Let’s unpack the truth behind Doggy Dan (including The Online Dog Trainer review), and answer the most critical question: is Doggy Dan legitimate or a scam?
Dog training is a field with many voices and diverse perspectives, each offering a unique approach to understanding and working with our canine companions.
When it comes to a Doggy Dan review – founder of The Online Dog Trainer and creator of the renowned Dog Calming Code – people often wonder: Is Doggy Dan legitimate? Is his method effective and compassionate?
Today, we'll do a Doggy Dan review and dive into his story, explore the origins and development of his methods, and offer an honest, heartfelt look at the person behind the training.
Doggy Dan Review: A Real Person, A Real Passion
Doggy Dan, originally from Newcastle in the UK, moved to New Zealand in 2000. There, he has dedicated nearly two decades of his life to training and understanding dogs.
Dan’s journey as a professional dog trainer began in 2009, when he made the courageous decision to leave behind a career in the corporate world to pursue his passion full-time.
He and his wife, partners for over 26 years, share two children and a love for animals that infuses every aspect of his work. “Relationships are incredibly important to me,” he shares, emphasizing the loyalty he feels to those he cares about – both humans and animals.
For Doggy Dan, being a “legit” dog trainer isn’t about titles or flashy labels. It’s about a genuine love for dogs and a commitment to helping pet owners develop calm, understanding, and gentle relationships with their pets.
There are so many Doggy Dan reviews out there (because people are trying to make money off his name), that the field has become quite contentious.
But as you’ll see, Dan’s compassion shines through in his dedication to results-driven, humane training methods.
JOIN THIS CLASS TO LEARN THE DOGGY DAN APPROACH FOR FREEExperience and Expertise: A Proven Approach
Dan’s experience spans over 3,500 dogs he’s trained in person, one-on-one with families and their pets, helping them establish balance and understanding in their homes.
In addition, over 100,000 dog owners globally have turned to his program, The Online Dog Trainer, with remarkable success.
This reach and impact would not be possible if his methods didn’t work…period. If there are still any doubters out there, hopefully the almost 4,000 5-Star online reviews will provide enough evidence that his training produces exceptional results.
Dan’s extensive media presence in New Zealand – from appearances on television and radio to his role as a judge on Dog Almighty and as a guest on the Real Housewives of Auckland – has solidified his place as a trusted voice in dog training.
Dan has even published a book, What the Dogs Taught Me About Being a Parent, sharing insights on how his methods extend beyond dogs to support family and parenting life.
The Doggy Dan Review Method: Moving Beyond Traditional Camps
For a complete Doggy Dan review, we need to look into what he stands for. As Dan began his journey into dog training, he noticed that the field was divided into two primary camps. The first is the “correction-based” approach, which uses punitive measures like electric shock collars. The second is the “positive reinforcement” approach, which relies heavily on treats.
For Dan, neither of these camps fully resonated. In his view, training dogs should go deeper than punishment or bribery with treats. He began exploring an alternative approach: understanding dogs through their own language.
This journey led him to the Amichien Bonding method, developed by Jan Fennell, which took inspiration from Monty Roberts’ “horse whispering” techniques. Rather than “breaking” animals to get them to obey, the philosophy encourages understanding animal behavior as a language and working with it to foster cooperation and trust.
For Dan, this method was transformative. He became certified in Amichien Bonding and adapted it over the years, evolving it into his own Dog Calming Code .
The Dog Calming Code is simply a set of five principles designed to foster mutual respect, understanding, and gentle leadership.
Review of Doggy Dan's Qualifications and Training Experience
A Kind and Gentle Philosophy
At the heart of Doggy Dan’s philosophy is kindness. His methods do not involve force, aggression, or any tools that cause pain, like shock collars. Instead, Dan emphasizes calm, assertive leadership – a gentle but clear approach similar to parenting.
Dan often shares that “the connection between being a great parent and being a great dog owner is strikingly similar.” Both require kindness, patience, and a commitment to consistent, loving boundaries.
When it comes to kindness, what other dog trainers are doing live, in-person web classes, twice a week, sharing the foundations of his method for free?
One of Dan’s signature techniques is the calm freeze, where, rather than escalating to punishment, he gently holds a dog by the collar to help them pause and calm down. “It’s like taking a child by the shoulder to help them slow down when they’re overwhelmed,” he explains.
Timeouts and other gentle consequences are central to Dan’s training methods, where he emphasizes giving dogs the space to self-regulate without harsh penalties.
Addressing the Critics and Dog Training's Murky Waters
Like any prominent figure, Dan has his share of critics.
The online world has become an especially challenging place for dog trainers, as competition leads some to attempt to undermine the methods of others.
The internet has profited off his name for years, with clickbait ‘Doggy Dan Review’ headlines that bait and switch readers to buy other trainers’ programs.
Dan notes that he’s seen “misrepresentation of the facts, twists of truth, and outright untruths” about his methods by those promoting alternative products. These money-scammers sometimes even recommend shock collars over his methods – a choice that he finds both alarming and deeply saddening.
He points out that some detractors use powerful, often loaded terms like “dominant,” “alpha,” “old-fashioned,” and “cruel” in attempts to dismiss his methods.
Dan counters this with transparency, explaining that “the word ‘alpha’ to me simply means a calm, respectful leader. It's someone who’s in charge for the good of the group, not someone who rules through fear or pain.”
He asserts that his methods align far more with modern understandings of animal psychology than with outdated or punitive tactics. Check out this post that “debunks” the popular myth that science has debunked the dog-leadership principles, and watch his video below:
The Dog Calming Code: A Humane Approach to Lasting Change
Doggy Dan’s Dog Calming Code is a culmination of years of experience and personal growth, which should always be covered off in a Doggy Dan review.
This method, built around understanding and speaking to dogs on their level, has become a cornerstone for dog owners worldwide.
Dan’s clients include former users of shock collar and treat-based training, who often find his methods to be the missing piece they’ve been searching for.
His methods work because they address the core of a dog’s behavior. Not just the symptoms. They fulfill the underlying need for security, trust, and leadership.
In Dan’s words, “Training a dog isn’t about making them a ‘shoal of fish,’ following blindly. Dogs are highly aware, and they look for a leader who understands them and guides them kindly. That’s what The Dog Calming Code teaches.”
STOP REACTIVITY IN JUST 1 WEEK: JOIN FREE CLASS NOWConclusion: So, Is Doggy Dan Legitimate?
To conclude our Doggy Dan review, it's clear to us that he stands by his training methods and his commitment to the dogs he works with.
Every approach and principle he uses has been tested, refined, and proven effective for the dogs – and the people – in his life.
His compassion, loyalty, and unwavering belief in humane training have shaped his success and touched the lives of countless dog owners around the world.
So, is Doggy Dan “legit”? Beyond a doubt.
Is he a scam? The facts are his methods speak for themselves, and his compassion speaks even louder.
For dog owners who want to build a peaceful, connected relationship with their pets, The Dog Calming Code offers a path filled with kindness, respect, and results.
If you’re ready for a gentle yet transformative approach to dog training, Doggy Dan is here to help – one dog at a time.
You can reach Doggy Dan on his personal site doggydan.co.nz, or join Dan on a FREE webinar. On the free webinar Dan helps reactive-dog owners understand and solve their problem, while sharing the 5 Golden Rules of dog training.
On social media you can find Doggy Dan at:
Social Media Reviews From Doggy Dan’s FREE Reactivity Webinar:
2 Responses
I attended the hour seminar and tried to purchase the $99. And additional $47. Programs. The website never completed the sale so I clicked off.
I’d appreciate information as to what happened. I added my credit card information. Please help.
Sorry to hear you’re having trouble. Please email my Support Team at doggydan@theonlinedogtrainer.com and they’ll help you out appreciate it – Dan