A real trainer, remotely
Online dog trainer: one-on-one help by phone or Zoom, anywhere in the US
Searching for an online dog trainer turns up apps, video libraries and subscription courses. Those can teach a sit. What they cannot do is listen to your situation, ask the follow-up question and change the plan when your dog does something the lesson did not expect.
- $99per session
- Phone or Zoomone-on-one
- Anywherein the US
Why one-on-one
A real trainer answers the question a video cannot.
A recorded course teaches the average dog in an average home. Your dog lives in a second-floor apartment with a barking neighbor, or shares a yard with a cat, or behaves perfectly for your partner and ignores you completely. The useful part of training advice is the adjustment to those details, and that requires a person on the other end of the call.
In a live session our head trainer hears how you describe the problem, asks what happens before and after, and notices things owners rarely mention, such as the treats being handed out after the dog has already stood up. On Zoom we can also watch your timing and leash handling, which is where a lot of small, fixable mistakes live.
Who is on the call
You talk directly with our head trainer, not a script.
Best Dog University is a training business in Cypress, Texas, where our team runs board and train programs and private lessons. The virtual sessions bring the same trainer to owners anywhere in the country. Our head trainer grew up on a farm training Quarter Horses, has more than 16 years of hands-on dog training, and specializes in anxiety, reactivity and aggression.
Our method is balanced training: rewards for the behavior you want, fair and consistent boundaries for the behavior you do not, and the right tool for the individual dog. You will hear the reasoning behind every suggestion, so you can apply it to the next problem without needing us.
- 16+ years of hands-on training
- 900+ dogs trained
- Specialties: anxiety, reactivity and aggression
- Balanced training, explained in plain language
Phone, Zoom or in person
Pick the format by what we need to see.
Phone and Zoom cost the same $99. The difference is whether seeing the dog would change the advice. When in doubt, choose Zoom; it is easy to turn the camera off, and impossible to show us the leash on a phone call.
| Format | Best for | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | Planning, questions and problems that are easy to describe | Setting a crate schedule around a new night-shift job |
| Zoom | Anything we need to watch: greetings, leash handling, body language | Your dog spins and barks when you pick up the leash |
| In person (Houston area only) | Bite history, dogs you cannot hold, hands-on handling | A large dog that has bitten a visitor |
Choosing well
How to judge any online dog trainer before you book.
Whoever you choose, a few questions separate a useful remote trainer from a slick sales funnel. A good trainer tells you the price up front, asks about your dog before recommending anything, and explains the method in a way you can repeat to your family. A trainer who promises a fixed result over video for a dog with a bite history is telling you what you want to hear.
Look for honesty about limits. Remote coaching is excellent for habits, routines and owner skills, and weaker for dangerous behavior that needs hands on the leash. We will say which side of that line your situation falls on.
- A clear price before you book
- Questions about your dog before any advice
- A method you can explain in one sentence
- Honest limits on what remote training can do
- Real hands-on experience behind the advice
Getting good value
Set up your space so the session is spent on training.
A little setup keeps the session on your dog instead of on the camera. Request a time on our virtual dog training page, then get these ready before it starts.
- Prop the phone or laptop at about knee height so the camera sees the floor and your dog's whole body.
- Pick a room with space to move and few distractions, and silence the television.
- Keep the leash, collar or harness and a handful of small, soft treats within reach.
- Write your top three questions down so nothing is forgotten once the dog starts acting up.
- If another person is home, ask them to hold the camera or play the guest at the door.
The programs
Online training with a real trainer.
Every virtual session is $99, one-on-one by phone or Zoom, and available anywhere in the US.
$99per session
Phone or Zoom, anywhere in the US
Virtual consultation with our head trainer
One-on-one guidance for behavior, a new dog, introductions or a new puppy.
Is an online dog trainer as good as in-person training?
For many problems, yes, because most training is the owner learning what to do and doing it consistently. Remote coaching handles manners, routines, puppy structure and many behavior questions well. In-person training is better when the dog is dangerous, when hands-on handling is needed, or when the owner cannot safely hold the dog.
What can I ask an online dog trainer?
Almost anything about training and behavior: jumping, pulling, barking, recall, crate routines, puppy biting, choosing a breed, introducing a second dog or preparing for a baby. Medical questions, such as a sudden change in behavior, appetite or energy, should go to your veterinarian first, since pain often shows up as a behavior problem.
Do I need special equipment for a Zoom session?
No. A phone, tablet or laptop with a camera and a steady connection is enough. A small stand or a stack of books helps you keep the camera low. Have your usual leash, collar or harness and some treats ready, since we may ask you to try something with your dog while we watch.
Can you train my dog for me online?
No, and no honest online trainer can. A virtual session coaches you, and you train your dog between sessions. The good news is that the skills you learn transfer to every problem that comes after, so each session makes you a better trainer for your own dog.
How often should I book a session?
There is no package or schedule to commit to. Many owners book once, practice for a few weeks, and book again when the dog has progressed or a new question appears. Others book a single session and never need another. Each session is $99 and booked on its own.
Virtual session, $99
Get a real trainer on the line.
Book a $99 one-on-one session by phone or Zoom from anywhere in the US and talk directly with our head trainer about your dog.