Free dog training apps are convenient, budget-friendly, and address behavioral issues and training. They can even help you teach your dog tricks. However, with so many apps available, it can be challenging to determine which ones use only positive reinforcement to train dogs. Be careful out there! Sadly, many dog trainers still use negative reinforcement and balanced training, both of which we do not recommend.
We sorted through free dog training apps to find the ones that should help maximize your training success. Note: Some may offer a paid version, but the free version listed doesnโt require a credit card. We also looked at online dog training through YouTube-based and other alternative sources of free high-quality content.
Popular Free Dog Training Apps
While many apps offer both free and paid content, the free versions can still provide substantial value. Popular dog training apps that offer useful free resources include:
Pupford, created by dog trainer Zak George, offers a free 30-day online video course covering dog training topics using positive reinforcement. Access to the initial 30-day course requires only simple email registration (providing your first name, dog’s name, and size). It includes lessons on basic obedience, house training, walking on a leash, and socialization. It also allows you to track your dog’s progress and offers a support community. While the company offers a premium โPupford Academyโ with more in-depth courses, the initial 30-day course is free with useful content.
Puppr features more than 80 lessons taught by dog trainer Sara Carson. While there is a premium subscription option that unlocks live chat with trainers and all lesson packs, Puppr includes a significant number of free lessons covering basic obedience and some tricks. You can get started with training without immediately committing to a paid subscription.
Doggy Time offers features for logging training progress, setting reminders, and creating schedules. The free version lets you track daily habits, health, and training activities. A premium subscription unlocks features like adding more users and creating custom activities, but the free version provides basic training tracking and management if your needs or budgets.
EveryDoggy Training App is available as a free app, but we found the amount of truly free content is somewhat limited. It offers free training information, introductory lessons, and access to the built-in clicker and whistle features but, access to the full range of games, courses, and tricks requires a premium subscription.
Why a Dog Training App
Apps offer the convenience of training your dog anytime and anywhere, eliminating the constraints of schedules or in-person classes. Also, free apps provide an option for dog owners who are on a budget. Furthermore, dog training apps expose you to a wide array of training programs, techniques, and tips for your dog’s breed, age, and temperament
Most apps offer step-by-step instructions, videos, and illustrations designed to simplify the learning process and make it easier to effectively implement training methods. Finally, certain apps offer features to track your dog’s progress, set training goals, and monitor improvements over time, which can be a great way to stay motivated and maintain consistency in your training efforts.
Looking for a Clicker App?
The apps list above focus on lessons. However, a free โclicker appโ offers a fundamental tool for positive reinforcement training if you donโt have an actual clicker. These arenโt training apps because they typically offer only the clicker sound, but they serve as a consistent marker to tell your dog exactly when they’ve performed a desired behavior.
Other Free Dog-Training Resources
In addition to free apps, several other free resources can help meet your dog training efforts
The ASPCA, for example, offers free articles on a variety of common dog training topics including barking, food guarding, and aggression.
The Dunbar Academy, is a dog training platform founded by Dr. Ian Dunbar, a veterinarian, animal behaviorist, and dog trainer. Dunbar Academy offers extensive collection of free content including a puppy training course, ebooks by Dr. Dunbar courses on resolving behavior problems, and other downloadable worksheets, quick tips, and videos.
Good YouTube Channels
Many dog trainers and behaviorists have YouTube channels with free training videos and tutorials. Some well-known trainers who have taken to YouTube and are worth watching:
Zak George’s Dog Training Revolution features a large library of free videos on his channel. While his channel also promotes the free 30-day puppy training course through the Pupford app, the core YouTube content remains accessible without any subscription. He covers a wide array of topics, from basic puppy training and obedience to behavioral issues. The channel offers free 30-day puppy training courses through the Pupford app, but the core YouTube content remains accessible without any subscription.
Emily Larlhamโs Dog Training by Kikopup channel offers hundreds videos on positive-reinforcement techniques covering many behavioral challenges. In addition to her YouTube channel, which is a source of free video tutorials, she also offers free resources directly on her Dogmantics Dog Training website, where she offers articles and guides on various dog training topics, behavioral issues (like resource guarding or barking), puppy training tips, and more. While YouTube is her primary platform for video content, her Dogmantics website provides additional free written materials and sometimes previews her paid offerings.
Other options for Advice and Content
While the resources above should serve as a guide to get started, also check out what your parks and recreation department may offer. ย Also, you may find dog clubs in your area where experienced trainers teach classes to members and nonmembers at a reasonable cost.
By combining the guidance of a free dog training app with other free resources and a consistent effort, you can effectively train your dog and build a strong, positive relationship.
Zak George is a nightmare to the dog community who has no common sense and no idea how to read a dog’s behavioral clues. Please do not promote that guy to new or seasoned dog owners. He is a liability waiting to happen and all he cares about is the amount of $$$ he brings in his content, apps, youtube and merchandise sales. Oh let’s not forget his obsession with trying to take down other successful trust worthy trainers that have proven time after time that his training is sub-par at best.