Why is dog training so expensive?

It’s completely normal to feel shocked when you start looking into dog training. Dozens of private lessons, board-and-trains, and behavior rehab programs can range from hundreds to several thousand dollars, and most owners eventually wonder:

“Why does dog training cost so much?”

Let’s break down what’s really going on.

You’re not just paying for the hour. You’re paying for all the hours behind it.

When a reputable trainer charges $100–$300 per session (or more), the price usually reflects more than time spent with your dog. Behind every lesson are:

• Years of education, mentorship, certifications, and continued study

• Liability insurance and legal protection

• Facilities, leases, equipment, and staff

• Time spent building personalized training plans

• Communication outside of sessions (texts, videos, progress check-ins)

• Safety protocols to prevent injuries to dogs and humans

If trainers charged $50 per session, many would operate at a loss. So pricing rises not because trainers are greedy, but because doing it correctly is expensive.

The real issue: training ends, but life doesn’t

Even when dog training works really well, many owners eventually get stuck in the same cycle:

1. Pay a lot of money for training

2. Dog improves

3. Months later, something new happens: aging, change in home environment, etc.

4. Behavior slips back or a new problem develops

5. Owners need help again

6. Another big payment

Most programs are built with a finish line. But dog behavior doesn’t stop changing when the program ends.

So it’s not that training “didn’t work.” It’s that traditional training isn’t designed to support your dog through the next phase of their life.

A growing problem for dog owners

Today’s dogs are living in a world that is:

• More stimulating

• More crowded

• More unpredictable

• More emotionally demanding

That means emotional and behavioral struggles are becoming normal, not rare. But the traditional “pay thousands every time something goes wrong” model hasn’t changed with the times.

What’s breaking families financially isn’t training… It’s having to start from zero every time life throws a curveball.

How Canine Coverage™ fixes the “expensive training” problem

Canine Coverage™ is the first model designed to protect families from the financial burden of recurring behavior problems.

Instead of paying $2,000–$5,000 every time your dog struggles, owners pay a predictable monthly membership that includes:

• 1 behavior claim per year for major issues or emergencies

• 90-day initial waiting period (like medical insurance)

• $0 due when new issues occur after the waiting period

• Ongoing virtual support + chat guidance whenever you need help

• Full access to the Affective Academy video training library

• Exclusive member discounts on additional services

• Cancel anytime. No contracts or hidden fees

So when life happens: moving, new baby, unexpected trauma, sudden reactivity, your dog is already covered, and you don’t have to panic about money just to get help.

Want the exact pricing?

You can see everything transparently, including cost per month, what’s included, what’s not, and how to know whether Fast-Track Coverage is right for your dog, here:

How much does Canine Coverage cost?

Dog training is expensive because it’s a short-term solution to long-term behavior.

Canine Coverage™ exists so support never ends, and so no family ever has to say:

“We want to help our dog. We just can’t afford to do this again.”