Private, live dog training by Zoom or FaceTime.
You don’t have to live in the Phoenix metropolitan area to benefit from my professional dog-training experience.
I’m Sam Basso, also known as Sam The Dog Trainer. I’ve worked professionally with dogs and their owners since 1996. In addition to my private in-home lessons, I offer live online training for people who cannot attend an in-person appointment because of distance, transportation, mobility limitations, disabilities, scheduling circumstances, or personal preference.
I’ve worked with students remotely for years, adapting my instruction to situations where I cannot physically be present. The underlying evaluation and training principles remain the same. What changes is how I observe, demonstrate, explain, and guide you through the work.
Online lessons are not prerecorded courses. You work directly with me, in real time, with your own dog.
What Can We Work On During an Online Lesson?
Online lessons can be useful for many common dog-training needs, provided the situation can be addressed safely and effectively through remote instruction.
Puppy Training and Development
Getting a puppy off to a good start can prevent a great deal of frustration later. We can discuss and work on house training, puppy biting, chewing, jumping, crate training, daily routines, early obedience, and appropriate socialization.
I can also help you understand what’s normal for a puppy’s developmental stage, which problems require attention, and how to avoid common mistakes.
Basic Obedience and Household Manners
We can work on essential obedience skills such as sit, down, stay, recall, attention, and appropriate household behavior.
Other topics may include greeting visitors, jumping, barking, settling in designated areas, and teaching your dog to respond reliably to everyday instructions.
Leash Training and Handling Skills
Many leash-training problems involve the owner’s handling, timing, communication, or the way exercises are introduced.
Through remote instruction, I can explain and observe appropriate exercises in a safe setting, help you develop better handling skills, and guide your training progression.
Problems involving dangerous reactions, aggression, or unsafe public encounters may require in-person assistance instead.
Newly Adopted Dogs
Bringing a newly adopted dog into your home can create questions about routines, boundaries, introductions, expectations, and how to establish a productive relationship.
I can help you develop an appropriate starting plan, assess the background information available, and identify issues that may require additional investigation.
Training Problems That Aren’t Improving
Sometimes you’ve already tried lessons, watched videos, read articles, or followed advice that hasn’t worked as expected.
We can review what you’ve done, examine the situation, and identify where communication, training sequence, expectations, or other factors might need to change.
I don’t assume that every problem results from a lack of obedience or that one technique is appropriate for every dog.
What Makes My Online Lessons Different?
More Than 30 Years of Professional Experience
You work directly with me, not an automated training platform or an instructor following a predetermined script.
My experience includes puppy development, obedience, practical behavior modification, household problems, therapy dog training, and evaluating difficult situations involving dogs and their owners.
An Individualized Evaluation
I begin by gathering a detailed history and understanding your goals. Your dog’s age, background, development, previous learning, household environment, routines, and behavior patterns may all be relevant.
I’m not going to prescribe an entire program simply because you tell me your dog is stubborn, dominant, anxious, or reactive. We first need to understand what you’re describing and what we can reasonably evaluate.
Real-Time Observation and Coaching
You can show me how you work with your dog, how your dog responds, and what happens during appropriate training exercises.
I can then give you feedback, explain what I notice, and help you make adjustments.
Because I’m not physically present, I place additional emphasis on precise descriptions, careful demonstrations, observation, and making sure you understand each step before proceeding.
Training You as Well as Your Dog
One of the most important parts of my work is teaching owners how to train their own dogs.
During an online lesson, you do the handling and practice while I provide instruction and feedback. This gives you an opportunity to develop skills you’ll continue using after the appointment.
Practical Homework and Follow-Up
Most of your dog’s learning takes place outside our scheduled lessons.
I’ll help you understand what to practice, how to progress appropriately, what to watch for, and when to reconsider an exercise that isn’t working as expected.
Additional appointments can be scheduled when needed.
How Online Dog Training Works
Step 1 — Tell Me About Your Dog
Contact me with your dog’s age, breed or mix, history, training experience, and the problems or goals you want to address.
I begin by asking detailed background and evaluation questions. This helps determine whether online training is appropriate.
Step 2 — Schedule Your Private Lesson
If the situation is suitable for remote instruction, we’ll arrange a mutually convenient appointment using Zoom or FaceTime.
You’ll need a reliable internet connection and a device with a working camera and microphone. A second person to hold or position the camera may be helpful, but is not always necessary.
Step 3 — Evaluation and Live Instruction
We’ll discuss your dog’s history and current circumstances, establish priorities, and observe appropriate exercises or interactions.
I’ll guide you through the work, explain what we’re doing and why, and help you recognize what constitutes progress.
As with my in-home training, evaluation is part of the professional service, not a free preliminary sales presentation.
Step 4 — Practice and Continued Training
You’ll work with your dog between lessons. Depending on your goals and the dog’s progress, we may schedule additional appointments or make adjustments to the training plan.
The number of lessons depends upon the circumstances, goals, and progress. I don’t require every student to purchase the same predetermined package.
Benefits of Online Dog Training
Learn from your own home. You don’t have to travel to a training facility or arrange for a trainer to come to your house.
Access an experienced professional from outside Arizona. Remote instruction makes my services available to appropriate students regardless of their distance from Gilbert.
A practical accommodation for mobility or transportation limitations. People who have difficulty traveling or attending conventional lessons may find remote training easier to arrange.
Personalized instruction. Your appointment focuses on your dog, your questions, and your training goals rather than a general class curriculum.
Immediate feedback. I can observe appropriate exercises, respond to your questions, and help correct misunderstandings during the lesson.
Direct owner participation. You develop your own handling and training skills rather than depending on the dog performing only for a professional trainer.
Lower lesson price. Because I don’t have to travel to your home, private online lessons are usually equal to or less than my standard in-home appointments.
Limitations: When Online Training Is Not Appropriate
Online dog training can be useful, but it has important limitations.
I cannot physically examine, handle, restrain, or intervene with your dog. My view is limited by camera positioning, video quality, and what can be observed during the appointment. I also cannot reliably assess every aspect of your dog’s behavior, environment, or interactions from a video call. For these reasons, I do not offer remote training for aggression cases or situations requiring an in-person assessment of significant safety risks. This includes cases where an unsafe confrontation, attack, or serious injury may occur.
Other complicated behavior problems may also require in-person evaluation, veterinary involvement, or another qualified professional. If your situation isn’t suitable for online training, I’ll tell you rather than accept an appointment that I don’t believe is appropriate.
Dog training and behavior consulting do not replace veterinary medicine. I do not diagnose or treat medical conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need special equipment?
Usually not. You’ll need a computer, tablet, or smartphone capable of using Zoom or FaceTime, with a working camera, microphone, and reliable internet connection. Some training exercises may require ordinary equipment such as a leash, treats, toys, or a suitable training area.
Can you train my dog without being there?
I can guide you through many appropriate training exercises and evaluate information that can reasonably be obtained remotely. However, I cannot directly handle your dog or replace observations that require an in-person visit.
What if I’ve never trained a dog before?
That’s fine. Much of my work involves teaching owners. I’ll explain the training process, demonstrate when practical, observe what you’re doing, and help you learn the necessary skills.
Do I need to purchase a package?
No. We begin with an appropriate lesson and determine what further work, if any, is needed.
Can you help if I live outside Arizona?
Yes. For suitable cases, online lessons can be arranged for students throughout the United States, subject to scheduling and any applicable requirements.
Can you help with aggression online?
No. I do not accept aggression cases for remote training because appropriate evaluation and intervention may require direct professional presence, observation, and safety precautions.
Schedule an Online Dog Training Lesson
If you would like professional help with your dog but cannot arrange an in-home appointment, online training may be a practical option.
Tell me where you live, your dog’s age and breed or mix, what you’ve been experiencing, and what you would like to accomplish.
I’ll review the background information and help determine whether online instruction is appropriate.
Sam Basso — Sam The Dog Trainer
Call or text: 602-708-4531
For information about why I ask detailed questions before beginning training, read Why Dog Training Evaluation Questions Matter.
Training outcomes depend on individual circumstances and owner participation. All applicable policies and Terms of Service apply.