Training a dog is a difficult task. Not only does it take time and patience, but it can also be expensive, especially if you must travel a long distance to work with a specific dog trainer.
Add to that a global pandemic that makes interacting with strangers less than ideal and the idea of training your dog may seem like a pie in the sky. Rest assured, though, it is not. Online dog training courses are a great alternative to in-person training because they allow you to train your dog effectively while still socially distancing.
But Do They Work?
The big question when it comes to online dog training courses is, do they work? Not only that, but how do they work? In a way, it is easy to understand why people might be skeptical of online dog training courses. After all, when people think of dog training courses, they probably think about the instructor. Without an instructor there with you and your dog, how is the training supposed to work?
Like any online course, online dog training courses are largely dependent on the work that you are willing to put in. That is not to say that the instructor is not important, but rather that it is up to you to use the material they provide effectively. If you put in the work and study the material well, you should have positive results in the end.
How Do They Work?
If you have ever completed an online course, then you should be familiar with how online dog training courses will work, too. Basically, they are a mix of text and videos that demonstrate the fundamentals of dog training.
What is great, too, is that many online dog training courses allow for three levels of participation within the course: Auditing, participating in the online course’s forum, and what is known as a “working spot.” Of these, working spots are the most engaged form of training, and may have the best overall results, depending on your commitment to the course.
What is Working Spot?
When it comes to online dog training courses, a working spot is the most engaging and effective form of training. Like other training courses, working spots involve both traditional video and text-based instruction. However, what makes them most engaging is that they also require you to send in videos of yourself working with your dog so that your instructor can assess your overall progress. With working spots, you can let go of any worries about online dog training courses not having the same level of instructor engagement as in-person ones. In fact, there may even be some benefits to working spots and online training. For example, by making videos of you and your dog working together, you will become increasingly proficient not only at training your dog but also at understanding what you are doing and why it is important. This will help you to retain the lessons you learn so you can use them for the rest of your life whenever you need to train a dog.
