Wait! Before you start... Do you want the complete roadmap for your puppy's first year?

You just took a massive step in the right direction. But as you'll soon discover, raising a puppy involves a lot of moving parts—and missing critical developmental windows can cause permanent behavior problems down the road.

If you want to take the guesswork out of your puppy's education, we have a special invitation for you:

Get 30 Days of our premium Essential Puppy Training Course for FREE.

When you start a 1-Month Free Trial of the Top Dog Academy today, you get instant access to the Essential Puppy Training Course. Unlike standard programs, this course is organized into 5 developmental stages that adapt to your puppy as they grow, showing you exactly what to teach and when.

Plus, your free trial includes:

  • Live Office Hours: Join Dr. Ian Dunbar on Zoom on the 2nd Thursday of every month to ask your specific puppy training questions in real-time.
  • The Settle Series & Behavior Compendium: Fix biting, barking, and hyperactive behavior before they become permanent habits.
  • The Top Dog Community: 24/7 access to our private Facebook group of trainers and owners.
Start My 30-Day Free Trial Now

(It’s completely free for 30 days, then just $20/month. Cancel easily anytime.)

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What people are saying

“I am a long-time reasonably savvy dog owner, and I have read a lot of books on dog behavior and training, but Dunbar Academy is the single most valuable resource I have found - a one-stop treasure trove of information, wisdom and experience. My biggest regret is that I didn’t know all this before I bought my GSD.”

David V.

“AMAZING! This training is an amazing resource for beginning trainers and veteran trainers alike. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it! ”

Alicia M.

“All of the information here and within Top Dog Academy is just absolutely epic, if I had the focus and time availability I'd learn from your website 24 hours a day! I wish I'd found it earlier in my life but I'm certainly going to make the most of it now. Everything you say makes so much sense, with the perfect level of explanation, terminology and instruction being used, along with humor to make you smile. This learning is giving me the confidence and answers that I've sought for so long...”

Melanie V.

“I am so glad I discovered Dunbar Academy. I have learned so much and now feel confident in training my dogs. Lots of great information!”

Beverlie H.

“This course is phenomenal. I came across this incredible course when my pooch turned 5 months, and wish I had known of it before. I had taken him to puppy classes, yet this would have been immensely beneficial. However, it’s been brilliant and I am so glad I have it now, and using it as it is enlightening and helping me in numerous ways. ”

Claudia S.

“Amazingly helpful! What a gift this course and training are to the world and to our pets. Thank you for your life's work, Ian. ”

Susan S.

“Dr. Dunbar is an endless wealth of knowledge about dogs, their behavior, and how to manage the behavior of their humans! Great resource for dog trainers or dog owners wanting to get more out of their relationship with their dog.”

Celia S.

“The Most Comprehensive Dog Training Program! This program was well thought out, thorough and provided meticulous instruction and direction! I learned so much!! 🐶👍🐶👍🐶”

Caroline Y.

“I absolutely love you guys. I am super excited and I have learned so much from your courses. I am finding so much helpful information. Thank you so much for making this affordable. I may be a lifetime member. Thank you again. Keep doing what you are doing. ”

Carrie V.

Multiple Generations of Dog Training Experts

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.

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.

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.

Our Methods Will Work For YOU! 

"But What if..."

  • My dog is too old, too young, too stubborn, too smart, the wrong breed.

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

  • I don't have dog training skill or experience.

    Our 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 the time to train my dog.

    Our 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.

    Our 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.

    Our 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.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Who is the Top Dog Academy for?

    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.

  • How long do I get access to the content?

    You will have access to the content so long as you are actively subscribed. You will need a good internet connection to watch the videos.

  • Is it possible to download any of the content?

    Most of the content is only accessible on our website, while you have an active subscription, but there are some ebooks and audio files that you can download and save to your computer or mobile device.

  • Do you offer an annual subscription?

    Yes, we offer an Annual Subscription to the Top Dog Academy that will allow you to save $90 over the course of a year. There is a link to the annual subscription near the top of this page. It's below the "Welcome to Dunbar Academy" video and above the "30-Day Money-Back Guarantee"

  • What payment methods do you accept?

    When it comes to the Top Dog Academy, we only accept credit cards. We do accept PayPal for a la carte courses, but at this time we are unable to accept PayPal for any subscriptions.