can on line training courses be valuable?

I think an online consultation or class with a top trainer could be very helpful, especially if you want a critique of your handling. I'm assuming you would have access to competition quality equipment to film your videos to send to them?

I think it sounds great, and I would do it myself (if I knew of trainers offering these classes), but I see it costing a lot! I'll bet some of them charge and arm and a leg. There's a world class trainer in town that I'd love to work with (since she offers private lessons and consultations), but she charges a lot, and it's hard for me to afford entering agility trials with one dog and paying for classes for my other one at the same time as it is. But, otherwise it would be great to do.

Typically I would say no, but with the aid of videoing yourself that may have some benefit. It's not something I'd personally do, but I could see some merit for others.

I would exhaust all local or otherwise accessible trainers before resorting to this though.

What I would advise with this sort of course is to first train with a present trainer to just get the basics down. Then seek the help of these remote trainers to fine tune your skills.

That way it's more understandable what the trainer is advising and you can benefit more.

The only way I'd resort to those is if I had absolutely no local trainers to help me. Immediate feedback is imperative, plus a video is only a very limited way to communicate what you're doing. Nothing compares to seeing it in person and being able to discuss it.

If you have money to burn, go for it. Can't hurt. But I wouldn't expect much in the way of results.

EDIT:

Here's another idea: are there a fair number of serious agility competitors in your area? If so, get together to sponsor a world-class trainer to come in for a seminar. Allow time for everyone to get some one-on-one personal training

I would be very careful. A lot of video's could be a scam. You don't know until it's to late and you have spent the money. If you have Petco, Petsmart in your area, call the trainers there. You never know if they train agility or if they might know of someone in your area. I have been scammed before, not in this area, but I learned a lesson. If you can't see the dog, the car, the house, the video before purchase then don't buy it. I wish you luck and who knows, you may be one of the lucky ones that get into a good reliable company. But, in the end, if your going to teach your dog agility, then you are going to want to compete. There has to be people around your area that has the same love for agility as you.

Dog trainers doing online courses are just trying to expand their market...ALWAYS get their credentials before signing up, the wrong training can harm your dog emotionally and physically as well as you and your family. There is nothing better then hands on training with a dog and having a professional trainer present.

I'd be skeptical, but perhaps if you're going for help on something specific and its in addition to training regularly with other people and their dogs. Your dog needs to be able to work in the atmosphere of a trial, with lots of distractions and noise. Plus if you or your dog are doing something wrong, you need to know the instant it happens and fix it then, not whenever the trainer gets back to you after the fact.

rotflmfao......NO!