?” question.¹²

It frames the learning around the task you actually want to accomplish.

This is why skills learned in the living room often fail to translate outdoors; the course never properly connected the command to the real-world problem.

Evaluation Checklist:

• Is the course curriculum organized by common behavioral problems (e.g., “Leash Pulling,” “Jumping on Guests”) or by isolated commands (e.g., “Sit,” “Stay”)?
• Does the program clearly state the real-world outcome you will achieve in each module?
• Does it feel like a series of solutions to your problems, or a list of subjects to memorize?

Pillar 2: The Human Habit Engine

Consistency is the holy grail of dog training, but it’s a finite resource.

Willpower alone is not enough to sustain a new behavior.

Lasting change comes from building habits.¹⁴

Behavioral economics provides a powerful blueprint for this in Nir Eyal’s “Hook Model”: a loop of a Trigger, an Action, a Variable Reward, and an Investment.¹⁶

Furthermore, a core principle for encouraging a new behavior is to reduce “friction” or “hassle factors”—making the desired action as easy as possible to perform.¹⁸

This pillar isn’t about the dog’s habits; it’s about building a consistent training habit in the owner.

The design of the platform itself is a critical, and often overlooked, part of the instructional process.

A clunky website with hour-long video modules you have to remember to log into creates high friction.

A sleek mobile app that sends a daily reminder (the trigger), presents a simple 5-minute game (the low-friction action), and rewards you with a badge or a checkmark (the reward) is a powerful habit-forming engine.

The medium is the message.

Platforms like GoodPup, with its scheduled sessions, or SpiritDog, with its mobile-friendly, bite-sized lessons, are designed to build the human habit of daily training.¹⁹

Evaluation Checklist:

• How are the lessons delivered? Is it a mobile app or a website?
• Are the lessons short and easy to complete in one sitting (under 15 minutes)?
• Does the platform use reminders, progress bars, points, or badges to encourage daily engagement?
• Does the user interface feel simple and intuitive, or complex and overwhelming?

Pillar 3: Skill Scaffolding and Progression

Effective learning is built layer by layer, a concept known as scaffolding.¹¹

You start with foundational concepts in a simple environment and gradually add complexity and context.

This is the very essence of the flight simulator.

The most common point of failure for dog owners—”he does it perfectly at home but not at the park”—is a direct result of a breakdown in instructional scaffolding.¹⁰

The skill of walking politely was never properly generalized from the sterile environment of the home to the chaotic environment of the park.

A well-designed program makes this progression explicit.

It doesn’t just teach you a command; it gives you a clear, step-by-step plan for “proofing” that command against distractions.

The curriculum should be a ladder, guiding you from the living room, to the backyard, to the quiet sidewalk, and finally, to the dog park.

Programs like DIYK9 are built on this principle, with a clear course sequence from on-leash basics to advanced off-leash reliability, creating a visible path for the user to follow.⁷

Similarly, trainers like Zak George emphasize the importance of keeping a dog “under threshold” and introducing challenges gradually, which is another form of scaffolding.²³

The key is how systematically this progression is built into the curriculum for the human to follow.

Evaluation Checklist:

• Does the program have a clear, logical progression from easy to difficult?
• Does it explicitly teach you how to add distractions and practice in different environments?
• Are complex behaviors broken down into small, manageable steps?
• Is there a clear path from foundational skills to real-world reliability?

Pillar 4: Motivational Mechanics and Feedback Loops

How do you know if you’re doing it right? In the absence of an in-person trainer, this is the Achilles’ heel of online learning.²⁵

Without feedback, a learner cannot adjust their performance, and motivation plummets.²⁶

Gamification principles show that motivation is sustained by clear goals, a sense of progress, and frequent feedback.²⁷

Therefore, a platform’s support and community features are not just nice-to-haves; they are essential feedback mechanisms.

A well-moderated community forum, live Q&A sessions with trainers, or the ability to submit videos for review are all forms of instructional feedback.

They are the online equivalent of a flight instructor telling a student pilot to “pull up.” Programs that have invested heavily in this infrastructure, like GoodPup with its 1-on-1 video coaching or DIYK9 with its active community and expert Q&As, are providing a solution to the biggest instructional gap in online training.¹⁹

A program with no feedback loop is just a manual.

Evaluation Checklist:

• Does the platform offer a way to get personalized feedback (e.g., video coaching, live Q&As, video submissions)?
• Is there an active, supportive community forum where you can ask questions and share progress?
• Does the program provide clear criteria for what success looks like at each stage?
• Are there elements like quizzes, levels, or “report cards” that help you assess your own progress?

Part 3: The C-LXD Audit: An In-Depth Analysis of Leading Online Dog Training Platforms

Using the C-LXD framework, we can now analyze popular online programs not just by their philosophy, but by their effectiveness as teaching systems for humans.

1. The Relationship-First Schools (Positive Reinforcement Focus)

These trainers prioritize building a strong, positive bond and often use game-based methods.

• Susan Garrett (DogsThat): Garrett is a master of Motivational Mechanics. Her game-based approach (found in programs like Recallers and Home School the Dog) makes training inherently fun and rewarding for both human and dog.³⁰ This structure supports the
  Human Habit Engine because the short, engaging games are easy to practice consistently. Her programs are often highly Problem-Centered (e.g., Crate Games is designed to solve crate anxiety).³⁰ For a complete novice, however, the
  Skill Scaffolding might feel less linear than in other systems, requiring the user to connect the dots between various games and real-world application.
• Zak George (Dog Training Revolution): George is exceptional at the first principle of instructional design: gaining attention.²⁶ His enthusiastic, empathetic approach is incredibly motivating and builds a strong foundation of trust between owner and dog.⁴ However, because his content is primarily delivered on YouTube, it lacks the formal structure needed for robust
  Skill Scaffolding, a consistent Human Habit Engine, and, most critically, Feedback Loops. He provides an excellent “why-to” and “what-to,” but can leave beginners struggling with the specific “how-to” in a structured way.
• Kikopup (Emily Larlham): Larlham is a world-class technician of positive reinforcement training. Her videos are a masterclass in breaking down complex behaviors into tiny, achievable steps, making her a phenomenal resource for Skill Scaffolding a specific behavior.³⁴ Her concept of “Progressive Reinforcement Training” is precise and science-based. Like George, the YouTube format is a limitation. Without a guided curriculum, the sheer volume of information can be overwhelming for a new owner, and the platform offers no built-in
  Human Habit Engine or Feedback Loops.

2. The Structured Pragmatists (Balanced Training Focus)

These trainers often come from working-dog backgrounds and emphasize reliability through clear, structured progression that includes both rewards and corrections.

• DIYK9 (Garret Wing): This platform’s greatest strength is its crystal-clear Skill Scaffolding & Progression. The curriculum is a logical ladder, moving from Puppy Essentials to Obedience 101 to Leashed and finally Unleashed.⁷ This provides a clear, unambiguous path for the owner. It is highly
  Problem-Centered, focused on achieving reliable real-world obedience. The “Grade Your Dog’s Behavior” system creates a powerful Feedback Loop, giving owners concrete benchmarks for success.³⁵ Its training philosophy is explicitly “balanced,” using both positive reinforcement and pressure-based tools and techniques.⁷
• Advanced Trainers (Michael Ellis, Ivan Balabanov): Often found on platforms like Leerburg, these are the Ph.D. programs of the dog training world.³⁶ They offer unparalleled depth and technical precision, representing the pinnacle of
  Skill Scaffolding. However, they are designed for the serious hobbyist or professional, not the average pet owner. They assume a high level of prior knowledge and lack the simple, motivating Human Habit Engine needed to get a novice started and keep them consistent.

3. The Modern App-Based Platforms

These platforms leverage technology to solve some of the core instructional design challenges of online learning.

• GoodPup: The entire GoodPup model is built around solving the Feedback Loop problem. By providing weekly 1-on-1 video coaching and daily chat support, it offers the personalization and accountability that most self-directed courses lack.¹⁹ This structure also creates a powerful
  Human Habit Engine through scheduled appointments and trainer check-ins. While the curriculum may be more foundational than advanced, its instructional delivery system is arguably the most sophisticated from a human-learning perspective.
• SpiritDog Training: A very strong all-around platform that scores well across the C-LXD framework. It features excellent Problem-Centered Architecture, with courses bundled around specific issues like “Tackling Reactivity” or the “Ultimate Puppy Program”.²⁰ Its on-demand, mobile-first format of short lessons strongly supports the
  Human Habit Engine. The inclusion of a community forum provides a crucial Feedback Loop.
• Brain Training for Dogs (Adrienne Farricelli): This program’s unique strength lies in its Motivational Mechanics. It uses a series of “brain games” to teach concepts, making the process engaging for both human and dog.²⁰ This game-based structure is inherently
  Problem-Centered, and the progression through different levels (from “Preschool” to “Einstein”) provides built-in Skill Scaffolding. It’s an innovative approach that cleverly embeds learning principles into a fun format.

Table 1: The C-LXD Scorecard for Online Dog Training Platforms

Platform	Problem-Centered Architecture	Human Habit Engine	Skill Scaffolding & Progression	Feedback Loops & Motivation
Susan Garrett	Excellent Programs like Crate Games are built around solving specific problems.	Excellent Game-based learning is short, fun, and highly repeatable, encouraging consistency.	Good Strong on principles, but the path can be less linear for a total novice.	Good Games are intrinsically motivating; community provides feedback.
Zak George	Good Addresses common problems, but content is not organized into a structured curriculum.	Fair Relies on user’s self-discipline to watch YouTube videos; no platform-driven engine.	Fair Explains principles well, but lacks a systematic, step-by-step curriculum.	Lacking No integrated feedback system beyond YouTube comments.
Kikopup	Fair Focuses on teaching precise behaviors, not solving holistic problems in a single path.	Lacking An encyclopedic resource that requires high user motivation; no habit-building features.	Excellent Unmatched at breaking down individual behaviors into micro-steps.	Lacking No integrated feedback system for the average user.
DIYK9	Excellent Entirely focused on achieving real-world obedience and solving behavioral issues.	Good Clear, step-by-step video modules create a sense of progress and accomplishment.	Excellent The course lineup is a clear, progressive ladder from beginner to advanced.	Excellent “Grade Your Dog” system and active community provide strong feedback.
GoodPup	Good Curriculum is personalized to the user’s specific problems by a live trainer.	Excellent Scheduled video calls and daily check-ins create powerful accountability.	Good The trainer guides the progression based on the individual dog and owner.	Excellent The entire model is based on 1-on-1, personalized feedback.
SpiritDog	Excellent Courses are bundled around specific, common problems like reactivity and puppy issues.	Excellent Mobile-friendly, on-demand, bite-sized lessons are easy to fit into a daily routine.	Good Courses follow a logical progression to solve the stated problem.	Good Community support provides a venue for questions and sharing progress.
Brain Training	Excellent Uses engaging games to solve underlying behavioral issues like inattention or boredom.	Good The fun, game-based format is motivating and encourages consistent practice.	Excellent The curriculum is explicitly scaffolded into school levels, from Preschool to Einstein.	Fair Self-assessed progress through levels; lacks personalized feedback.

Part 4: My Verdict: How to Choose the Right “Flight Simulator” for You and Your Dog

The “best” online dog training program doesn’t exist.

But the best program for you absolutely does.

The C-LXD framework empowers you to move beyond the marketing and the philosophical debates to find the program whose instructional design best fits your needs as a learner.

Here are my recommendations based on common owner profiles:

• For the Overwhelmed New Puppy Parent: Your biggest enemies are exhaustion and inconsistency. You need a system that does the thinking for you and makes training an easy, daily habit. Prioritize platforms with an “Excellent” rating in Human Habit Engine and Skill Scaffolding.

• Top Choice: GoodPup. The accountability of a live trainer scheduling sessions and checking in is priceless when you’re sleep-deprived. It’s the highest level of instructional support available online.
• Alternative: SpiritDog’s Puppy Bundle. It provides a clear, problem-centered path through the most common puppy challenges in a format that’s easy to stick with.
• For the Owner Tackling a Specific, Difficult Behavior (e.g., Reactivity, Leash Pulling): You have a clear goal and need a direct, effective path to get there. Focus on “Excellent” Problem-Centered Architecture and Skill Scaffolding.

• Top Choice: DIYK9. Its linear, progressive system is designed for reliability and is unapologetically focused on results. The clear steps are ideal for tackling a complex, ingrained problem.
• Alternative: SpiritDog’s Reactivity Bundle. This is a fantastic, accessible option that uses positive reinforcement methods to address the root emotional causes of reactivity in a structured, easy-to-follow format.
• For the Experienced Owner Who Wants to Deepen Their Bond: You’ve got the basics down, but you want to bring more joy, precision, and engagement to your training. You should look for “Excellent” Motivational Mechanics.
• Top Choice: Susan Garrett’s Programs (e.g., Recallers). Her game-based training is a brilliant way to build motivation, strengthen your relationship, and achieve a high level of performance in a way that feels like play.
• For the Self-Directed Learner on a Budget: You are highly disciplined, a great researcher, and skilled at creating your own learning plans. You can succeed without a formal platform, but you must be honest about your ability to build your own structure.
• Top Choice: Build your own curriculum using the free, world-class resources from Kikopup (for technical precision) and Zak George (for motivation and relationship-building). Use the C-LXD framework as your guide to structure your own learning path, but know that you are responsible for creating your own scaffolding and finding your own feedback loops.

Conclusion: Leo’s Graduation Day

After my flight simulator epiphany, I looked at my dog training problem with new eyes.

I wasn’t a failed dog owner; I was a learner who had been given the wrong tools.

I needed a system.

I needed structure, clear progression, and a way to build a daily habit.

After auditing the options with my C-LXD framework, I chose a hybrid approach.

I used the structured, progressive curriculum from DIYK9 as my core “flight simulator” to build reliable skills for our walks.

At the same time, I incorporated the brilliant, motivating games from Susan Garrett to build Leo’s engagement and strengthen our bond at home.

The transformation was staggering.

Within weeks, the frantic pulling on the leash was replaced by a loose, happy trot.

The cannonball greetings at the door became a polite (if wiggly) sit.

I wasn’t just following instructions; I was learning the principles of timing, reinforcement, and pressure.

I was becoming a teacher.

The other day, Leo and I were walking past a park bustling with kids, bikes, and other dogs—a scenario that would have once been my worst nightmare.

He glanced at the chaos, then looked back up at me, his tail giving a slow, confident wag.

He was checking in.

We were a team.

In that quiet moment, I realized the truth: the most important training had never been for him.

It had been for the person in the mirror holding the leash.

And finally, we had both graduated.

Works cited

1. The Key Principles of Instructional Design (2025) – Devlin Peck, accessed August 14, 2025, https://www.devlinpeck.com/content/principles-of-instructional-design
2. Principles of Adult Learning & Instructional Systems Design, accessed August 14, 2025, https://www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov/downloads/freebies/172/pr%20pre-course%20reading%20assignment.pdf
3. Design Models and Learning Theories for Adults – Darryl L. Sink and Associates, Inc., accessed August 14, 2025, https://dsink.com/downloads/10SinkASTDhandbook.pdf
4. Zak George’s Dog Training Revolution – Kris Haines-Sharp, accessed August 14, 2025, https://krishainessharp.com/zak-georges-dog-training-revolution/
5. Book Review: Zak George’s Dog Training rEvolution by Zak George and Dina Roth Port, accessed August 14, 2025, https://www.motherofrescues.com/blog/book-review-dog-training-revolution
6. Understanding Balanced Dog Training: Benefits and Techniques, accessed August 14, 2025, https://precisiondogtrainer.com/understanding-balanced-dog-training-benefits-and-techniques/
7. Faqs – DIYK9, accessed August 14, 2025, https://www.diyk9.com/faqs
8. Can online training help with my dog’s behavior problems? – Quora, accessed August 14, 2025, https://www.quora.com/Can-online-training-help-with-my-dogs-behavior-problems
9. Why Balanced Dog Training Isn’t Recommended – Whole Dog Journal, accessed August 14, 2025, https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/training/why-balanced-dog-training-isnt-recommended/
10. best online dog training courses/resources – The Well Trained Mind Forum, accessed August 14, 2025, https://forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/735799-best-online-dog-training-coursesresources/
11. Merrill’s Instructional Design Principles, accessed August 14, 2025, https://instructionaldesign.com.au/merrills-instructional-design-principles/
12. Adult Learning Theories Every Instructional Designer Must Know, accessed August 14, 2025, https://www.shiftelearning.com/blog/adult-learning-theories-instructional-design
13. Adult Learning Theory | Instructional Design Central (IDC), accessed August 14, 2025, https://www.instructionaldesigncentral.com/adult-learning-theory
14. Habit – BehavioralEconomics.com | The BE Hub, accessed August 14, 2025, https://www.behavioraleconomics.com/resources/mini-encyclopedia-of-be/habit/
15. Behavioral Health Certifications: The Psychology Behind Forming Habits – AIHCP, accessed August 14, 2025, https://aihcp.net/2025/05/30/behavioral-health-certifications-the-psychology-behind-forming-habits/
16. Crafting a Habit-Forming Blueprint with Behavioral Economics and Product Design | by Rohit Sinha | Bootcamp | Medium, accessed August 14, 2025, https://medium.com/design-bootcamp/crafting-a-habit-forming-blueprint-with-behavioral-economics-and-product-design-9da55bd88a81
17. Creating Habit-Forming Experiences: A Guide to Behavioural Design Techniques, accessed August 14, 2025, https://profiletree.com/creating-habit-forming-experiences/
18. The Behavioral Economics Toolkit: Policy Levers and Intervention Strategies – NCBI, accessed August 14, 2025, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK593511/
19. GoodPup: Top-Rated Dog Training at Home on 1-1 Video Calls, accessed August 14, 2025, https://goodpup.com/
20. Best Online Dog Training Courses in 2023: A Comprehensive Guide, accessed August 14, 2025, https://moderndogmagazine.com/articles/best-online-dog-training-courses-in-2023-a-comprehensive-guide/
21. Online Training Vs In Person Training For Your Puppy Or Dog: An Honest Review, accessed August 14, 2025, https://rebarkable.com/online-training-vs-in-person-training/
22. The Complete Training Set – DIYK9, accessed August 14, 2025, https://www.diyk9.com/the-complete-training-set
23. Zak George’s Dog Training Revolution – YouTube, accessed August 14, 2025, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZzFRKsgVMhGTxffpzgTJlQ/posts
24. Zak George? : r/Dogtraining – Reddit, accessed August 14, 2025, https://www.reddit.com/r/Dogtraining/comments/111g2nr/zak_george/
25. Has anyone tried one of the paid online dog training courses like Pupford, Absolute dogs, Baxter and Bella, Fenzi, etc? Would you recommend it? : r/Dogtraining – Reddit, accessed August 14, 2025, https://www.reddit.com/r/Dogtraining/comments/ou6hdq/has_anyone_tried_one_of_the_paid_online_dog/
26. 9 Instructional design principles and how to use them – SessionLab, accessed August 14, 2025, https://www.sessionlab.com/blog/instructional-design-principles/
27. Gamification for Learning: 7 Strategies to Enhance Student Motivation & Achievement, accessed August 14, 2025, https://centrical.com/resources/blog-gamification-for-learning/
28. 5 Essential Gamification Principles to Boost Student Engagement Footsteps2Brilliance, accessed August 14, 2025, https://www.footsteps2brilliance.com/blog/gamification-principles
29. DIYK9 | Learn to Train Your Dog Online, accessed August 14, 2025, https://www.diyk9.com/
30. Home – DogsThat, accessed August 14, 2025, https://dogsthat.com/
31. Who is your favourite (Online) Dog Trainer? : r/Dogtraining – Reddit, accessed August 14, 2025, https://www.reddit.com/r/Dogtraining/comments/11lqret/who_is_your_favourite_online_dog_trainer/
32. Available Classes Archives – DogsThat, accessed August 14, 2025, https://dogsthat.com/shop/available-classes/
33. 9 Instructional Design Principles to Optimize Your Learning Initiatives – GoSkills, accessed August 14, 2025, https://www.goskills.com/Resources/Instructional-design-principles
34. Dogmantics Dog Training, accessed August 14, 2025, https://dogmantics.com/
35. Zero To Hero Grade Your Dog’s Behavior – DIYK9, accessed August 14, 2025, https://www.diyk9.com/zero-to-hero
36. Which online dog training courses would you recommend? : r/OpenDogTraining – Reddit, accessed August 14, 2025, https://www.reddit.com/r/OpenDogTraining/comments/zjy7q1/which_online_dog_training_courses_would_you/
37. Are there any decent dog training courses that teach you the balanced way? – Reddit, accessed August 14, 2025, https://www.reddit.com/r/OpenDogTraining/comments/1bu2yb2/are_there_any_decent_dog_training_courses_that/
38. SpiritDog Online Dog Training | Online Reactivity & Puppy Training, accessed August 14, 2025, https://spiritdogtraining.com/
39. Brain Training for Dogs – By Adrienne Farricelli, accessed August 14, 2025, https://www.braintraining4dogs.com/