Key Insights from Research on the Zigzag Dog Training App

This page shares key takeaways from a peer-reviewed research study exploring whether a digital puppy training app may help reduce behavioural problems in dogs.

The findings are based on the study:

Rowland, T. et al. (2025)
Educational Apps and Dog Behavioural Problem Prevention: Associations Between the Zigzag Dog-Training App and Behavioural Problems
Published in Animals (2025, 15, 520).

The research was conducted by scientists from the Animal Behaviour, Cognition and Welfare Research Group at the University of Lincoln.

This article highlights the main insights from the research for researchers, professionals, and curious dog owners alike.

👉 This page summarises the findings.
👉 Read the full research paper and how the research was conducted separately.

Why Puppy Behaviour Research Matters

Behavioural problems are one of the most common challenges faced by dog owners.

They can affect both dog welfare and owner wellbeing, and in more serious cases may lead to:

  • relinquishment to shelters
  • return to breeders
  • behavioural euthanasia
  • increased risk of injury from aggressive behaviour

Many behavioural problems begin during early puppy development, which means early owner education is one of the most important opportunities for prevention.

However, not every owner has access to professional trainers or puppy classes.

Digital learning tools – such as puppy training apps like Zigzag – may provide a way to make evidence-based guidance more widely accessible.

What Did the Research Study Investigate?

The study examined whether using the Zigzag puppy training app was associated with differences in behavioural problem severity.

Researchers analysed survey responses from 367 puppy owners, including:

  • 173 owners who used the Zigzag training app
  • 194 owners who reported doing no training

Importantly, the Zigzag group included owners who used the app but did not attend puppy classes or formal in-person training, allowing researchers to better examine the potential role of the app.

Owners were asked about 21 common puppy behavioural challenges, including:

  • chewing
  • barking
  • aggression
  • house soiling
  • escaping
  • noise fear
  • separation-related behaviours

Each behaviour was rated on a four-point scale, ranging from:

  • No problem
  • Mild problem
  • Moderate problem
  • Severe problem

The researchers then analysed whether greater completion of the app’s first four learning chapters was associated with lower behavioural problem severity.

What Were the Main Findings?

Across the behaviours studied, higher completion of the Zigzag training app was generally associated with lower odds of more severe behavioural problems.

Key overall findings included:

  • 19 out of 21 behavioural outcomes showed associations favouring lower severity with greater app completion
  • No behaviours showed clear evidence of worsening with app use
  • Several behaviours showed meaningful reductions in severity

Because the study was observational, it cannot prove that the app directly caused these outcomes. However, the results suggest that structured educational tools may play a useful role in early behavioural prevention.

Which Puppy Behaviour Problems Were Most Associated with App Use?

Some behavioural outcomes showed stronger associations with app engagement than others.

Familiar Aggression

One of the most notable findings was a reduction in the severity of aggressive behaviour toward familiar people.

Aggressive behaviour toward household members is particularly important because it is commonly linked with:

  • safety concerns
  • breakdown of the human-dog relationship
  • relinquishment risk

House Soiling

Owners who completed more of the app’s early chapters reported lower severity of house-training problems.

While house soiling is common in young puppies, prolonged issues can create stress for owners and negatively affect the early owner-dog relationship.

Destructive Chewing

Chewing is a normal exploratory behaviour in puppies but is often perceived as problematic by owners.

Higher completion of the Zigzag app was associated with reduced severity of chewing problems, potentially reflecting better management strategies and improved owner understanding.

Escaping Behaviour

The study also found evidence suggesting reduced severity of escape behaviour among more engaged app users.

Escaping behaviour can pose serious safety risks for dogs, especially in urban environments.

Additional Positive Associations

The research also identified associations suggesting lower severity of:

  • noise fear
  • excessive barking

While these findings showed wider uncertainty ranges, the overall pattern remained consistent with potential behavioural benefits associated with higher app engagement.

Why Early Training and Owner Education Matter

A growing body of behavioural science research shows that early experiences strongly influence dog behaviour later in life.

Common risk factors for behavioural problems include:

  • poor early socialisation
  • inconsistent training approaches
  • lack of owner knowledge about puppy development
  • use of aversive training techniques

Providing accessible, science-based guidance during early puppyhood may help reduce the likelihood of these problems developing.

Educational tools — including digital apps — may help reach owners who might not otherwise access professional training support.

Limitations of the Research

As with all observational studies, the results should be interpreted carefully.

Key limitations include:

  • The study was cross-sectional, meaning it captured a snapshot in time
  • The research cannot establish causal relationships
  • Some behavioural outcomes had relatively small sample sizes
  • App engagement was based on self-reported completion

The authors emphasise that further research – including longitudinal and experimental studies – is needed to better understand the causal impact of digital training tools.

What This Research Means

This study provides the first published scientific evidence exploring associations between a dog training app and behavioural problem severity in puppies.

While more research is needed, the findings suggest that:

  • accessible educational tools may support better early behaviour outcomes
  • structured guidance may help reduce common puppy behaviour challenges
  • digital learning may complement traditional training and behaviour support

Understanding how technology can support responsible dog ownership and early behavioural development is an important area for future research.

Read the Full Research Paper

These insights are drawn from the peer-reviewed study:

Rowland, T.; de Assis, L.; Menteith, C.; Winter, L.; Zulch, H.; Mills, D.S. (2025)
Educational Apps and Dog Behavioural Problem Prevention: Associations Between the Zigzag Dog-Training App and Behavioural Problems
Published in Animals (2025), Volume 15, Article 520.

You can read the full paper here:
https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15040520

You can also explore our companion whitepaper, which translates the research findings into practical insights for the wider dog-care community.