I have a 14-week-old puppy. He’s doing well – sleeps, goes potty outside, sits, lays down, and loves to snuggle. This is my fourth dog, and the last time I raised a puppy Caesar Millan was the go-to. Training methods must have changed since then. Who’s got the best training methods in 2024?
Umbrielle said:
Susan Garrett!
Came here to recommend her. She uses positive training that focuses on understanding your dog and having fun together. She has a great free podcast and tons of videos on YouTube.
Umbrielle said:
Susan Garrett!
Susan Garrett is amazing! Her crate games helped Loki love his kennel, and now he’s happy to go in there when we need him safe. Her ‘Homeschool the dog’ classes were great for us, too! Loki’s 7 months now, still a bit moody, but he’s a great dog. Her ‘It’s your choice’ game has helped him develop self-control, and he’s a mix of Australian Cattle Dog, German Shepherd, Husky, and Border Collie, so he’s a little crazy!
Umbrielle said:
Susan Garrett!
Susan Garrett is great! She really helped me understand my dog and taught me how to handle setbacks better.
Susan Garrett and Zak George are both awesome! If you can, I recommend a puppy class too. I had a lot of success with that!
Superdog said:
Susan Garrett and Zak George are both awesome! If you can, I recommend a puppy class too. I had a lot of success with that!
Puppy classes are great for socializing your dog. We love our trainer! She’s an excellent role model. (And, of course, after all the vaccinations!)
I second Zak George! He’s amazing! 
Building trust and confidence is key to training. Never hit or yell at your dog. Use a shake can or clicker to get their attention. Be consistent. If one day you let your dog jump on you or steal food (it can seem cute, but won’t be as they grow), and the next day you stop them, they’ll get confused.
I like Zak George and Ian Dunbar.
Gianni said:
I like Zak George and Ian Dunbar.
As a first-time pet owner, Zak George’s 30-day program was really helpful in getting us started with training. It might be a bit basic for you since you’ve had a lot of dogs. But I love how he starts with ‘leave it’ on day one – it’s such an important skill. It’s free, but they might try to sell you products or courses.
I vote for Zak George too. His approach is great because he shows the real training process, including the mistakes. It’s reassuring to see a professional trainer struggle sometimes, because it shows that it’s normal. It’s not just about perfect dogs; it’s about the process.
Positive reinforcement works great! It’s a lot of work, but it pays off. My dog has made a lot of mistakes, but by reinforcing the good behavior, things are coming together now that he’s almost 2 years old. There are three phases of challenging boundaries, so be prepared to repeat yourself, but you’ll get there with patience, consistency, and kindness.
Susan Garrett and Kikopup are great! I prefer positive reinforcement. I also don’t want my dog to become a robot, just doing what I want all the time. I love my dog’s little quirks, like ‘helping me’ unpack groceries! She can be so defiant, but I love that about her. I want her to listen when necessary but still be her quirky self.
Yes, 100% Zak George! I also found a great positive reinforcement-only training club here in my state, so maybe look for something like that too.
I agree with everyone about Zak George! I also recommend using a clicker to mark the behavior you want. I’m still training my pup, and we’re focusing on positive reinforcement.
I’m using positive reinforcement too, but I’m not expecting perfection until my dog is around 2 years old. He’s 21 months now, and it’s all coming together. There are still some challenge boundaries, but we’re getting there. My dog has been good with leash walking since day one. I used a harness until he was 1, and he was never allowed to pull. I encouraged him to sniff around but no pulling from the start.
@lucylovesdogs
A trainer at a local Zoom Room (positive training dog school) told me that dogs don’t fully develop impulse control until about 1.5 years old. My pup is 15 months now, and while she’s about 85% great, she still struggles to listen sometimes, especially with ‘leave it’ or when she pulls on the leash. Have you noticed any progress in the last few months?
@Happy
Yes, he’s better at ignoring other dogs, and sometimes he can heel past them now. Some things are improving, but he still has ups and downs. I’m not worried – it’s normal. I keep rewarding the good behavior and sometimes treat him to reinforce it.
I’m not sure what the most widely accepted method is, as there are a lot of balanced trainers who are popular online and offer courses in many cities. I prefer using mostly positive reinforcement, with some boundaries, like short time-outs. I’ve found this method helpful for my dogs, especially when they were younger. Fenzi offers online classes using these methods. Kikopup has great free videos too. Victoria Stilwell has helpful advice as well. Hannah Brannigan has some cool podcasts that go deep into training.