Bringing a dog home is not only about the joy and excitement of spending quality time with your new furry companion. Alongside proper nutrition, a place to rest, and adequate physical activity, your dog needs to be trained to follow simple obedience commands. This training provides numerous advantages for you and your dog and simplifies your communication.
Let’s examine the financial side of training methods to estimate their cost and determine what factors influence the average price. Knowing the cost of dog training will allow you to choose the optimal training plan for your budget.
Should I Train My Dog?
Some dog parents may misunderstand the idea of dog training and underestimate its importance. Training your dog new commands is not only about the fun tricks they can do, although you can teach dogs some pretty cool tricks! Here are some of the other reasons why dog training is so important beyond the fun tricks.
Instills Obedience
First, dog training is a way to control your dog’s behavior to avoid potentially dangerous situations. For example, mastering a reliable recall guarantees your dog returns to you on demand. This keeps them safe from running into busy roads or other life-threatening circumstances.
Strengthens Your Bond
In addition, learning dog commands is a powerful tool for strengthening your bond with the dog. It helps build more effective communication and provides your dog with much-needed mental stimulation. Finally, commands such as “Off!” or “Drop it!” can be life-saving in stopping a dog’s disruptive behaviors.
What Types of Dog Training Are There?
Since dogs benefit most from short, regular training sessions, many dog parents opt for in-home training and educate themselves on basic training procedures. There is plenty of information available online for free. You can choose from web pages of reputable dog trainers’ associations, online forums or YouTube tutorials.
However, many dog owners feel lost trying to find a reliable information resource or give up on the training when facing difficulties. Such cases require extra professional guidance to overcome the obstacles and achieve remarkable training results. Nowadays, dog owners can choose from a variety of training options.
Individual training sessions
Private one-to-one sessions are a great fit for dogs requiring individual attention. One-on-one professional dog trainer cost per hour is the highest. However, such sessions are beneficial for dogs displaying signs of anxiety, aggression towards people or other animals or other problematic behaviors. The training can take place in your home or a training center.
Group training sessions
Group classes imply you work with other dog owners and their dogs at one site. You typically train your dog in a group of 10 or fewer other dogs. Such classes often cover basic obedience commands and help reduce dog training costs.
Dog training apps
The growing digitalization of the modern world has also brought innovations in dog training technology. Platforms offers custom-tailored dog training plans, video tutorials, and progress monitors, which many dog owners find convenient. Though the apps may be insufficient for dealing with more complex behavior issues, many report positive results from training basic commands.
Average Cost of Dog Training
The cost of a professional dog trainer depends mainly on your training type. So, let’s break down the average price for one-on-one or group training sessions and a subscription plan for a dog training app. These numbers reflect the national average and can vary depending on your location.
How much does dog training cost for individual classes?
| Minimum | $30 (one session) |
| Maximum | $100 (one session) |
| Avarage | $65 (one session) |
How much does dog training cost for group classes?
| Minimum | $20 (one session) |
| Maximum | $80 (one session) |
| Avarage | $50 (one session) |
How much does dog training cost using dog training apps?
| Minimum | $40 (yearly subscription) |
| Maximum | $130 (yearly subscription) |
| Avarage | $65 (yearly subscription) |
Many dog training apps offer monthly payments or free trial periods to learn the platform’s key features and functions. However, in the long run, choosing a 6-month or 12-month plan is cheaper, especially if you intend to use the app for a prolonged period.
Factors Influencing Dog Training Prices
The cost of dog training varies depending on multiple factors. Below, you can see some of the most prominent ones.
- A trainer’s expertise: The more qualified and experienced the trainer is, the higher their service dog training cost is. It makes sense since the extended experience of dealing with behavioral challenges increases the likelihood of successful training outcomes.
- Your location: Living in a big megapolis comes with a higher cost of living. The cost of a dog trainer is not the exception. So, a busy New Yorker should expect to pay more than those living in the countryside.
- Training method: Private sessions are always more costly than group ones. Training several dogs at a time allows dog trainers to decrease the price. Dog training apps are the least expensive but may lack an individual approach or the benefits of physically observing the training process.
- Training issues: If your dog displays behavioral concerns, the training process may take longer than usual, influencing the total training cost.
Bottom Line
Training your dog is essential for learning how to control its behavior, keep it safe, and improve communication. Though dog trainer costs can be discouraging, remember that a well-trained dog is an investment in your family’s quality of life. Depending on your request and budget, you can choose from various training types to balance cost and efficiency.