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Training your dog is an essential part of being a pet parent. But if the price and time commitment of hiring a personal dog trainer makes you want to lie down and roll over, don’t despair! A good dog training app can be a powerful alternative, helping you teach your pup preferred behaviors and even fun tricks.
There are more than a few app-based training options that can help you train your dog yourself, but sorting the unhelpful from the excellent can be tricky.
“I would look for apps that use positive reinforcement to teach behaviors, and that have organized, short videos that start from a totally untrained dog and progressively walk through the behaviors most people want to teach. Without that type of organization, an app won’t be useful for a new user,” recommended Lorrie Reynolds of Maximum Fun Dog Sports, a pro with 20 years of experience in trick training and judging.
Using reviews, our own testing, and expert recommendations, we’ve rounded up the best dog training apps for you and your four-legged friend.
Our picks
Best Free Basics: Pupford Dog Training App
Pupford Dog Training App
Pupford offers a variety of training courses, including a free 30-day class designed by YouTube’s most-subscribed dog trainer Zak George.
Description: Pupford offers several training courses on their app, including a free 30-day class led by dog expert Zak George. Geared more toward new pet parents looking to teach their pups basic manners, this online course features guided videos, an e-book, and daily tips.
For more advanced and tailored training, Pupford offers a paid subscription plan taught by various certified trainers, nutritionists, and veterinarians. This premium membership includes over 10 courses that cover more complex behaviors and training like reactivity, recall, and separation anxiety. The app also contains behavior tracking that allows you to monitor improvements and see what behaviors may need more work.
Training Method: The Pupford app emphasizes positive reinforcement, consistency, and repetition to see results.
Effectiveness: For pet parents looking for foundational training and guidance to address common behavioral challenges, Pupford offers a step-by-step approach that’s easy to follow.
Interface: Available on iOS and Android
Curriculum: In addition to training courses, the app features hundreds of articles related to diet and nutrition and wellness. You can search for specific topics or browse by category to find answers to your pet-related questions.
Bells and whistles: An AI-powered chat feature called Ask Doris offers answers to behavior and training challenges. There is also a private community where you can ask questions and get advice from fellow dog parents.
Price: Free courses cover basic obedience, while premium memberships offer more advanced training courses. Paid membership tiers include monthly, semi-annual, and lifetime access.
Review: Ideal for new dog parents, reviews of Pupford praise the app for how easy it is to follow along.
Best for Community: Dogo
Dogo
This dog training app includes a handy built-in clicker and access to a community of pet parents for added support.
Description: Dogo creates your training program when you sign up and take a quick survey. After the quiz, you’ll have access to text and video lessons covering everything from potty training to basic obedience. The app also lets you send videos of you and your pup in action to get feedback from professional dog trainers within 24 hours. In addition, you can track your dog’s size and weight and vaccine records, too, making it an all-in-one app.
Training Method: Dogo leans on positive reinforcement and rewards to keep dogs motivated during training sessions.
Effectiveness: Interactive features and direct feedback from trainers can help pet parents target skills or behaviors to work on.
Interface: Available on iOS and Android
Curriculum: Dogo’s training courses cover a wide range of topics from basic obedience to more advanced cues and trick training.
Bells and whistles: Added features include a built-in clicker for training and access to a community of other dog guardians to share your wins and support each other during the highs and lows of pup parenthood.
Price: Paid subscription required. Dogo offers weekly, monthly, or quarterly plans.
Review: Dogo users love the step-by-step approach of the app, as well as the video feedback from professional trainers. Reviewers also highlight the clean, simple-to-use interface.
Best User Interface: Woofz
Woofz
Woofz offers positive-reinforcement-based lessons with video tutorials and gamified rewards—plus the option to chat with trainers if you get stuck.
Description: Woofz is the Duolingo of dog training apps, complete with visually compelling lessons, reminders, and in-app rewards. Filling out a signup survey generates a personalized training map, complete with 10-15 minute lessons and step-by-step videos tailored to your dog’s age, breed, and goals.
Training Method: The Woofz app emphasizes positive reinforcement, bond-building, and understanding dog behavior as the keys to successful training.
Effectiveness: Woofz is a good choice for those who like bite-size lessons on their own schedule, plus an app that knows how to incentivize learning with games and mental health tips. Especially handy is the ability to chat the pros if you get stuck, available 24/7.
Interface: Available on iOS and Android
Curriculum: Since it’s personalized based on your entrance survey, the curriculum can adapt to your dog’s training needs, whether that’s learning foundational skills or navigating a more challenging behavioral problem.
Bells and whistles: A wellness tracker with health insights and alerts, routine and grooming tips, a 24/7 chat with dog experts, and the option for one-on-one video sessions with a dog trainer.
Price: Subscription plan is required.
Review: Reviewers especially like the app’s focus on building trust, plus the engaging interface and step-by-step approach to the basics.
Best for Trick Training: Puppr
Puppr Dog Training and Tricks App
Puppr offers advanced trick training and fun trick challenges by celebrity dog trainer Sara Carson.
Description: This easy-to-use dog training app features over 100 lessons by celebrity dog trainer Sara Carson, one of the top trick dog trainers in the world. With a premium subscription, you’ll get step-by-step video instructions on a wide range of topics, from simple cues to advanced tricks like teaching handstands.
Training Method: Puppr encourages pet parents to focus on rewards and positive reinforcement to support training.
Effectiveness: Step-by-step video instructions, live chat with trainers, and basic and more advanced skills make this app a good choice for both newbie and more experienced dogs.
Interface: Available on iOS and Android
Curriculum: You can find everything from basic manners and potty training to more advanced skills and tricks in the Puppr app.
Bells and whistles: Added features include a live chat feature with certified trainers, a built-in clicker, and photo challenges to show off your dog’s tricks with the rest of the Puppr community.
Price: Puppr offers a free version with access to basic cues and tricks, as well as a premium version with more in-depth training.
Review: Thanks to its comprehensive and easy-to-search library of lessons, Puppr users rate the app positively and praise its step-by-step video instructions.
Best for Recall Training: iTrainer Dog Whistle & Clicker
iTrainer Dog Whistle & Clicker
Click and whistle your way to training your dog a solid recall.
Description: Teaching your dog a solid recall is essential for off-leash time. This app features a high-frequency dog whistle that your dog can hear even at far distances. Other sounds to help with training include clicker variations and squeaky toy noises if your pup is more play-driven. There are over a hundred animal sounds you can use for socialization or to build in as a distraction during your training.
iTrainer includes manuals on how to use the whistle and the other sounds. It also features detailed guides on recall and basic obedience training.
Training Method: Without having to invest in a physical whistle or clicker, iTrainer allows you to utilize digital versions of these sounds while working on specific skills or tricks with your pet.
Effectiveness: As an audio-based app, iTrainer is ideal for more experienced pet parents who are looking to incorporate sounds into their existing training sessions. It may also help with sound desensitization.
Interface: Available on iOS
Curriculum: Unlike the other apps on this list, iTrainer doesn’t have a structured curriculum. Instead, it’s designed to aid pet parents who want to work on skills or cues that utilize a whistle or clicker sound.
Bells and whistles: The app includes reference guides for whistle, recall, and R+ training.
Price: Free, ad-supported.
Review: Reviewers praise the interactive home screen widget for easy access as well as the variety of sounds in the app’s library.
Best for Fitness: GoDog
Description: Featuring both customized training and video lessons by professional trainers, GoDog focuses on more than just teaching your dog to be well-behaved. Instead, it helps you incorporate more energy-releasing activities throughout the day so your pup is physically exercised and mentally stimulated.
Training Method: Positive reinforcement and rewards are coupled with detailed lessons and step-by-step video instructions.
Effectiveness: Suitable for pet parents wanting to teach basic training cues and common behavior challenges.
Interface: Available on iOS and Android
Curriculum: Includes a variety of courses on topics ranging from house manners (like how to teach your dog to stop barking or chewing) to fun games.
Bells and whistles: Unique features include a daily activity tracker, a health diary, and an augmented reality feature that lets you watch every lesson in detail.
Price: Free 3-day trial available, which includes two basic lessons, a built-in clicker and whistle, walking tracker, and five health reminders. Otherwise, a weekly or annual paid subscription is required.
Review: Reviewers have mentioned that their dogs have picked up the lessons quickly and appreciate how helpful the AR feature is since it allows them to see the training from different angles.
Comparing Dog Training Apps
| Best for: | Tracking progress | Puppies | Potty training | Clicker training | Troubleshooting behavior | High-energy dogs | Competition training | Free to use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Woofz | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||
| Pupford | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Dogo | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||
| Puppr | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| iTrainer | X | X | ||||||
| GoDog | X | X | X |
Should You Try Online Training Instead?
Although dog training apps are a convenient way to teach basic cues and positive behaviors to your new puppy or rescue dog, they may not be the best fit for pet parents who want more support or are troubleshooting specific behavioral challenges. That’s when online dog training might be a better option.
Like an app, online training programs often have courses that typically include a series of lessons. However, these courses tend to take a more structured and detailed approach and require more commitment to complete. They may also offer one-on-one feedback from a coach or a forum area to ask questions and get support.
Did you know? Professional dog trainers often offer online sessions along with in-person training. Reach out to a local dog trainer and ask about their virtual options.
Consider an online dog training course if:
- You prefer in-depth training
- Your dog has behavioral challenges that need more targeted instruction
- You want a structured class with established goals to follow
A dog training app might be the best option if:
- You prefer short, on-the-go training sessions
- You want to teach your dog basic cues and leash manners
- You want to set your own pace and training goals
Pet Parent Resources
Dog training is a lifelong journey—and it’s not always easy. But knowledgeable pet experts can lighten the load, especially if they’re nearby or just a video call away. Learn how dog training works on Rover, both online and in-person.
Need a helping hand (or sturdy leash arm) when you’re away? Explore Rover’s pet sitting services, ranging from dog walkers to boarding facilities.
