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Experience can make a difference in training your dog, especially when you have experience from top trainers. Dr. Ian Dunbar and the Top Dog Academy Review is the perfect resource to get you started. Raising a well-behaved and trained dog is important because you can teach your dog that it’s dangerous and harmful to bite, bark incessantly or act aggressively. A well-trained dog is enjoyable and relaxing to have as a pet.

A well-mannered dog should obey whatever commands you give him/her regardless of the situation. She/He shouldn’t be afraid of anything and should not be shy when meeting strangers because she/he has received proper training for such incidents. A well-trained dog will follow you wherever you go in public places without barking at other people or pulling on the leash while doing so. 

By having a properly behaved dog around, others will like you more too because they won’t see your animal as a problem but rather as a helpful companion who knows how to behave in public situations.

What is the Top Dog Academy

The Top Dog Academy is an online membership that houses Dr. Ian Dunbar’s lifes-work as a world-renowned dog trainer. It was created to give dog parents and trainers a comprehensive instructional manual to teach them how to train a dog in the most effective way possible. It’s important that owners develop a strong relationship with their dogs because not only can you provide comfort but also protection for each other from any harm that comes along.

The Top Dog Academy is for anyone who has a dog, anyone who is thinking about getting a dog, or anyone who works with dogs. You don’t need to have any previous experience with training dogs. This course is for you whether you are struggling with behavior problems or simply looking to take your dog’s training to the next level.

With over 28 premium courses and hundreds of lessons, the dog training tips Dr. Ian Dunbar provides are all based on simple, science-based techniques that have withstood the test of time. The Top Dog Academy is a subscription that provides access to every dog training course. In these courses, you will find a ton of dog training content on a wide variety of dog training topics. If you were to purchase all the material separately, it would total well over $1,500.00!

Who Is Dr. Ian Dunbar

From his website: “Dr. Ian Dunbar is one of the world’s most respected experts on dog training and behavior, with a veterinary degree from London University and a doctorate from the University of California, Berkeley. In 1982, he designed and taught the world’s very first off-leash puppy socialization and training classes – SIRIUS® Puppy Training – and revolutionized the world of pet dog training. He founded the Association of Professional Dog Trainers, the world’s largest association of dog trainers, has authored numerous books and videos, has given over one thousand seminars and workshops around the world, and has trained thousands of dogs. He has been instrumental in the rise of reward-based, fun and games, scientifically-sound dog training methods.”

Who Is Jamie Dunbar

Jamie Dunbar is Ian’s son, and he initially joined the family business as a cameraman and video editor, but his role has since expanded to encompass a wide variety of responsibilities, including marketing, advertising, graphic design, and writing. Jamie is an expert at taking complicated ideas and making them simple and accessible to novices, which is something he also enjoys doing in the form of his illustrated books for children.

Who Is Kelly Dunbar

Kelly Dunbar has spent her life training dogs, beginning in Chicago where she founded her own dog behavior counseling service, then in Los Angeles at the SPCALA’s Outreach Department. Kelly co-founded Dog Star Daily with Ian, a website filled with free dog training information and resources, and she also started a non-profit called Open Paw that created and promoted resources for dog shelters. Kelly is the lead instructor and the director of curricula at SIRIUS Puppy Training and Dunbar Academy.

Top Dog Academy Review

What we love:

Firstly, we have to say we love Dr. Ian Dunbar’s personality. He is a straight-shooter, fun and caring guy. Dr. Ian Dunbar believes in positive reinforcement training techniques based on research from the fields of animal behavior and learning theory to teach your dog how to be good with humans, other dogs, animals, and any situation they might encounter. The fear-free training methods are life-long lessons for both humans and dogs. There’s no stress or force used during the training process because it is all done out of fun and games so that there are no bad experiences for your dog.

In the video library, Dr. Ian Dunbar covers a wide variety of topics from puppy training to dog behavior problems and everything in between. He also shows you how to safely walk your dog on a leash, play fetch with him, train your dog to respond to basic commands like sit, down, and come when called as well as how to teach your pup some simple tricks.

All his courses are broken up into small episodes that average around 15 minutes each so it’s very easy to find something that fits into your schedule. The “Knowledge” sections have videos explaining everything you need to know about the topic at hand while the “Skill Building” segments provide step-by-step demonstrations showing how it’s done. An important point for those who

We’ve actually had Dr. Ian Dunbar as a guest on Pet Summits. Here’s a short snippet:

What’s inside:

When you first login you’ll find access to the 5 main categories:

  • Getting Started with the Top Dog Academy
  • Behavior Problems Compendium
  • Puppy Training
  • Dog Training
  • SIRIUS Dog Trainer Academy (4-Day Seminar)

Within each category, you will then find the courses and lessons. Most of the lessons contain both video and text. Plus many of the lessons contain other bonus resources. So no matter how you learn there is something to suit everyone.

The best part is, not all of the videos are simple instructional videos. There are hours of video footage of Dr. Ian Dunbar putting his knowledge into practice with puppies and new dog owners. In the video screenshot below, Dr. Dunbar is teaching a new puppy owner how to teach their dog to take food without grabbing or snapping at it.

What customers say:

The positive testimonials are resoundingly positive. As with all reviews, you will still find some outliers who didn’t get value. But for the most part, everyone praises Dr. Ian Dunbar’s straightforward training style and his ability to make even complex topics like dog behavior easy to understand.

The vast majority of people who watch these videos find them useful in their own lives with their dogs. Some are even able to correct problem behaviors such as aggression or excessive barking right away while others use it to house train an older puppy. A common theme is that owners love using positive reinforcement training methods because they get better results than other methods out there which can be frustrating for both dogs and humans alike.

Here’s what customers are saying…

Pros & Cons Of Dr. Ian Dunbar’s Top Dog Academy

Pros:

  • High-quality content
  • Unbeatable price
  • a good mixture between informational videos, text lessons, PDF resources, instructional videos, demonstration videos, and interviews
  • Access to an Exclusive Facebook Group where you can get answers and advice from other members, professional dog trainers, and the Dunbars
  • Personalized Email Support to help you find the content you need or help you design a customized training plan for your dog
  • Periodic Live Webinars and Q+A Sessions provide you with a chance to ask the Dunbars your dog behavior and training questions in real-time

Cons:

  • can be overwhelming because there is so much content there and you don’t know where to start

What is the difference between Sirius® Dog Trainer Academy vs Top Dog Academy

The SIRIUS Academy is a structured and comprehensive course on how to run a successful dog training business whereas the Top Dog Academy is for anyone looking to train their own dog or dogs in general.

Sirius® Dog Trainer Academy cuts to the chase and focuses on the essential information that you absolutely need to know in order to effectively teach people to train dogs as quickly, easily, and enjoyably as possible.

The full Academy consists of all 4 days of lecture, 6+ hours each, as well as substantial notes, including notes for the lectures, a Behavior Problem Solving Matrix, and the complete SIRIUS Syllabi for Puppy 1, Puppy 2, and Adult 1 classes, with week-by-week-schedules and minute-by-minute class notes.

Sirius® Dog Trainer Academy is included in the Top Dog Academy membership.

A list of some of the courses you will find inside The Top Dog Academy By Dr. Ian Dunbar

  • Behavior Problems Compendium: Solve Excessive Barking, Destructive Chewing, Separation Anxiety, Aggression, Fearfulness, Jumping Up, Pulling on Leash and much more!
  • Puppy Training: Watch hands-on demonstrations of essential puppy training techniques
  • Dog Training: Everything you need to know to train the perfect pet dog
  • SIRIUS Dog Trainer Academy (4-Day Seminar): Learn how to manage, promote and improve your dog training business
  • Retro Dunbar: Ian's Old TV Series: Episodes of Ian's popular TV program, originally aired in the UK in the 80s
  • Dog Training For Children: Dog training tips for the youngest dog trainers
  • Dog & Cat Behavior Problems: Easy and Effective Solutions for the Most Common Problems
  • Science-Based Dog Training – with Feeling! (3-Day Seminar): Effective and enjoyable dog training. Science-based and ready for the real-world.
  • Reliability & Games (2-Day Workshop): Learn how to use training games for mega-motivation and rock-solid reliability
  • Growl Class for Reactive Dogs (1-Day Workshop): Dr. Ian Dunbar demonstrates how to use a group class setting to deal with dogs that are aggressive towards other dogs
  • Treatment and Prevention of Dog Aggression (1-Day Seminar): Accelerate the Training & Rehabilitation of Dogs with Aggression & Reactivity Issues
  • Dog Breeder Behavior & Training Program: Because a Puppy's Brain is Too Precious to Waste!
  • Aggression & Temperament Problems: Teach your dog to be calm and confident around people and other dogs
  • And Much More…

Frequently Asked Questions

My dog is too old, too young, too stupid, too smart, the wrong breed, etc…

Their methods work for any dog, any age, any breed, regardless of prior training and habits.

I don’t have any dog training skill or experience

Their methods are simple and easy to use. You can be lazy, you can be inconsistent and you can still train your dog.

I don’t have time to train my dog

Their methods will save you time. Think of the time you waste dealing with your dog’s behavior problems. Some of our training techniques can produce significant improvements in just a single training session.

I don’t want to hurt or scare my dog

Their methods are enjoyable for you and your dog. We use rewards to reinforce good behavior and redirection to correct the behaviors we don’t like.

I want my dog to respect me

Their methods will allow you to communicate with your dog, teaching and enforcing rules so they understand how to behave and who is the boss. (You!)

My dog isn’t food motivated

Our methods will allow you to train your dog to become food motivated while also harnessing the power of other, far more powerful types of lures and rewards that you can use in training.

In Conclusion

The Top Dog Academy is the number one choice for learning how to train your dog. It has withstood the test of time. The proof is in the pudding. Dr. Ian Dunbar, who founded this academy, is considered to be an expert on animal behavior and everything he teaches is backed by science and results! 

What’s more? His positive reinforcement techniques when teaching dogs how to behave are satisfying for everyone involved! If you have a new puppy or are considering getting a dog soon, we highly recommend checking out what he has to offer. We hope you have enjoyed this Top Dog Academy Review and for your convenience, we’ve provided the links to learn more below. 

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