If you’ve ever dreamed of becoming a certified dog trainer, starting a dog training business from home, or earning extra income doing something meaningful with dogs, the Dog Trainer Academy by Doggy Dan is one of the strongest, most beginner-friendly certification programs available.
👉 Click here to get all the details and watch Doggy Dan’s free training workshop
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Doggy Dan’s Dog Trainer Academy Review
In this review, I’ll walk you through everything included in the program, the cost, who it’s best for, the expected income potential, pros and cons, and my honest thoughts about whether it’s worth it. And at the end, I’ll tell you about one of the biggest differences between the Dog Trainer Academy and traditional dog training programs.
I’ve personally studied and promoted Doggy Dan’s dog training programs for more than 10 years because his methods are kind, gentle, easy to follow, and incredibly effective for real families. What you learn inside the Dog Trainer Academy is built on the exact same methods used successfully by Doggy Dan with more than 100,000 dogs worldwide.
What Is the Dog Trainer Academy?
The Dog Trainer Academy is Doggy Dan’s complete online dog trainer certification program that teaches you how to:
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Train dogs using the principles from his famous dog training method, The Dog Calming Code™
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Work with clients in real-world situations
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Build a profitable dog training business (even from home)
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Become a certified professional dog trainer — with no prior experience
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Unlike most certification programs that focus heavily on obedience commands (“sit,” “stay,” “heel”), Dan teaches a far more effective approach: leadership-based, trust-building training that works with the dog’s natural instincts.
This is especially valuable if you want to become a trainer who can confidently handle:
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Reactive dogs
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Anxious dogs
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Dogs who bark, bite, or lunge
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Dogs who “don’t listen”
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Puppies
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Multi-dog households
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Rescue dogs with trauma histories
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The Academy gives you the step-by-step guidance to work with every kind of client — not just the easy cases.
What’s Included in Doggy Dan’s Dog Trainer Academy?
Here’s what you get when you join the certification program:
1. Full Dog Trainer Certification Training
This includes dozens of hours of video lessons, demonstrations, case studies, and real client sessions. You learn exactly how to apply the Dog Calming Code™ to transform difficult behaviors quickly and without force.
Topics include:
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Dog psychology and behavior
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The Dog Calming Code™ (core foundation)
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Puppy behavior and early training
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Reactivity and aggression
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Separation anxiety
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Barking, jumping, pulling
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How to handle multi-dog issues
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How to structure client sessions
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The training is broken down into simple, follow-along modules you can complete at your own pace.
2. Real Case Studies With Actual Clients
This is one of the biggest advantages.
You get to “virtually shadow” Doggy Dan through real appointments with real families — so you can learn exactly what to say, what to observe, and how to troubleshoot behavior problems.
This is the part most certifications lack.
3. Business Training: How to Start a Dog Training Business
Dan teaches you how to:
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Build your brand as a dog trainer
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Attract your first paying clients
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Set your pricing
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Structure your training packages
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Run consultations
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Get referrals
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Run the business part confidently
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This section alone is worth the price of the program. Many certifications teach everything except how to get clients. This one teaches you how to actually make money as a dog trainer.
4. Marketing Templates, Scripts, and Checklists
You get downloadable templates for:
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Client intake forms
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Session outlines
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Marketing scripts
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Business setup worksheets
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Pricing guides
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These save you months of trial and error. And don’t let the “marketing” and “business” side of things turn you off or intimidate you. It’s not hard – you’ll be taught, step-by-step.
5. Certification Exam
After completing the program, you’ll take the certification test. Once passed, you’re a Certified Dog Trainer through The Dog Trainer Academy.
6. Ongoing Support & Community
You’re not on your own after certification. You get access to:
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Community of trainers
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Q&A opportunities
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Continuing support
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Updated training material
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This is invaluable — especially if you want to grow your business.
Why Doggy Dan’s Approach Is Different
One of the biggest differences between the Dog Trainer Academy and traditional dog training programs is its focus on owner education and dog communication rather than memorizing obedience commands.
Doggy Dan’s method teaches you how to think like a dog thinks, how to understand a dog’s natural instincts, and how to show owners the simple communication patterns that dogs naturally respond to.
Instead of drilling commands or relying on treats and corrections, you learn how to help owners build calm leadership, structure, and clear signals that make sense to the dog. This results in faster, more reliable behavior changes because the training works with the dog’s natural psychology, not against it.
Most certification programs teach you how to train a dog; this program teaches you how to help people truly understand their dogs — which is what creates lasting results in real homes.
You can even set yourself apart from other local dog trainers by making it clear you specialize in “Owner Education and Dog Communication.”
How Much Does The Dog Training Academy Cost?
The Dog Trainer Academy normally sells for $1,997 (or two monthly payments of $999 each) which is the official full retail price listed on the program’s pricing page. However, Doggy Dan frequently offers limited-time promotional pricing through his free workshop or special affiliate offers, and these discounts can vary. The best way to see the current offer is to watch the free workshop.
We’ve already discussed in detail exactly what the course includes. Compared to in-person trainer schools costing $3,000–$7,000, this is one of the most affordable, high-quality certification programs available.
How Much Can I Make as a Dog Trainer?
One of the biggest questions people ask is, “How much do dog trainers really make?” Here’s the realistic income breakdown:
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Private dog trainers typically charge $75–$150 per hour
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Most trainers earn $300–$600 per client
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Full-time trainers can earn $40,000–$85,000 per year
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Part-time trainers often earn $1,000–$2,500 per month
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Because Dan teaches real-world, problem-solving behavior training, graduates of his academy often charge more than obedience-only trainers. The course states students can potentially start earning $2,000–$5,000 per month in as little as 30–60 days, without working 40 hours per week and without quitting your full-time job.
This program is ideal if you want to:
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Work part-time
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Work from home
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Choose your hours
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Earn extra income
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Or replace your current job
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This career is flexible and scalable. Actual income varies depending on your area, experience level, and how much time you dedicate to your business, but it offers a realistic starting point for what many trainers want to achieve.
For more information about how much dog trainers get paid, read my post, How Much Does Dog Training Cost?
Who Is the Dog Trainer Academy Best For?
This certification program is ideal for:
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People who love dogs
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Beginners with zero experience
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Anyone wanting a new career with animals
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Retirees wanting meaningful part-time work
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Side hustlers
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Stay-at-home workers
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People who want a flexible schedule
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Anyone passionate about helping families and dogs
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If you’ve ever thought, “I wish I could work with dogs for a living,” this program is perfect.
Who Is It NOT For?
In my opinion, this program is not ideal for:
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People wanting police/military dog training/service dog training
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People who prefer in-person schools
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People who want purely obedience-focused training
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Anyone unable to commit a few hours per week
- And, as Doggy Dan mentions in his video presentation of the course, anyone who doesn’t like people! You don’t have to be a social butterfly, but you will be working with dogs and their owners. So if you’d hate that, this career probably isn’t for you!
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Dog Trainer Academy Pros & Cons
Pros:
Some of the things I like best about this program are:
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Gentle, kind methods you’ll feel proud to teach
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Based on The Dog Calming Code™ used by 100,000+ dogs
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Business training included
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Real case studies (rare in certification programs)
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Affordable compared to other schools
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Go at your own pace
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Lifetime access
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Strong brand name (Doggy Dan is globally known)
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Cons
Some of the things you may not like:
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No “in person” option. The program is primarily online, so you’ll need to be comfortable learning through videos, demonstrations, and online materials (though bi-weekly coaching calls on Zoom and a private Facebook community are included for support).
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Requires self-motivation. The curriculum is self-paced, which is great for flexibility but requires personal motivation to progress and complete the training. You’ll need to complete real-world practice on your own locally, since the program does not arrange in-person client sessions for you.
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My Personal Thoughts
Over the years, I’ve spent a great deal of time studying Doggy Dan’s training philosophy, learning from his programs, and sharing his methods with my audience. I’ve always appreciated how his approach focuses on understanding the dog first, building calm leadership, and avoiding intimidation, force, or complicated drills. It’s training that real families can use and dogs can genuinely thrive under.
In my experience, his methods stand out because they’re easier for owners to follow, they produce fast results, they build trust instead of fear, and they address the root of behavior problems rather than just adding more obedience commands. That’s why I’ve continued to recommend his work for so many years.
Seeing that same foundation applied to a complete dog trainer certification program feels like a natural and much-needed extension of what already works so well. For anyone who wants a career helping dogs and families, or for those looking for meaningful, flexible income doing something they love, this program offers a strong, well-rounded path forward.
For more information about Doggy Dan, his career, and his credentials, read my post, Who is Doggy Dan?
Final Recommendation
If your goal is to become a certified dog trainer, grow a dog training business, or earn money helping families transform their dogs, the Dog Trainer Academy is absolutely worth it.
It’s affordable, beginner-friendly, effective, and built on a proven system that has already changed the lives of thousands of dogs.
You don’t need to be a “dog whisperer.” You don’t need special talents, years of experience, or a background working in shelters to get started as a dog trainer.
The Dog Trainer Academy gives you a complete, step-by-step system that shows you how to become a confident trainer and start earning real income sooner than you might think.
👉 Check out the Dog Trainer Academy here
What You’ll See on the Dog Trainer Academy Website
When you visit the Dog Trainer Academy website, you’ll be able to watch Doggy Dan’s free introductory workshop, where he explains exactly what the program is, how it works, and what makes his approach different after decades of working as a professional dog trainer.
He walks you through the philosophy behind his training methods, the structure of the Academy, and the real-world results you can expect when you work with clients. You’ll also find a detailed FAQ section and reviews from real students who have completed the program, which gives you a clear, honest look at what the training is like from the inside.
More Reviews and Information
You can also read independent student reviews on Trustpilot to get a sense of what real graduates are saying about their experience.
The dog training industry in the United States is unregulated, which means there is no government licensing requirement for dog trainers. Independent organizations such as the Certification Counsel for Professional Dog Trainers provide optional certifications for trainers who want to pursue additional credentials. You can learn more about industry-wide certification options here.
