Training a dog can feel like a monumental task. But, like most challenges in the era of smartphones, there’s an app that promises to help. Whether you’re a first-time dog owner or looking to refine your pup’s skills, the best dog training apps can make the process more manageable and fit into your busy schedule.
The convenience and cost-effectiveness of dog training apps are hard to ignore. As a pet-focused reporter and product tester, I was eager to find out which ones are worth your time and money. Together with my 1.5-year-old miniature pinscher mix, Olive, I tested six apps over a period of five weeks. I also consulted two professional dog trainers and a board-certified veterinary behaviorist to inform my testing and final picks.
Many lessons (and even more treats) later, Dogo emerged as the leader of the dog training pack. It’s well-organized with training videos and instructions that are clear and easy to follow, and it offers access to a live trainer for support and feedback on your dog’s performance. Olive and I also had positive experiences with Pupford, ZigZag, and Puppr.
Just keep in mind that while dog training apps have their place. Dr. Christine Calder, a veterinary behaviorist, says that dog owners should consult their veterinarian for any abnormal behaviors, including aggression, anxiety, noise sensitivity, house soiling, and compulsive behaviors. These are often the first signs of an underlying medical condition. Although training can be part of the treatment plan, Calder says these pets will likely need additional support.
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Our top picks for the best dog training apps
Best overall: Dogo – Available on iOs and Android
Best for puppies: Zigzag – Available on iOS and Android
Best for first-time dog owners: Pupford – Available on iOS and Android
Best for advanced training: Puppr – Available on iOS and Android
Best overall
Dogo Puppy and Dog Training
This comprehensive app offers easy-to-follow video instructions, access to live trainers, and the ability to track your dog’s progress.
Dogo is an impressive dog training app with wide appeal. It covers all the bases, from potty and crate training, basic cues, and loose leash walking to more advanced tricks like “sit pretty” and “peekaboo.” During sign-up, you’ll answer questions that help the app suggest training modules based on your goals and your dog’s needs.
Lessons vary in format. You’ll alternate between quizzes, verbal explanations, short demonstration videos, illustrations, and brief text instructions. I focused on a module called “Perfect Recall” because Olive’s recall is … well, imperfect. The layout made the module easy to follow: A looped video visually demonstrated the exercise. This was followed by simple numbered steps.
Dogo/Business Insider
Of all the apps I tried, Dogo is the only one that offers trainer feedback — a nice feature for troubleshooting or for guardians who’d just like reassurance that they’re on the right track. After practicing an “eye contact” exercise, I submitted a video and received an encouraging response from a trainer who pointed me toward additional resources in the app.
However, Dogo isn’t perfect. The interface, while organized, can feel overwhelming due to the amount of available content. I also experienced occasional glitches, such as videos failing to load again after my first viewing. A representative from Dogo said it is working on this issue and recommended I clear my cache, which fixed the problem. Nevertheless, Dogo’s practical layout and extensive resources, including chat support, trackers, and reminders, could make it a valuable tool in your dog training arsenal.
Best for puppies
Zigzag Dog and Puppy Training
This highly personalized app focuses on all things puppy, from developmental milestones to strategies for a successful transition.
Training a puppy is less daunting when you know what to expect. Zigzag builds confidence in new puppy guardians by laying out everything you need to know about raising a young pup or adolescent. There’s even a pre-pup module that explains key puppy milestones and how to prepare for their arrival.
This app is well-conceived and user-friendly. Each module follows a linear path with a clear progression — a boon for busy puppy guardians suffering from information overload or those struggling to stay organized. I also appreciate that Zigzag allows multiple users since successful puppy training requires all hands on deck.
Olive and I used this app to work on “leave it,” and I really liked the pared-down lesson format. Short video demonstrations are followed by concise, numbered steps. I also appreciated how the app integrated Olive’s name and breed throughout the lessons. It felt like I was working alongside a friendly trainer who actually knew us.
Liz Coleman/Business Insider
Of all the apps I tested, Zigzag was the most transparent with its trainer’s credentials. Each trainer has a fairly extensive background in dog training, and certified experts write all the informational text. Trainer support is also impressive: I posed a question about helping Olive respond to verbal cues and received a well-thought-out answer within 10 minutes.
Early lessons require a lot of reading and not much action. Some users will find this helpful, especially those raising a puppy for the first time. However, others might consider the text-based lessons too wordy. There’s also no option for multiple dog profiles.
Best for first-time dog owners
Pupford Puppy and Dog Training
With detailed videos and a comprehensive library of articles, Pupford provides a sound launching point for folks new to dog training.
If you’ve never lived with a dog before, Pupford is a solid resource. Lessons really dig into the “why” behind dog behaviors, like barking and reactivity. This level of detail might be excessive for someone just looking for a refresher on training, but for a newbie, it’s valuable information. Plus, there’s something to be said for creator Zak George’s positive enthusiasm. He’s like an experienced friend who will hold your hand through the training process and cheer you on the whole time.
The lessons on Pupford are developed by certified professional trainers and feature videos with clear, step-by-step instructions. I found some videos to be too long, however. For the sake of simplicity, these could benefit from being chunked into shorter segments. While working on “leave it,” for example, I had to keep replaying parts to make sure we were doing the exercise correctly.
Pupford/Business Insider
You’ll find a lot of articles on topics that first-timers might find particularly useful, such as nutrition, grooming, and health. Personally, I was excited to see a section on enrichment, as I’m always on the lookout for simple DIY activities to keep Olive engaged.
One area where Pupford is lacking is personalization. The app doesn’t ask for many details during signup, and all users get the same roster of lessons, though you can pick and choose which ones you want to focus on. Also, the AI support isn’t the most helpful. I asked for advice on how to encourage Olive to roll over completely (silly girl only rolls halfway). But the answer I got was just a set of instructions for teaching “roll over” and didn’t really address my specific question.
Best for advanced training
If you’ve already mastered the basics, Puppr can help you take it up a notch. Developed by celebrity dog trainer Sara Carson, this app includes a lot of performance tricks, plus lessons on agility, dock diving, and Frisbee tricks.
Hands down, Puppr had my favorite lesson format. Every step is demonstrated with a looped video, so there’s no confusion about where to place your hands or when to reward your dog. This visual approach helped Olive (mostly) master place training, and it’s ideal for working on more challenging skills. After all, handlers at this level are already familiar with the basics of training. They don’t need extensive background information — just streamlined steps that focus on precision and timing. Another bonus: If you’re working with multiple dogs at different levels, you can create a separate profile for each dog.
Liz Coleman/Business Insider
While Puppr excels in presenting exercises in an easy-to-digest manner, it lacks a clearly structured progression that some users might prefer. Although if you’re using the app mostly for advanced trick training, this shouldn’t be a major issue. Additionally, the live chat response time could be improved; I waited nearly 19 hours for a response to my question, though it was helpful.
What to look for in a dog training app
While the best dog training apps can’t replace an in-person trainer, they provide valuable guidance and support — that is, if you choose the right one. We asked two trainers and a board-certified veterinary behaviorist to identify the features that make an app genuinely effective and worthwhile. Here are some key features to help you narrow your search.
Positive reinforcement training: Prioritize apps that use positive, rewards-based methods. Calder says this approach is more humane and effective than “balanced” or aversive tactics, which can break down the human-animal bond. “Balanced and traditional training has a plethora of potential side effects, from frustration to fear, which can both lead to aggressive behaviors,” she says. Additionally, Calder says these methods require dogs to “figure things out” on their own, rather than teaching them more appropriate behaviors. It’s particularly risky to use punishment or dominance-based methods without professional oversight to ensure the dog’s welfare.
Trainer credentials: In the US, the dog training field is largely unregulated, meaning anyone can call themselves a trainer. “When comparing apps, pet parents should look for trainer credentials such as CPDT-KA, CBCC-KA, CDBC, KPA-CTC, Fear Free Certification, or other industry-recognized programs that require education, testing, and adherence to ethical standards,” says Erin Askeland, certified dog trainer and behavior consultant (CPDT-KA, CBCC-KA) at Camp Bow Wow​​.
Format: The way an app presents instructions will influence your ability to learn an exercise. Vivienne Moore, a certified canine behaviorist, trainer (ACB-KSA, PCT-A), and owner of Walkies Dog Behaviour and Training, says that short, clear videos tend to be the most effective because they make it easier to understand the timing and mechanics of an exercise. She adds that pairing videos with concise written steps and illustrations supports different learning styles and helps owners revisit key points quickly.
Organized training path: Askeland says the best dog training apps have structured training plans. This is especially pertinent if you’re new to dog training or you’re working with a puppy. A clearly laid out path that methodically progresses through skills will help keep you on track.
Access to deeper learning: The better you understand your dog, the better you can meet their needs. Many training apps offer libraries with articles to broaden your knowledge of canine behavior. These can help inform your training approach and deepen your bond with your pup.
How we tested the best dog training apps
Liz Coleman/Business Insider
To find the best dog training apps, I tested six popular options with my 1.5-year-old mini pin mix, Olive, for five weeks. Olive is potty trained, leash trained, and has some basic foundational skills under her belt, like “sit” and “down.” I wanted to take her skills to the next level and introduce some useful cues she has yet to master, like “stay,” “come,” and “leave it.” With these objectives in mind, I assessed each app using the following parameters.
User-friendly interface: The best dog training apps offer a positive experience from the moment you download them. I observed each app’s onboarding process, giving higher marks to those that successfully balanced simplicity with personalization. An intuitive layout that’s easy to navigate is critical for helping users stick to a routine. Well-organized apps that were uncluttered and made it easy to find lessons and features received higher scores.
Personalization and customization: Training levels will differ from dog to dog, so I awarded more points to apps that personalized training plans based on details gathered during sign-up. I noted the number and thoroughness of questions asked during onboarding, giving higher scores to apps that based lesson plans on a user’s answers. I also awarded points to apps that let users customize their training journey, whether that meant the ability to skip ahead or select specific modules to work on.
Credentialed experts: Trust is essential in dog training, as misguided advice can lead to frustrating experiences or even risky situations. I prioritized apps that work with certified trainers to develop their content. I was also looking for transparency here—apps that clearly outlined their trainer’s credentials scored higher, while those that weren’t forthcoming with this information scored lower.
Quality and format of training content: To be effective, training instructions must be clear and simple, yet detailed enough to avoid confusion. I found apps that paired short videos alongside concise written steps were the most effective.
Trainer access: The best dog training apps provide a way for dog owners to ask questions and get professional advice. Apps that offered trainer access, whether through chat or live video, received the highest marks. To test the usefulness of this feature, I sent a training-related question via chat to each app that offered it. Then, I measured how long it took to receive a response, as well as the clarity, detail, and helpfulness of the reply.
Performance feedback: More points went to apps that offered input from real trainers (only Dogo offered this, as it turns out). I also tested the usefulness of this function by sending a recorded video of my dog practicing an exercise. I noted the trainer’s response time, as well as the message’s personalization, clarity, and helpfulness.
Progress tracking: Staying consistent is often the biggest challenge in dog training. A good app will account for this with gamification elements, like badges and milestones, that motivate users to stay on track. Higher rankings were given to apps that made training “fun” and provided tools for tracking a dog’s progress.
Cost: I compared pricing structures across apps, noting which features were included with each. I also favored apps that offered a free trial period, a practical bonus for dog owners who want to explore an app before committing financially.
Multi-dog and multi-user functionality: Households training multiple dogs at different levels need an app that supports multiple dog profiles. Higher marks went to apps that work for more than one dog and can be shared among household members.
Extra perks: While not essential, bonuses like health reminders, activity trackers, clickers, and informative articles can add value to a training app. I explored any extra features, assessing their usefulness and relevance to daily pet care.
Dog training app FAQs
Do dog training apps actually work?
Yes, they can be a useful tool, but you should have realistic expectations. Apps are not a magical wand or a quick fix. You’ll still need to commit time and effort to practicing skills.
Is it better to use an app or hire a professional trainer?
It depends on your end goals. “Apps are most effective for foundational skills, enrichment, and simple training—not complex cases that require tailored assessment,” says Moore. If you’re trying to resolve issues like reactivity, aggression, anxiety, resource guarding, or any behavior involving fear, Moore says you should have your dog assessed by an in-person trainer or a live-online qualified professional. Be sure to loop in your vet, too. Calder says they can check for underlying medical conditions or refer you to a board-certified veterinary behaviorist for more complex issues.
How do I choose the right training app for my dog?
First, consider your budget and goals, as training apps vary in price and focus. Consider, too, your familiarity with dog training: Are you comfortable flying solo, or would you prefer access to trainer support? Apps that offer a free trial can help you decide if they’re a good fit.
Are there any drawbacks to using a dog training app?
Apps have their limits. “An app cannot evaluate a dog’s emotional state or notice subtle stress signals, nor can it tell you how to adapt a lesson on the fly when a dog struggles,” Askeland says. She adds that many challenges with dog behavior are nuanced and require observation and real-time adjustment. This is something an app just can’t provide. “Even for building basic skills, having a professional’s eyes on the dog often speeds up progress and prevents frustration,” Askeland says.
