Victoria Stilwell Academy
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersAtlanta, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
Victoria Stilwell Academy firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Victoria Stilwell Academy
- Legal name
- Victoria Stilwell Academy, LLC
- Website
- https://vsdogtrainingacademy.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Victoria Stilwell Academy industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Professional Dog Training Education
- NAICS
- Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Education & Training (Teaching/Instructional Design) Certifications (EDAAANAM)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Behavioral Medicine & Training-Integrated Veterinary Services (HLAMAAAI)
Keywords
Where Victoria Stilwell Academy is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Atlanta
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Victoria Stilwell Academy business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Professional Dog Trainer Course: Flagship certification program priced at $3,950. Includes comprehensive curriculum covering dog training skills, teaching people, and business fundamentals. Can be taken 100% online or with In-Person Track add-on ($7,450 total).
- Specialized Courses: Individual courses including Reactivity for Professionals ($499), Fundamentals of Dog Training & Behavior ($199 with promo code), and free preview courses. One-time purchase for access to course content.
- Dog Behavior Conference (DBC): Annual 3-day virtual conference offering earlybird registration at $159 (standard $189). Approved for 24 CEUs from IAABC, CCPDT, PPAB, and VSA. Generates revenue from ticket sales to dog training professionals.
- Tuition Financing: VSA partners with Climb Credit to provide financing options for students. Installment plans available (3, 6, 12, or 18 payments) with 7.5% administrative fee. Climb Credit loans range from $199 down with payments as low as $178/month.
- Scholarships: Various scholarship programs including Animal Welfare Advocate Scholarships, Group Scholarships (10% discount for 3+ students), and Pet Professional Guild scholarships. These facilitate enrollment growth rather than direct revenue generation.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Dog Trainer Course - Full Program |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Dog Trainer Course with In-Person Track |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Reactivity for Professionals Course |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Fundamentals of Dog Training & Behavior |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free Preview Course |
| Subscription | Monthly | 3-Payment Plan |
| Subscription | Monthly | 6-Payment Plan |
| Subscription | Monthly | 12-Payment Plan |
| Subscription | Monthly | 18-Payment Plan |
| Subscription | Monthly | Climb Credit Financing |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Dog Behavior Conference - Earlybird |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Dog Behavior Conference - Standard |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels9 records
Victoria Stilwell Academy product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Victoria Stilwell Academy sells professional dog training certification and continuing education courses through its proprietary Student Learning Center, with the flagship Dog Trainer Course (Level 5 OCN London accredited, $3,950) available 100% online or with an add-on In-Person Track. Supporting offerings include the Fundamentals of Dog Training & Behavior course, the Reactivity for Professionals course, the Shelter Zones Approach course, free preview courses, and the annual virtual Dog Behavior Conference (24 CEUs). The methodology is science-based positive reinforcement developed by Victoria Stilwell, delivered with 1:1 Faculty Advisor mentorship.
Product overview
Victoria Stilwell Academy is a dog training education platform offering multiple courses and programs. The flagship product is the Dog Trainer Course ($3,950), a comprehensive professional certification program that can be taken 100% online or with an add-on In-Person Track. Supporting courses include the Fundamentals of Dog Training & Behavior Course (10-hour intro at $199), the Reactivity for Professionals Course ($499), and free Starter/Preview courses. The academy also hosts the annual Dog Behavior Conference and provides financing options and scholarship programs. The Dog Trainer Course is accredited by Open College Network London at Level 5.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Dog Trainer Course: VSA's flagship professional certification program for aspiring dog trainers, combining online learning with in-person intensives and mentorship.
- Dog Behavior Conference (DBC)
- Fundamentals Course
- Reactivity for Professionals
Products and services
- Dog Trainer Course Flagship professional certification program for aspiring dog trainers, priced at $3,950 USD (£2,995 GBP). It can be taken 100% online or with an add-on In-Person Track ($7,450 total). The course is accredited by Open College Network London at Level 5 and covers dog training skills, teaching people, and business fundamentals. Each student is assigned a dedicated Faculty Advisor with weekly 60-minute Office Hours via live videoconference and Skills Assessments. Aimed at individuals seeking to become certified professional dog trainers and launch their own dog training businesses.
- Fundamentals of Dog Training & Behavior Course Introductory 10-hour course covering the fundamentals of dog training and behavior, priced at $199 with promo code 100PROMO (regular price $299). Students who complete this course and later enroll in the Dog Trainer Course receive a full refund. Aimed at dog owners and aspiring trainers who want foundational positive reinforcement training skills.
- Reactivity for Professionals Course Specialized course priced at $499 focused on dog reactivity and behavior modification for professional trainers and behavior consultants. Designed for current dog training professionals who want to expand their skills into reactivity work.
- Shelter Zones Approach Course Dedicated course focused on shelter and rescue environments, teaching force-free training techniques to reduce stress and improve outcomes for sheltered dogs. Aimed at animal welfare professionals, shelter staff, and rescue volunteers.
- Dog Behavior Conference (DBC) Annual 3-day virtual conference for dog trainers and pet professionals, featuring world-class presenters covering training, behavior, and cognitive science topics. Early-bird registration at $159 (~£119); standard at $189 (~£139). Approved for 24 CEUs from IAABC, CCPDT, PPAB, and VSA. Distributed globally as a Zoom webinar and accessible to attendees worldwide.
Quantifiable outcome
- Graduates can start profitable dog training businesses with comprehensive skill set
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Victoria Stilwell Academy
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Victoria Stilwell Academy technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature3 records
Victoria Stilwell Academy partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Open College Network (OCN) LondoncoreVSA became a Qualified Center with OCN London, with the Dog Trainer Course accredited at Level 5. This accreditation provides formal recognition of the program's quality and enables graduates to earn a recognized qualification. The partnership involved a comprehensive review process.
- Pet Professional Guild (PPG)minorPPG partners with VSA to offer full scholarships to VSA's Dog Trainer Course for PPG members once per year. This scholarship program supports PPG members seeking professional dog training certification and strengthens ties between the organizations.
- University of LincolncoreProfessor Daniel Mills, a leading international authority on companion animal behaviour from the University of Lincoln, serves on VSA's Advisory Board. He is a pioneer in pheromone therapy and has developed interventions for behaviour problems for over 20 years.
- Duke UniversitycoreDr. Brian Hare, Associate Professor of Evolutionary Anthropology at Duke University and founder of the Duke Canine Cognition Center, serves on VSA's Advisory Board. His publications on dog cognition are among the most heavily cited papers on dog behavior.
- Barnard College, Columbia UniversitycoreDr. Alexandra Horowitz, Adjunct Associate Professor of Psychology at Barnard College and Director of The Horowitz Dog Cognition Lab, serves on VSA's Advisory Board. She is author of the NYT #1 bestseller 'Inside of a Dog'.
- Karen Pryor AcademyminorSeveral faculty members and advisory board members are graduates or associated with Karen Pryor Academy, including Alicea Howell (certified through KPA in 2008) and Brad Waggoner (awarded B.F. Skinner scholarship to attend KPA).
- Villalobos Rescue CenterminorTia Torres, founder of Villalobos Rescue Center and host of 'Pit Bulls and Parolees', serves on VSA's Advisory Board, bringing expertise in rescue, training, rehabilitation, and placement work.
- Canine AssistantsminorJennifer Arnold, Founder and Executive Director of Canine Assistants (non-profit that has placed over 1,300 service dogs), serves on VSA's Advisory Board. She is a NYT bestselling author and has been profiled on CNN's HLN Leaders with Heart.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Victoria Stilwell Academy competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- Association of Professional Dog Trainers: APDT is the largest US trade association for dog trainers; multiple VSA faculty sit on its committees. It functions as an industry-body peer rather than a competitor, but defines the membership ecosystem VSA draws from.
- Pet Professional Guild: Pet Professional Guild is a force-free industry association that already partners with VSA on scholarships. It is an adjacent ecosystem player that influences referral traffic and credentialing standards in VSA's target market.
- International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants: IAABC is the leading animal behavior certifying body that approves VSA conference CEUs. It sits in the credentialing ecosystem VSA operates within, though it is not a direct competitor.
Broad incumbents
- Udemy: Udemy is the broad incumbent online learning marketplace where inexpensive ad-hoc dog training courses compete with VSA's premium certified programs. Useful as a TAM/bottom-of-market comparator for online professional pet education.
- Zoom Room Dog Training: Zoom Room is a US dog training franchise offering group classes, private lessons, and an in-house academy for franchisees. It overlaps with VSA's end customer (aspiring trainers and dog owners) but operates a retail/physical model rather than VSA's online-only certification.
Direct peers
- CATCH Canine Trainers Academy: CATCH is a mentor-based dog training certification with online coursework and hands-on components, mirroring VSA's structure. It is one of several similarly positioned programs competing for the same DTC enrollment funnel.
- Karen Pryor Academy: Karen Pryor Academy is the leading dog training professional certification program and VSA's most direct competitor. Both target aspiring trainers with mentor-led, force-free curricula; multiple VSA faculty members are KPA graduates, evidencing the tight comparability.
- Animal Behavior College: Animal Behavior College offers a distance-learning dog trainer certification with optional externships — a comparable online-plus-practical structure to VSA's DTC + In-Person Track. Targets the same entry-level aspirant market.
- Academy for Dog Trainers: Academy for Dog Trainers offers a flagship dog trainer certificate program with mentorship, directly comparable to VSA's Dog Trainer Course. It targets the same career-changer persona using force-free methodology.
- Fenzi Dog Sports Academy: Fenzi Dog Sports Academy is an online-only dog training education platform with a multi-instructor model, comparable to VSA's online + intensives hybrid. Both sell monthly subscription access and course bundles to serious hobbyists and aspiring professionals.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks2 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Victoria Stilwell Academy social profiles
Digital presenceVictoria Stilwell Academy compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Victoria Stilwell Academy financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Victoria Stilwell Academy leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Victoria Stilwell Academy funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Victoria Stilwell Academy M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Victoria Stilwell Academy
What does Victoria Stilwell Academy do?
Victoria Stilwell Academy sells professional dog training certification and continuing education courses through its proprietary Student Learning Center, with the flagship Dog Trainer Course (Level 5 OCN London accredited, $3,950) available 100% online or with an add-on In-Person Track. Supporting offerings include the Fundamentals of Dog Training & Behavior course, the Reactivity for Professionals course, the Shelter Zones Approach course, free preview courses, and the annual virtual Dog Behavior Conference (24 CEUs). The methodology is science-based positive reinforcement developed by Victoria Stilwell, delivered with 1:1 Faculty Advisor mentorship.
Is Victoria Stilwell Academy a public or private company?
Victoria Stilwell Academy is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Victoria Stilwell Academy founded?
Victoria Stilwell Academy was founded in 2012. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Victoria Stilwell Academy based?
Victoria Stilwell Academy is headquartered in Atlanta, United States, in the North America region.
How does Victoria Stilwell Academy make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Professional Dog Trainer Course is the primary driver. The others are specialized Courses, dog Behavior Conference (DBC), tuition Financing and scholarships.
Who are Victoria Stilwell Academy's main competitors?
Others on record are Association of Professional Dog Trainers, Pet Professional Guild and International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. Broad incumbents are Udemy and Zoom Room Dog Training. Direct peers are CATCH Canine Trainers Academy, Karen Pryor Academy, Animal Behavior College, Academy for Dog Trainers and Fenzi Dog Sports Academy.
Does Victoria Stilwell Academy have an API?
No public API is recorded for Victoria Stilwell Academy.
What industry is Victoria Stilwell Academy in?
Victoria Stilwell Academy's product category is Professional Dog Training Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAAANAM, Education & Training (Teaching/Instructional Design) Certifications, with a secondary code of HLAMAAAI, Behavioral Medicine & Training-Integrated Veterinary Services. Its NAICS code is 6115 and its SIC code is 8200.