Don’t Be Surprised at the High Cost of Dog Training

The cost of dog training is probably higher than you think and in today’s economy, it is much harder to find the money to devote to dog training. The reality is that hiring a professional to train your dog, while may be more convenient and worthwhile in some cases, may not be feasible.

If you are on a budget, you might want to do your research before you hire a professional. If you are on the fence about hiring someone, you may want to consider some alternatives that will save you money.

Most professional dog trainers want to start with just the basic commands which are: sit, stay, come, down, heel.

Typical Costs of Hiring a Professional Dog Trainer can be:

$100 – $600 for a 6 – 8-week course for basic commands. That price may vary from trainer to trainer.

The Amount That You Pay Could Differ, Depending on:

1.  What kind of additional training is needed other than the standard length of the training contract.

2. Where you want the training done, i.e., your home, the trainer’s place of business, if you need boarding, etc.

3. Additional training tools, special collars, leashes, etc.

How Long Should Your Dog Be Trained For?

It does depend on the individual dog. Some dogs learn faster than others and still, others need to have ongoing training or retraining. While typical training lasts for six to eight weeks, it is important that your dog undergoes basic training for behavioral reasons (and your sanity) in most cases.

From there, once basic training is completed, additional training is usually suggested. This includes leash training, interactions with other dogs, interactions with children and other people, protection, and even handicap training. Those costs can run upwards of $1000.

The potential issue I see with hiring a professional is that most puppies or dogs need to have consistency in training routines and the training needs to be ongoing. So, you may need to be in a training session with your trainer in order to be able to continue and reinforce the same commands the trainer has taught your puppy or dog. Sounds time-consuming? It can be. Take the time to teach your puppy or dog, not only will you save money, you will bond with your dog and that is priceless.