About

An honest look before you buy

The Honest Paw is an independent site that reviews online dog training programs and publishes free guides to the problems that lead owners to look for one.

There are many dog training courses online, and most of what is written about them is either the seller's own sales page or a "review" that reads like one. We started this site to give owners a straighter answer: what each program teaches, who made it, what it really costs, and who it is and isn't for.

What we believe

• Humane methods first. We follow the guidance of veterinary behavior organizations such as the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior, which recommends reward-based training.
• Free help comes first. Our guides explain what you can do yourself before you spend anything.
• Your vet comes first for health. When a behavior problem may have a medical cause, or is severe, we say so plainly.
• We show the downsides. Every program we recommend has a list of cons, including our top pick.

How we review

For each program we look at the official course outline and materials, the creator's credentials and track record, the training method measured against current veterinary behavior guidance, and the full price including upsells and refund terms. Each review says how it was researched and when it was last checked.

How we are funded

When you buy a program through a link on this site, we may earn a commission. It never changes your price, and it does not decide our rankings. Read our full affiliate disclosure.

Get in touch

Spotted an error, or a price that has changed? Write to hello@honestpawguide.com. We read every message.