Workbook or Online Course: Which Format Suits You?

Key takeaways

• A workbook works well if you're self-disciplined, want to work at your own pace and are ready to get started straight away.
• A supported online course helps if you need structure, a clear framework and feedback to stay on track.
• The key question is: how much time do you realistically have each week, and how do you prefer to learn?
• For many people, combining a short course with a companion workbook produces the best results because it brings theory and practice together.
• The free Business Check or Petfluencer Check helps you find out which format suits your current goals.

Workbook or online course? The honest answer depends on three things: how you learn, your available time and your goals. A workbook is ideal if you want to work independently at your own pace, while a supported online course suits you if you need structure and a clear framework.

I'm Michael, a mantrailing trainer from Vienna, and over the years I've sold well over 4,600 online courses. In that time, I've seen one thing again and again: even the best format is no use if it doesn't suit you. That's what this article is about. This isn't a sales pitch for one format or the other, but an honest guide to help you decide.

The strengths of workbooks for independent learning

A workbook is a book of practical exercises. You read short prompts, then fill things in, plan, write and put ideas into practice. No waiting for the next lesson, no appointments in your calendar. You get started when you have the time and feel ready.

That's its greatest strength. People who work independently usually want to get straight into action. A workbook makes you do exactly that. You answer questions about your own services, not a made-up example. By the end, you have something tangible that's your own.

What's more, writing helps you think. When you write about your pricing or niche in your own words rather than just clicking an option, it sinks in better. That's exactly why my workbook “My Course, My Business" includes plenty of practical fill-in exercises.

Workbooks work well if:

• you're good at setting your own goals and following through
• you want to work at your own pace and on your own schedule
• you want to put a specific project into action straight away
• you prefer reading and writing to watching videos

A small example from my everyday life: when I work on a new search exercise with Petra, my female Heideterrier, I briefly plan the steps on paper beforehand. The session then runs more smoothly. A workbook works in much the same way. Plan first, then act.

When a supported online course makes more sense

Now for the other side. Not everyone enjoys working away on their own. And that's where a real weakness of self-study becomes apparent.

In the eLearning BENCHMARKING Study 2024, companies reported that only around 62 per cent of employees fully use the learning time provided for self-directed learning. The rest use only part of it. In plain terms, independent learning takes a lot of inner motivation, and that isn't equally strong for everyone every day.

A similar pattern appears in open online courses. An analysis published in 2024 in the academic journal Open Praxis found a completion rate of only about 30 per cent across all those enrolled in massive open online courses. When only learners who actually got started were considered, the rate rose significantly. The takeaway: a clear framework helps you stick with it.

A supported online course provides that framework. You have a clear path, a sequence to follow, often videos and exercises, and the opportunity to ask questions. That's invaluable when a topic feels new and overwhelming.

A supported course is a better fit if:

• you need structure to avoid getting stuck
• a topic is new to you and you want step-by-step guidance
• feedback and discussion matter to you
• you find set lessons easier than open-ended work

This clear framework is also why many animal professionals later offer their own expertise as a supported course rather than just a loose collection of files. It makes participants more likely to stay engaged.

Be realistic about how you learn and the time you have

Before you decide, be honest with yourself. Two questions will help you more than any outside recommendation.

How do you prefer to learn?

Some people love browsing pages, highlighting passages and filling things in themselves. Others need a voice guiding them through a topic. Neither is better. They're simply different.

Imagine you want to recalculate your prices. Would you happily sit down with a notebook and a coffee and work through the figures in peace? Then a workbook is your kind of format. Or do you need someone to show you how other animal professionals structure their pricing before you begin? Then a course is the format for you.

How much time do you really have?

This is where it gets uncomfortable. Many people overestimate the time they have. It's better to be cautious.

• Do you only have irregular stretches of 20 to 30 minutes? Then a workbook you can put down and pick up again at any time is a good fit.
• Do you have regular time slots each week when you can concentrate? Then a course with lessons could work well.
• Do you often struggle to get started at all? Then the structure of a supported course will help you more than any self-directed option.

If you're just starting out, it's worth taking an honest look at the foundations of your business first. Knowing where you want to go in those first few weeks helps you use your learning time more purposefully. It's better to work through one small topic properly than leave three big ones half-finished.

Combine a workbook and an online course for the best results

Here's the part most people overlook. Often, you don't have to choose at all.

The strongest results come when theory and practice come together. For years, research into what is known as blended learning—the combination of guided learning and independent work—has shown a clear advantage over purely traditional teaching. The reason is simple: the course gives you the knowledge, and the workbook helps you apply it immediately to your own animal-related business.

Here's what that can look like in practice:

1. You watch a short lesson or read a prompt on a topic, such as your niche.
2. Then you pick up your workbook and answer the questions for your specific services.
3. You put a first step into practice straight away, such as writing a sentence for your website.
4. Next time, you build on that.

That turns watching into real action. It's exactly why I offer affordable introductory options such as 99 Tips for 1 Euro, so you can start small and then decide whether you want to go deeper.

If you're still unsure about your niche, Finding Your Niche as a Dog Trainer can help. It's a good first topic for trying out both formats.

How Schnauze.digital fits your goals

At Schnauze.digital, you'll find both formats by design, because there is no one-size-fits-all solution.

If you're self-employed in the animal sector—as a dog trainer, animal physiotherapist or animal naturopath—the workbooks are designed to get you working on your own services straight away. You plan your prices, refine your niche and, if you need to, build your own online course. All at your own pace.

If you're a pet owner and want to build an account featuring your pet, the Petfluencer Workbook helps you move step by step from your first post to a clear direction. One thing always matters to me: animal welfare comes before reach. No amount of reach is worth doing something with your pet that compromises their wellbeing.

You don't have to commit straight away. Start small, perhaps with the 99 Tips or an affordable workbook, and see how you get on.

And if you're not sure where you stand right now, take the free Business Check if you're self-employed and work with animals, or the Petfluencer Check if you want to get started with your pet. Both checks take just a few minutes and show you which format and next step fit your current goals. That's the most honest starting point I can offer you.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between a workbook and an online course?

A workbook contains exercises you fill in and work through at your own pace. An online course guides you through a topic with videos or lessons, often with more structure and sometimes with support.

Who benefits more from a workbook than an online course?

A workbook is worthwhile if you enjoy writing, work independently and want to put a specific project into practice straight away, without relying on scheduled sessions or videos.

Can I combine a workbook and an online course?

Yes, and for many people that's the best approach. The course provides the foundations, while the workbook helps you apply what you've learned immediately to your own animal-related business.

How do I find out which format suits me?

Be honest about how much time you have each week and how you prefer to learn. The free Business Check or Petfluencer Check from Schnauze.digital gives you a clear direction.