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Top 5 Positive Reinforcement Video Courses in Canada (2025) — Expert-Reviewed Trainer-Led Programs for Clicker, Shaping & Reward-Based Home Training

Published on Thursday, August 21, 2025

On-demand video courses demonstrating reward-based training techniques, shaping, and clicker work are ideal for visual learners and pet owners who prefer stepwise, trainer-led demonstrations they can practice at home. In Canada the market for these courses has grown because busy schedules, urban living, and the rise in pet ownership have increased demand for flexible, evidence-based instruction that prioritizes animal welfare. Consumers value clear lesson progressions, trainer credibility, community support or feedback options, and courses that include practical homework and troubleshooting for real-world settings. Language accessibility, provincial regulatory awareness for certain credentials, and a preference for humane, science-backed methods also shape what Canadian buyers look for when selecting a course.

Quick Menu

1. Best Professional Foundation

2. Best Dog Sports Core

3. Best Recall Specialist

4. Best Force-Free Methods

5. Best Puppy Starter Plan

1
BEST PROFESSIONAL FOUNDATION

Karen Pryor Academy Dog Trainer Foundations Course

Karen Pryor Academy Dog Trainer Foundations Course

Karen Pryor Academy's Foundations Course is the best-in-class professional program for positive reinforcement video courses, prized for its science-backed curriculum and pathway to instructor certification. It stands out from more consumer-focused offerings by delivering deeper theory and assessment-driven training that professionals will pay a premium for, making it a stronger long-term investment than shorter, lower-cost programs on this list.

4.8
★★★★☆

  • Clicker-certified confidence

  • Science-backed clarity

  • Clicker-certified confidence

  • Science-backed clarity

Review Summary

94%

"Long-term users praise Karen Pryor Academy's Foundations Course for its rigorous, science-based curriculum and high-quality instructor feedback that builds strong positive reinforcement skills; it's seen as intensive and relatively costly but worth it for aspiring professionals."

  • Career-launch boost

  • Comprehensive, step-by-step curriculum designed for aspiring professional trainers.

  • Career-launch boost

  • Comprehensive, step-by-step curriculum designed for aspiring professional trainers.

Skill Development & Mastery

Self-Improvement & Personal Growth

Increased Safety & Security

Karen Pryor Academy's Foundations Course is the best-in-class professional program for positive reinforcement video courses, prized for its science-backed curriculum and pathway to instructor certification. It stands out from more consumer-focused offerings by delivering deeper theory and assessment-driven training that professionals will pay a premium for, making it a stronger long-term investment than shorter, lower-cost programs on this list.

  • Clicker-certified confidence

  • Science-backed clarity

  • Career-launch boost

  • Comprehensive, step-by-step curriculum designed for aspiring professional trainers.

  • Research-backed positive reinforcement and clicker-based training methods throughout.

  • Clicker-certified confidence

  • Science-backed clarity

  • Career-launch boost

  • Comprehensive, step-by-step curriculum designed for aspiring professional trainers.

  • Research-backed positive reinforcement and clicker-based training methods throughout.

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From 34.04$
2
BEST DOG SPORTS CORE

Fenzi Dog Sports Academy Core Curriculum

Fenzi Dog Sports Academy Core Curriculum

Fenzi Dog Sports Academy's Core Curriculum is a market-leading, modular library tailored to dog-sport enthusiasts and serious hobbyists, offering a large selection of mentor-led classes and community critique sessions. Technically robust and frequently priced per-course or subscription-accessible, Fenzi provides broader sport-specific depth than single-focus offerings like Susan Garrett's Recallers while often being more affordable per topic than formal certification tracks.

4.6
★★★★☆

  • Sports-ready toolkit

  • Competition-friendly tips

  • Sports-ready toolkit

  • Competition-friendly tips

Review Summary

90%

"Fenzi Dog Sports Academy's Core Curriculum is lauded for its well-structured lessons, diverse expert instructors, and active community support for dog sports and behavior work, though some students note variability in instructor style and time required to apply lessons."

  • Agility-play sparkle

  • Extensive core curriculum focused on sport skills and foundation behaviors using rewards.

  • Agility-play sparkle

  • Extensive core curriculum focused on sport skills and foundation behaviors using rewards.

Skill Development & Mastery

Recreational Enjoyment

Fenzi Dog Sports Academy's Core Curriculum is a market-leading, modular library tailored to dog-sport enthusiasts and serious hobbyists, offering a large selection of mentor-led classes and community critique sessions. Technically robust and frequently priced per-course or subscription-accessible, Fenzi provides broader sport-specific depth than single-focus offerings like Susan Garrett's Recallers while often being more affordable per topic than formal certification tracks.

  • Sports-ready toolkit

  • Competition-friendly tips

  • Agility-play sparkle

  • Extensive core curriculum focused on sport skills and foundation behaviors using rewards.

  • Video demonstrations by multiple instructors with progressive lesson structure.

  • Sports-ready toolkit

  • Competition-friendly tips

  • Agility-play sparkle

  • Extensive core curriculum focused on sport skills and foundation behaviors using rewards.

  • Video demonstrations by multiple instructors with progressive lesson structure.

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$250-600 CAD

3
BEST RECALL SPECIALIST

Susan Garrett's Recallers Online Course

Susan Garrett's Recallers Online Course
🏠 Local Product

Susan Garrett's Recallers is a focused, high-impact positive reinforcement video course specializing in one of the most critical skills — recall — and delivers fast, practical results for owners and competitors. Financially and technically it is leaner than comprehensive academies, offering a targeted, lower-cost option that complements broader curricula from KPA or Fenzi rather than replacing them.

4.7
★★★★☆

  • Recall-magic methods

  • Distance-proof response

  • Recall-magic methods

  • Distance-proof response

Review Summary

92%

"Users of Susan Garrett's Recallers report substantial, lasting improvements in recall using her clear, step-by-step positive methods; the program is highly effective but demands consistent practice and commitment."

  • Off-leash freedom

  • Dedicated course modules teaching reliable recalls using game-based positive reinforcement.

  • Off-leash freedom

  • Dedicated course modules teaching reliable recalls using game-based positive reinforcement.

Increased Safety & Security

Skill Development & Mastery

Susan Garrett's Recallers is a focused, high-impact positive reinforcement video course specializing in one of the most critical skills — recall — and delivers fast, practical results for owners and competitors. Financially and technically it is leaner than comprehensive academies, offering a targeted, lower-cost option that complements broader curricula from KPA or Fenzi rather than replacing them.

  • Recall-magic methods

  • Distance-proof response

  • Off-leash freedom

  • Dedicated course modules teaching reliable recalls using game-based positive reinforcement.

  • Short, practical video drills designed for everyday training and real-world distractions.

  • Recall-magic methods

  • Distance-proof response

  • Off-leash freedom

  • Dedicated course modules teaching reliable recalls using game-based positive reinforcement.

  • Short, practical video drills designed for everyday training and real-world distractions.

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$60-200 CAD

4
BEST FORCE-FREE METHODS

Emily Larlham's Dogmantics Training Academy

Emily Larlham's Dogmantics Training Academy

Dogmantics Training Academy, created by Emily Larlham, offers contemporary, real-world positive reinforcement videos with plentiful case studies and an active online community, making it a go-to for owners seeking humane, hands-on solutions. It strikes a middle ground between professional certification programs and mass-market courses by delivering high-quality footage and scenario-based lessons at a price point designed for committed pet owners rather than credential-seeking trainers.

4.6
★★★★☆

  • Kindness-first training

  • Marker-skill polish

  • Kindness-first training

  • Marker-skill polish

Review Summary

88%

"Emily Larlham's Dogmantics Academy is praised for detailed, force-free techniques and excellent video demonstrations that solve real-world problems, though some students feel portions overlap with her free content and would like more personalized feedback."

  • Everyday manners sparkle

  • Emphasizes humane, empathy-driven positive reinforcement techniques and relationship-building.

  • Everyday manners sparkle

  • Emphasizes humane, empathy-driven positive reinforcement techniques and relationship-building.

Skill Development & Mastery

Self-Improvement & Personal Growth

Dogmantics Training Academy, created by Emily Larlham, offers contemporary, real-world positive reinforcement videos with plentiful case studies and an active online community, making it a go-to for owners seeking humane, hands-on solutions. It strikes a middle ground between professional certification programs and mass-market courses by delivering high-quality footage and scenario-based lessons at a price point designed for committed pet owners rather than credential-seeking trainers.

  • Kindness-first training

  • Marker-skill polish

  • Everyday manners sparkle

  • Emphasizes humane, empathy-driven positive reinforcement techniques and relationship-building.

  • Video case studies and stepwise problem-solving for common behavioral challenges.

  • Kindness-first training

  • Marker-skill polish

  • Everyday manners sparkle

  • Emphasizes humane, empathy-driven positive reinforcement techniques and relationship-building.

  • Video case studies and stepwise problem-solving for common behavioral challenges.

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$100-300 CAD

5
BEST PUPPY STARTER PLAN

Zak George's 30 Day Perfect Pup Program

Zak George's 30 Day Perfect Pup Program

Zak George's 30 Day Perfect Pup Program is a budget-friendly, beginner-focused video course that packages positive reinforcement into a simple day-by-day format ideal for new puppy owners. While it lacks the depth and certification pathway of KPA or the sport specificity of Fenzi, its low cost and highly digestible video lessons make it the most accessible financial and technical entry point for people who want fast, practical results.

4.3
★★★★☆

  • 30-day puppy plan

  • Family-friendly routines

  • 30-day puppy plan

  • Family-friendly routines

Review Summary

84%

"Zak George's 30 Day Perfect Pup Program is popular with beginners for its friendly, step-by-step puppy plan and accessible videos; experienced trainers sometimes find it less comprehensive and desire more individualized guidance."

  • High-energy fun

  • Structured 30-day video plan with daily, bite-sized lessons for new puppy owners.

  • High-energy fun

  • Structured 30-day video plan with daily, bite-sized lessons for new puppy owners.

Time-Saving Convenience

Recreational Enjoyment

Zak George's 30 Day Perfect Pup Program is a budget-friendly, beginner-focused video course that packages positive reinforcement into a simple day-by-day format ideal for new puppy owners. While it lacks the depth and certification pathway of KPA or the sport specificity of Fenzi, its low cost and highly digestible video lessons make it the most accessible financial and technical entry point for people who want fast, practical results.

  • 30-day puppy plan

  • Family-friendly routines

  • High-energy fun

  • Structured 30-day video plan with daily, bite-sized lessons for new puppy owners.

  • Clear focus on reward-based socialization, basic cues, and early bonding exercises.

  • 30-day puppy plan

  • Family-friendly routines

  • High-energy fun

  • Structured 30-day video plan with daily, bite-sized lessons for new puppy owners.

  • Clear focus on reward-based socialization, basic cues, and early bonding exercises.

Order Now

$40-120 CAD

What Research and Expert Guidance Say About Reward-Based Training

A growing body of peer-reviewed research and professional position statements supports reward-based, non-aversive approaches for companion animal training. Scientific studies and veterinary behavior organizations emphasize that positive reinforcement tends to produce faster learning, lower stress, and more reliable behavior maintenance than punishment-based methods. Evidence also shows that structured shaping and clicker training improve skill acquisition for both puppies and adult dogs, and that humane training aligns with best-practice welfare standards used by behaviorists and shelters.

Professional guidance: The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior and similar organizations endorse reward-based methods as first-line approaches for most behavior training and modification.

Learning speed: Controlled studies in Applied Animal Behaviour Science and related journals report faster acquisition of new behaviors using clicker-based and other positive reinforcement protocols.

Welfare benefits: Research measuring stress indicators (behavioral signs, cortisol measures) shows lower physiological and behavioral stress in animals trained with positive reinforcement versus aversive techniques.

Retention and generalization: Clear, incremental shaping and consistent reinforcement schedules increase long-term retention and better generalization of skills to new contexts.

Puppy development: Early socialization and reward-focused training improve confidence, reduce fear responses, and decrease the likelihood of problem behaviors later in life.

Practical outcomes: Field studies and trainer reports indicate that video-based, paced instruction with practical exercises and feedback loops helps owners implement techniques reliably at home.

These five video courses offer strong options for Canadians seeking trainer-led, reward-based instruction: Karen Pryor Academy Dog Trainer Foundations Course, Fenzi Dog Sports Academy Core Curriculum, Susan Garrett's Recallers Online Course, Emily Larlham's Dogmantics Training Academy, and Zak George's 30 Day Perfect Pup Program. For those who want a professional, comprehensive curriculum with industry recognition and deep coverage of clicker work and shaping, the Karen Pryor Academy Dog Trainer Foundations Course stands out as the best choice among this group. We hope you found what you were looking for; use the site search to refine by skill level, language, certification, or lesson format if you want to expand or narrow your options.

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