How Much Does Dog Training Cost in 2024?

It seems that as the years pass, nearly everything has increased in price. This includes all of the expenses involving your furry friends. So, if you have a new member of the family, you’re probably curious about how much it will run you to train them. There are a lot of factors that go into the dog training cost, and we’ll be going through all of them today.

Whether you have a playful puppy that gets into things that it shouldn’t or an old dog who desperately needs to learn some new tricks, chances are training will be a hurdle that is necessary to cross. Some people have a misconception that their dog is naturally misbehaved, but in reality, that isn’t the case. It may take time and more than a little money, but you’ll come to find the result of thorough training is well worth the emotional and financial cost.

The Benefits of Dog Training

Now that we’ve talked up dog training quite a bit, let’s get more into the specific benefits that it can have on both you and your canine friend.

Behavioral Benefits

The first and probably most obvious benefit of dog training is the obedience aspect. It’s nice when you can tell your dog to drop something or come to you, and then they actually respond. It can help to establish the power dynamic and make you feel more in control of their behavior.

But, training can actually do a lot more for their behavior than correct it. More often than not, dogs love training. They want to be mentally stimulated and faced with challenges so they don’t get bored. This is especially true of more intelligent dog breeds, who will often begin to cause a ruckus if they don’t feel they’ve been given the stimulation they need.

Safety Benefits

Another undisputed benefit of having a trained dog is safety. The safety of your dog itself, the safety of your home, and potentially even the safety of strangers if your dog is receiving training related to aggression. Dogs often want to put themselves into scenarios that stem from curiosity, such as interacting with wild animals. When they get too far away from you or too close to danger, it’s important they come when called.

A trained dog is safer for your home because, well, it lowers the chances of your dog wreaking havoc on your property. No more tearing up the couch cushions or peeing on the floor because now your dog has a more thorough grasp on respect.

The final benefit is that it builds your relationship. Especially if you’re an owner who is very involved with your dog’s training, this is bonding time that can really help you become more connected and understanding of one another.

Dog Training Cost

Now, without further adieu, a breakdown of the dog training cost. This data is compiled from a variety of places and types of training, so there is no way to exactly approximate the cost in your specific area. However, we can determine a ballpark cost by examining the prices of several different institutions.

Group training is one of the most popular ways of training dogs because it is straightforward and gives your dog the opportunity to socialize along with learning. Particularly for puppies, it’s important that they are exposed to large groups of people (who treat them with kindness and respect) from a young age. This fosters feelings of confidence and desire for connection, which are traits that are great for dogs to have.

Your dog will need multiple classes, and many places will offer package deals of around 5-8 classes. The prices of these classes range from as low as $20 per class to as high as $50 per class. There are exceptions, of course, but this is the general range for your basic group obedience training.

Is Private Dog Training More Expensive?

If you think that your dog needs more catered, specialized training, the cost of private classes is going to be substantially higher. Sometimes private training is necessary, especially if your dog is older, has been through abuse, or has a general aversion to other dogs. Private training is also best for those who would like to conduct training within the home instead of out at another location.

For private training lessons, the price can range from $40 to nearly $250 per session. Again, this is a broad statement that is not all-encompassing. If you are meeting with a world-class trainer, for instance, it will obviously be far more expensive than a run-of-the-mill obedience trainer. Some trainers also charge travel fees, so take that into consideration as well.

What About Service Dog Training?

Though we have an article detailing the cost of service dog training, the general price range should definitely be noted here. This depends on a few factors, like the reason for training and the kind of training necessary. If you want a therapy dog, training may be around $200-$300 total. For something more intensive, like a guide or hearing dog, the costs can be in the thousands. That being said, these dogs are typically gifted by nonprofits or have otherwise waived fees.

How Long Does Dog Training Take?

Every dog is different. This is part of the reason why they are such personable creatures, but also a factor that makes it difficult to judge how quickly your dog can adapt to training. For the basics, it can be anywhere from four weeks to nine weeks. This depends on the frequency of the lessons, as well as how long they are in duration. There are also a few other things that can factor into how long training takes.

Training Length Determinants

Age: They say that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. This is not the case, but it does have a bit of truth to it. Puppies are just much more receptive to training because, more often than not, they don’t have a pre-established way of doing things. This can factor into the cost of training, too, as some trainers will charge less for puppies than adult dogs.

Dog Breed: There are a lot of reasons why breed comes into play regarding trainability. Intelligence is a factor, but that isn’t the only determinant. Some breeds are larger and have more stamina, for instance, which means their lessons can go on for longer. If your dog is a breed that needs short lessons and lots of rest in between, it will probably need higher volumes of lessons in the long run.

Type of Training: Much like how the cost of training varies from type to type, as does the time requirements. If your dog is learning basic obedience, it will surely take a shorter amount of time than more advanced training. For dogs that need to learn to control aggression or become therapy dogs, you can expect that quite a few months of time will be necessary.

Dog Training on a Budget

Dog training cost in is higher than it has ever been. You might not have the budget for personalized, professional dog training. Luckily, there are plenty of ways that you can make sure that your dog is learning exactly what they need without breaking the bank. Here are some of the best ways:

Learn How To Train Yourself: You don’t need a fancy certificate to understand the principles of dog training. All you really need is quality experience. To get this experience, consider volunteering at a shelter and seeing firsthand how dog training is performed. Some shelters even offer classes and workshops to help individuals learn how to train their dogs!

Take An Online Course: Due to the 2020 Coronavirus Pandemic, many trainers needed to become more resourceful. One of the ways they accomplished this was by creating many online dog training courses. There are videos that are completely free, while others require a small fee. Still, that fee is often a fraction of the price of an in-person trainer.

Talk To Your Friends: Have a lot of friends with pets? Fantastic! There’s nothing wrong with finding out about an opportunity through word of mouth. Many dog trainers have discounts on referrals, and having someone ‘in the know’ can be a great advantage. Even if your friends don’t have any ideas to offer, you can always contact your vet and see if they know of any behavioral specialists willing to negotiate pricing.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Kyrylo Vasyliev/Shutterstock.com