Doggy Dan Review: A Thorough Look at Online Dog Training (2024)

Raising a well-behaved dog takes time, patience, and consistency. While group obedience classes can help, many dog owners find it difficult to reinforce training at home. Online dog training programs offer an affordable and convenient way to tackle common behavioral issues.

Doggy Dan’s Online Dog Trainer program is one of the most popular and highest-rated options. Doggy Dan, aka Daniel Abdelnoor, is a professional canine trainer and behaviorist from New Zealand with over 30 years of experience.

His comprehensive training system aims to help dog owners establish leadership, reinforce good manners, and correct unwanted behaviors using positive reinforcement techniques.

This in-depth Doggy Dan review covers how the program works, its main training concepts, pricing options, and what other dog owners are saying after trying Doggy Dan’s methods.

The Doggy Dan Online Dog Trainer program provides over 120 training videos that teach you how to handle common behavioral problems like barking, leash pulling, aggression, anxiety, jumping up, and more. The videos demonstrate Dan’s training system step-by-step, with lessons for both young puppies and adult dogs.

The training platform allows you to track your progress, take part in community discussions, and connect with professional dog trainers for advice. There are no scheduled classes or appointments. You can access the training videos 24/7 and work at your own pace from any mobile device or computer.

Doggy Dan’s approach focuses on establishing pack leadership, respect, and a strong bond between owner and dog. His positive reinforcement techniques include:

• Clear communication
• Consistent rules and routines
• Rewards-based training
• Corrections to reinforce boundaries
• Management and prevention strategies

The core training philosophy is that dogs thrive when there is a “calm-assertive” pack leader directing their behavior. Doggy Dan trains owners how to provide structure, guidance, and corrections clearly and compassionately. Physical punishment or aggression is never advocated.

There are three pricing options to access Doggy Dan’s training platform:

• Monthly membership: $1 for the first month, then $37/month thereafter
• 6 month membership: $67 total
• Lifetime membership: $97 total

The monthly plan allows you to test out the training at low cost and cancel anytime. You get access to all training videos, community forums, and support resources.

The one-time payment lifetime membership works out to be the best value, as you can access all current and future training materials indefinitely.

All plans come with a 60-day money-back guarantee. So you can get a full refund if not satisfied for any reason within the first two months.

Compared to private in-person dog training that costs $100 or more per session, Doggy Dan’s program can result in big savings. There are no recurring class fees either. For less than $100 you can access a comprehensive online training system for life.

Doggy Dan’s system focuses on respect, leadership, routine, and clear communication. Here are some of the core techniques owners learn:

Dogs have an innate pack mentality where they look to a leader for guidance. Dog owners learn to project calm-assertive energy so the dog sees them as the “pack leader.” This leadership role then makes the dog more receptive to direction and corrections.

Specific tips to establish leadership include:

• Entering/exiting doors and gates first
• Eating before a dog is fed
• Giving the “sit” command before meals and treats
• Ignoring attention-seeking behaviors
• Initiating affection vs. allowing a dog to nudge for petting

Showing leadership also involves providing mental stimulation and activity to fulfill the dog’s needs.

Dogs thrive on predictability. Having a consistent schedule and set of house rules helps dogs understand boundaries and expectations.

Dan teaches dog owners how to set up schedules for feeding, potty breaks, crate training, exercise, play time, commands, etc. Routines remove uncertainty and prevent problem behaviors from developing.

This training system relies primarily on rewards-based training to reinforce desired behaviors. Dan demonstrates how to use praise, treats, toys, and play as positive reinforcement when a dog follows commands or acts appropriately.

owners learn how to time rewards just as a dog is completing a behavior so it gets ingrained. For young puppies, positive reinforcement helps them more quickly learn basic manners and commands.

In addition to rewards, Dan shows how to use corrections effectively when a dog disobeys a command or breaks a rule. This helps reinforce the human as pack leader — highlighting that certain behaviors are unacceptable.

Corrections may include verbal reprimands, leash pulls/tugs, timeout rewards removal, or other non-punitive methods. The goal is to redirect the dog to the right behavior by corrections that are timely and clear. Physical punishment is never used or advocated.

Managing the dog’s environment is important to prevent problem behaviors like destructive chewing, potty training accidents, or hyperactivity indoors. Dan demonstrates how to dog-proof your home and use crates, tethers, gates, etc. to keep your dog out of trouble. Prevention helps reinforce training.

The focus is on setting dogs up for success so good habits develop naturally. Close supervision, confinement, exercise, enrichment activities, and removing temptations are all part of an effective management approach.

The Doggy Dan Online Dog Trainer program gives you access to a full dog training curriculum including:

120+ Training Videos

The core of the platform is over 120 videos that provide in-depth lessons on obedience, manners, aggression, leash walking, anxiety, barking, jumping up, chewing, digging, stealing food, bolting out doors, and much more.

Most videos are 10–20 minutes long. Dan demonstrates each technique step-by-step with a real dog so you can see how to apply the training.

Puppy Training Series

There is a dedicated puppy section with 12 videos covering critical topics like crate training, potty training, biting inhibition, socialization, handling, and basic obedience commands. Early positive experiences set puppies up for success as adult dogs.

Community Forum and Support

The training platform has an active user forum where over 100,000 members discuss progress, ask questions, and share advice about dog training challenges. There is also a search function to read previous discussions.

You can post questions and connect with professional dog trainers and behaviorists for guidance. For urgent issues, inside Doggy Dan members get priority support via email.

Training Manuals and Resources

The platform gives you access to downloadable training manuals, handouts, infographics, audio lessons, and other resources to reinforce the video trainings. So you can easily reference materials for guidance after watching a lesson.

New Content Updates

Dan and his team are continually producing new dog training content and updating the program. So current members get access to all new videos and lessons at no additional charge.

Q&A Calls

Dan hosts monthly live Q&A calls where members can get their top questions answered directly. This level of expert access and continued learning is rare for a one-time fee program.

Mobile Access

You can access the training platform from any mobile device or computer with internet access. Stream training videos and check the forums from anywhere.

Doggy Dan’s training system takes a balanced approach, focusing on leadership, positive reinforcement, smart corrections, and building a strong bond between owner and dog. Here are some key advantages to this style of online training:

Pros

• Comprehensive video lessons demonstrate techniques clearly
• Uses primarily positive reinforcement for long-term results
• Establishes the human as pack leader for a well-behaved “follower”
• Focuses on preventing problems before they start
• Easy to use on any device and works for all dog breeds
• More affordable than private in-person training
• Ongoing support from professional trainers
• New content added regularly to the platform

Potential Cons

• Correcting dogs may be difficult for some owners
• Requires time and consistency to see results
• May not work as well for extremely stubborn or willful breeds
• Not tailored for specific dog psychology/health issues
• Less personalized than one-on-one training

Doggy Dan is upfront that establishing leadership requires corrections along with positive reinforcement. For owners uneasy with corrections, the training may pose some challenges.

While results ultimately come down to the owner’s ability to properly apply techniques, most members find the video lessons build confidence in using Dan’s balanced correction and rewards-based system.

For a one-time fee starting under $100, Doggy Dan’s program can lead to significant savings compared to private, in-person dog training.

Some costs to compare:

• Average private training session: $100-$150/hour
• 6 week group class: $150-$300
• Board and train program: $500-$1000+ for 2–4 weeks

To address moderate problems like leash pulling or jumping up, you may need 4–6 private lessons at $400-$900 total cost.

For more significant issues like aggression or separation anxiety, costs quickly escalate to thousands for extended specialized training.

The Doggy Dan program grants you unlimited access to over 120 in-depth training videos plus community support for less than most owners spend on a couple private lessons.

You can re-watch videos and follow training guides as needed from the comfort of home. There’s no recurring class enrollment fees either. This ultimately translates into huge potential savings.

Doggy Dan currently has over 100,000 members with the vast majority leaving positive reviews of their experience. Here is what owners say they like best about the training:

Most owners mention the videos make Dan’s techniques simple to implement on their own:

“I was amazed how easy it was to follow Dan’s corrections and positive reinforcement shown in the videos. Seeing real dog examples makes such a difference vs. only written instructions.”

Owners are able to observe Dan’s body language, tone of voice, timing, and handling skills — which are all crucial to applying training techniques properly.

Numerous owners sing the praises of how Doggy Dan’s training targeted and resolved their dog’s unwanted behaviors:

“My Golden Retriever’s leash pulling was out of control. I was ready to give up walking him. But after just a week of consistent training, he’s now a perfect walker!”

“Our rescue dog had severe separation anxiety. Dan’s videos on routines, crate training, and addressing anxiety changed our lives. Our dog is now calm and relaxed when we leave!”

The wide variety of videos allow owners to pinpoint solutions to common challenges like aggression, barking, potty training, bolting, and more.

Many owners mention seeing at least some improvements in behavior within the first week or two of training:

“I was doubtful the videos would work for my high-energy Lab. But just a couple weeks in I noticed a significant difference in listening and reducing his hyper behavior.”

While time and consistency are still required, most owners find their dogs respond well to Dan’s techniques, allowing for fast progress. This keeps motivation high to continue training.

The low one-time cost of lifetime access is frequently mentioned as a selling point:

“I spent over $2000 on private lessons with low results. Doggy Dan is less than 1/10th the cost and 100x more effective for my dog.”

The ability to re-watch videos and re-inforce training anytime from home justifies the investment for most owners when compared to continually paying for in-person sessions.

Many members rave about the active user forums that provide motivation, advice, and accountability:

“When I hit a training plateau or struggle, I post in the community forums. The feedback from other users and trainers gives me new ideas and perspective.”

The community component helps owners troubleshoot issues and celebrate victories during the training journey.

With over 100,000 clients, there are some mixed reviews of Doggy Dan’s training system:

• About 80% of members give 5 star reviews
• 15% leave positive 3–4 star reviews
• 5% leave unsatisfied 1–2 star reviews

No training approach works perfectly for every owner and dog. Here are some common complaints:

• Results take time and consistency: Owners who expect fast results from just watching a couple of videos may be disappointed. Changing behavior takes weeks or months of daily reinforcement.
• Need to properly apply techniques: Some owners struggle to replicate Dan’s timing, firmness, and energy in the videos. Clear communication and leadership take practice.
• Doesn’t address physical limitations: Dan’s training requires regular vigorous exercise and solid handling skills. Owners with disabilities or aging dogs may have difficulty keeping up.
• Too much correction: Timid dogs and sensitive owners may find Dan’s corrections too harsh at times. More treats/praise vs. corrections may be required.
• Lack of personalized advice: While you can post questions, there is no tailoring of advice for a specific dog’s temperament and issues like private training.

As with any training program, individual results will vary based on the abilities of both dog and owner. For owners committed to staying consistent, most dogs show significant improvement using Doggy Dan’s techniques.

Doggy Dan’s Online Dog Trainer program is best suited for owners who:

• Want convenient access to professional training at home
• Prefer balanced training using praise and corrections
• Need to resolve common behavioral issues like barking, leash pulling, anxiety, aggression, jumping up, or lack of obedience
• Are committed to spending 15–60 mins daily reinforcing training
• Can provide sufficient physical and mental exercise for their dog’s needs
• Have a dog under 100 lbs (Dan’s methods work best for medium to large breeds)
• Want cost-effective lifetime access to 100+ training videos and community support

The training system may be less ideal for owners with very small dogs under 10 lbs, disabled/aging dogs with limited mobility, or breeds with inherently anxious temperaments like Chihuahuas.

Dan’s correction-based techniques also do not align well for certain owners. Those looking exclusively for all positive reinforcement or who are uneasy using any physical corrections should consider a different program.

Overall the Doggy Dan platform is best suited for novice to intermediate owners looking for lasting results resolving common behavior issues. The training equips you with a better understanding of the canine mind and balanced techniques to reinforce good manners.

The Doggy Dan Online Dog Trainer program provides a comprehensive video curriculum teaching you how to address common behavioral issues using Dan’s balanced training approach.

With over 100,000 members and mostly 5 star reviews, Doggy Dan has proven successful for the majority of owners who follow his techniques consistently. The training focuses on clear communication, establishing leadership, routine, corrections, and rewards-based reinforcement.

Considering the affordable cost for unlimited lifetime access, positive feedback from members, and Daniel Abdelnoor’s decades of experience — Doggy Dan earns a recommendation as a top-rated online dog training program. The video format allows you to conveniently learn and reinforce training at home to achieve obedience and manners.

While no program works perfectly for every dog, Doggy Dan’s training system tackles most common behavior problems through humane, non-punitive methods. The 60-day money-back guarantee also allows you to try it out risk-free.

To learn more and get started on better-behaved dogs, visit DoggyDan.com and join today!