Disclaimer: this article contains affiliate links, and we may receive a commission on sales when you use those links, at no additional cost to you. We only recommend products we use and genuinely love.
There’s no doubt that dog training services can be pricey, often for good reason. Securing a good balanced dog trainer who will deliver results and do best by you and your dog often costs hundreds or even thousands depending on how done-for-you you need the training to be, and not everyone has this luxury.
At the end of the day, though, less privileged dogs still need training, and there are some easy and inexpensive ways to get this done from home.
At Lugaru K9 Training, for example, we offer affordable virtual training as one option for dog owners who don’t have the finances for a full-blown training program. This lets you sit down with one of our trainers for behavioral insights, step-by-step training guidance, and advice on dog training to help you go about it from home or wherever you are.
However, there are ways you can cut down costs on your at-home training program as well, whether you’re going at it with virtual lessons or forging out with you and your dog against the world.
What Should I Do If I Can’t Afford Dog Training?
A long time ago, I was in this exact predicament. I was incredibly overwhelmed with a highly aggressive dog and, at the time, was just too much of a broke kid to afford any help. So, I had to become the help I needed.
I write all about that story and how learning to be a dog trainer saved my dog’s life (and his quality of life) in my article, The Dog That Turned Me Into A Trainer.
This tradeoff of outsourcing the work vs. building the skillset is always going to be the case, no matter what. If you can’t afford a dog trainer, you will simply have to find the resources to build the skillset for yourself.
Luckily, the internet era is a wonderful time to have a dog. There are some really knowledgeable trainers out there showing their work, writing books and blogs, and doing seminars. And their online content is often for free.
In fact, here at Lugaru K9 Training we have amassed a database of online resources already to help dog owners navigate whether they ever become our clients or not. Blame the old me who loved a dog and felt so defeated; I think all dog owners deserve access to training knowledge.
Find more free dog training and pet care resources here on our blog, or march on to the great wide web to find all the advice and perspectives you can get.
Is It Possible to Train My Dog Myself?
Training your dog at home by yourself is absolutely possible; like I said, I’ve done it. The truth of the matter is that every dog trainer starts out somewhere. That somewhere is usually training their own personal dogs.
That said, learning the skillset is not an easy ride. While you can find lots of information on the internet and in books, dog trainers have a wide range of methodologies and philosophies and often contradict each other. Sorting it all out and finding the way that works for you and your dog is a matter of trial and error, studying and practice, and that is simply a journey you’ll have to take as you set out to, in essence, become a dog trainer yourself.
Training your dog yourself, however, is usually doable with the right resources. While most dog owners benefit greatly from hiring a professional who’s been at it for years, a dedicated dog owner open to learning can absolutely have a well-trained dog by themselves and on a budget.
Tips For DIY Dog Training on a Budget
Training your dog yourself also doesn’t have to be expensive. The pet industry often tricks dog owners into thinking they need all the bells and whistles – special leashes, special treats, special harnesses, special clickers or tools, special this and that.
In reality, you need very little in order to take the lead and start getting the behaviors you want out of your dog. Here are some tips from a pro dog trainer on how to cut costs while still getting the best out of your dog.
1. Ditch the Expensive Treats
I’ve said it before, dog treats are not a necessity when it comes to training, or even owning a dog. They are extras that you can absolutely choose to forego.
Now, that’s not to say that I don’t use food to train dogs. I use tons of food to train dogs. Food is awesome for increasing desired behaviors and teaching new things!
But more often than not, I don’t use special dog treats from the pet store.
The truth is that dogs are usually happy to work off of kibble, the food you’d already be feeding them every day, anyway. To transition your dog to working off kibble, start hand-feeding while asking for their known commands, or use that food to lure for new ones.
If your dog is a picky eater, set the food aside for their next meal. The pickiness should subside within a day or two, and food drive will take over. You can keep track of how much food is set aside, and add it in to future training sessions if you want to avoid your dog losing any weight.
Hand-feeding and using daily kibble for reward is a great way to tap into that food drive and get a dog in the mindset of working and learning. Plus, it costs effectively nothing because daily kibble is an expense you’d already have to spend on having a dog at all.
2. Use More Than Just Food for Reward
There’s a misconception in the dog training world that “reward” is synonymous with “treat” or “food.” This isn’t the case. There are tons of ways to reward your dog without feeding.
Food is often used as a reward because every dog wants to eat. Food is interesting and makes an excellent lure, and is absolutely helpful to have in a dog training program. But it’s not the only thing you can reward your dog with, and really it shouldn’t be the only thing you reward your dog with.
The type of reward that works best for your dog will depend on what your dog likes. Other types of rewards you can give your dog are:
- Touch and affection
- Verbal praise
- Toys and play
- Breaks and sniff time
- Life rewards
Life rewards, especially, should be incorporated into the day-to-day of every dog. Life rewards are the little motivators mixed in to an average, boring day. Things like going outside, getting up on the furniture, or going for the food bowl for the leftovers after a day of training. All of these moments are highly motivating because there is something the dog is focused on.
Using those moments is incredibly helpful because it helps dogs live training rather than relying on a structured session with food present.
3. The Prong Collar, the World’s Most Versatile Training Tool
They ways I fought myself on getting a prong collar for my dog make me cringe today. If I had just jumped in and pushed through my own fears way back then with my own first dog, I might have saved the both of us a lot of time and heartache.
The prong collar might look scary, but it is an amazing tool that gives you a huge range of communication with your dog and is the perfect budget tool for balanced dog training.
Prong collars give you a means to introduce pressure training, which in essence is a way to tell your dog when something is incorrect and when something is correct. The prong also gives you a means to correct inappropriate behaviors like nipping, jumping, counter surfing, and door dashing, while also being gentle enough to give soft guidance to your dog as well.
Another reason we love the prong collar is because it is durable. It is one of those tools you buy once and never have to think about it again. Unless your dog gains weight and needs a couple extra links (which you can buy separately without getting a whole new collar, by the way), you will likely never have to replace it.
Unlike harnesses, collars, haltis, and other tools made from usually nylon, the prong collar is made of metal and will last the dog’s lifetime if not more.
The prong collar we recommend the most is the Herm-Sprenger, which has top-notch construction and individually-rounded prongs that keep your dog comfortable while the tool is being worn.
Click here to check prices on Herm-Sprenger on Amazon.com.
4. Make Your Own High-Value Treats
I know I said already that dog treats aren’t necessary. That doesn’t mean that something a little more enticing isn’t sometimes helpful; just that it shouldn’t cost $20 for 8oz!
Luckily, there are foods that are probably already in your refrigerator or cupboard that can be used for an extra reward boost in dog training. This can help to give a “jackpot” to behaviors you really want to see more of or that your dog doesn’t offer very often, and can communicate a reward more loudly to your dog if they are a little close to threshold.
Here are some ideas for easy DIY high-value dog treats you can make yourself on a budget.
- Chopped-up hotdogs, cold or baked
- A spoonful of peanut butter
- Repurposing dog-safe leftovers
- Chopped sweet potato or plain cooked meat
- Small cubes of cheese (in moderation)
Remember that “food training” doesn’t have to mean “buy extras from the pet store.” If you have the finances to buy treats there is nothing wrong with doing so, but know that you can easily make similar treats from home and on a shoestring.
5. Learn, Learn, Learn.
If you’re training your dog from home, the game is on. Understand that, without a pro to guide you one-on-one, YOU are your dog’s trainer now.
Get on YouTube, read blogs, read books, find trainers that get results and that you resonate with, and emulate what you can from them.
Get out and train with your dog every day or whenever you can. Understand that training is 24/7, not just what you do in your 10-minute sessions. Be aware of what your dog is learning throughout the day from how you respond and the guidance you give.
There’s a direct tradeoff between how much you work, how much you pay, and the results you get. So, take it from someone who’s been there: you will have to dedicate time, effort, and more time to train your dog yourself on a budget.
But also from someone who’s been in your shoes, when you put in the work the end result is so, so worth it.
