What Dog Trainers Get Wrong About Memberships and Online Courses

Dog trainers are told online income is “easy.” Create a course. Stick it on Kajabi or Thinkific. Say “buy my thing.” Wake up to money in your sleep. If that is true, why are so many online memberships, £7 offers and “video vaults” quietly gathering dust? This episode is all about why “easy online income” is a myth and what you actually need in place before online courses, memberships and low-cost digital offers will work for your dog business. KEY TAKEAWAYS There is a perception that online training is as simple as create a course, stick it on a platform, stick it on your website, and say - here's a course, buy my thing, and then voila, you're making money whilst you're sleeping. Easy online income is a myth: low‑ticket video courses and memberships are often harder to sell than one to one service. Giving buyers access to a big video vault just does not cut it. Free dog training advice is everywhere; people pay not for information, but for you, your personality, story, experience, guidance, and a clear, simple path to a result. Technology, including remote or online services do have a place within most dog businesses, but it needs to be used in the right way. A way that genuinely makes sense for your customers and produces good results e.g. delivering one to one lessons over Zoom. If you do run an online membership, make sure you are present and offer in-depth advice and a genuine community that owners can use to support each other. It´s not making money in your sleep Online offers only work when you already have audience, trust, and community in place. So, your first step is to actively build an audience. BEST MOMENTS “The online space is so noisy…You're no longer competing with other dog trainers for attention. You're competing with the entire advertising system.” “If it really were that simple, why is everybody not raking it in.” "The marketplace is shifting for everybody … we're craving human connection … because the tech's overwhelming everybody." “It's the equivalent of an in-person business just online.” “You got to stand out in a way that works for you, in a way that aligns with your brand. Join our free 90‑minute webinar where we’ll walk you through what’s working right now for dog pros who want a business that actually supports their life. Sign up here - https://www.caninebusinessacademy.com/90-min-masterclass SOCIALS AND IMPORTANT LINKS https://www.tiktok.com/@letstalkdogbusiness https://www.youtube.com/@LetsTalkDogBusiness Website www.caninebusinessacademy.com Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/caninebusinessacademycommunity Let´s Talk Dog Business Strategy Book - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lets-Talk-Dog-Business-Strategy/dp/1068791705 Email: [e-mail] ABOUT THE HOSTS Jo Moorcroft and Vicky Davies are dog behaviourists, business strategists, and co-founders of Canine Business Academy—the UK’s go-to hub for dog professionals who want more than just a logo and a dream. With a combined passion for dogs and business done properly, Jo and Vicky have helped hundreds of canine professionals build sustainable, profitable businesses rooted in real impact. 🏆 Their award-winning work has earned recognition including: – UK StartUp Awards: Business to Business (Midlands) – Small Business Awards UK: Most Innovative Small Business 2025 – Business Awards UK: Most Innovative Pet Product 2024 – Plus shortlists at the Women in Business and Great British Businesswoman Awards They’re also No.1 bestselling authors of Let’s Talk Dog Business Strategy, featured on BBC Radio, FOX, NBC, and more—with 63,000+ downloads of this very podcast. Their philosophy is simple: Give a shit. Get shit done. Get results. This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/