Maybe your dog lunges and barks at every dog on the street. Maybe you've just brought home a puppy who bites everything, or a rescue dog who flinches at new things. You want real progress, but private sessions with a trainer can add up fast, and you'd rather learn at home on your own schedule.
SpiritDog Training is built for exactly that situation. It's an online dog training company that sells self-paced video courses focused on specific problems, from reactivity and leash pulling to puppy basics and helping rescue dogs settle. Its training is positive and game-based, and its courses come with lifetime access.
This review walks through what SpiritDog offers, how the courses work, the support you can expect, who it suits best and what to check before you buy.
Our verdict
SpiritDog is a strong option for owners who want structured, reward-based online training aimed at a specific problem, especially reactivity, leash walking, puppies or rescue dogs. The standout reasons are its clear commitment to positive methods, focused courses that break skills into short daily lessons, lifetime access to what you buy, and a money-back guarantee on its courses. Customer feedback on Trustpilot is strongly positive.
It's best suited to owners who can practice a few minutes most days and are comfortable learning from video. Dogs with serious aggression, bite history or severe anxiety still need an individual professional alongside any course.
Explore SpiritDog's online training courses
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This link takes you to SpiritDog Training's homepage, where you can browse its courses and free resources.
The strongest reasons to consider SpiritDog
Positive, reward-based methods
SpiritDog describes its training as positive and game-based. Its Rescue Dog Bundle page states plainly: "We do not use punishments or corrections in any of our courses" (SpiritDog: Rescue Dog Bundle).
That matters. The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior states that evidence supports the use of reward-based methods for all canine training (AVSAB). If you want a course that fits that approach, SpiritDog's stated philosophy lines up with it. Independent reviewers at iHeartDogs also describe the program as using no physical or verbal corrections, corrective collars or intimidation (iHeartDogs: SpiritDog Training review).
Courses built around specific problems
Rather than one general membership, SpiritDog's catalog is organized around the problems owners actually face. Its online courses page currently lists programs for reactivity, puppies, rescue dogs, leash walking and focus, plus a private mentorship option (SpiritDog: Online courses). You can choose the course that matches what's happening with your dog right now.
Short lessons you can fit into your day
SpiritDog's courses page refers to "10-minute daily lessons," and its Rescue Dog Bundle page says sessions can be as brief as three minutes. Its Calm Walk Formula is built around daily video lessons of about four to seven minutes. Short, frequent sessions are easier to keep up than long ones, especially with a busy household.
Lifetime access
SpiritDog's courses page promises "lifetime access" to its courses. You can revisit lessons as your dog grows, when a problem reappears or when you're ready to take a skill further.
A money-back guarantee
SpiritDog's homepage and online courses page advertise a 30-day money-back guarantee on its courses, and some course pages offer a longer window. That gives you time to start the training and see whether the approach suits you and your dog. There's more on the exact terms below.
See SpiritDog's current courses and guarantee
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Who's behind SpiritDog?
SpiritDog's head trainer is Steffi Trott, based in New Mexico. According to SpiritDog's Meet the Trainer page, she has been teaching since 2013, has trained thousands of clients locally and online, has taught seminars in the US and Europe and competes in agility with her own dogs (SpiritDog: Meet the Trainer).
The page describes her approach as "positive & game-based" and says every plan takes into account "the individual disposition, strengths and weaknesses of the dog." It also lists the European and American agility trainers she has studied with. SpiritDog customers on Trustpilot often mention Steffi and her team by name when praising the support they received.
What SpiritDog offers
Here's what SpiritDog's online courses page listed when we checked.
Ultimate Reactivity Reset System. A video-based program for reactive dogs who lunge and bark at triggers. SpiritDog describes it as including step-by-step video protocols and a library of six courses.
Super Puppy. A puppy program covering potty training, nipping and biting, and obedience.
Rescue Dog Bundle. A slower-paced, trust-building program for dogs with fear or anxiety. Its course page lists four core courses (Basic Obedience, Focus in Public, Tackling Reactivity and Stop Resource Guarding) plus bonus mini-courses on topics such as potty training, crate training and jumping.
Calm Walk Formula. A 28-day follow-along program for leash pulling and reactivity on walks, with eight bonus resources, including a troubleshooting guide, a training calendar and a long line mini course (SpiritDog: Calm Walk Formula).
The Perfect Focus Bundle. Focus games and practice with real-world distractions.
SpiritDog Private Mentorship. A custom six-week plan with weekly one-to-one calls and daily texted tasks, offered by application.
SpiritDog's homepage also offers a free seven-day email course, which can be a useful way to sample the teaching style before you choose a paid course.
Choose a course around your main training goal
The clearest starting point is the situation you want to work on first. SpiritDog's online course catalogue presents focused options, so you can compare the lessons with the skill you want to practise.
- For reactivity on walks, compare the Ultimate Reactivity Reset System, presented as a six-course reactivity library, with the Calm Walk Formula, a 28-day follow-along plan with short daily videos and two brief practice sessions. The catalogue describes the first as a reactivity system and the second as a walk-focused routine. Check each current outline to see which one matches your goal.
- For puppy foundations, the Super Puppy course covers potty training, nipping and biting, and obedience. The published course description can help you see whether those are the areas you want to work on now.
- For a newly adopted or fearful dog, the Rescue Dog Bundle combines four core courses with eight bonus mini-courses. Its course page also describes a community and weekly Zoom Q&A calls for that bundle.
- For focus around distractions, the Perfect Focus Bundle is listed for focus games and real-world practice. If you want more individualized guidance, SpiritDog lists a six-week Private Mentorship with weekly one-to-one calls and daily texted tasks, offered by application.
Before choosing, write down one concrete situation you want to improve and check whether the course outline addresses it. Consider how much feedback you will use: the support described for the Rescue Dog Bundle should not be assumed to apply to every course. If you want to sample the teaching first, SpiritDog's homepage offers a free seven-day email course. At checkout, review the current price, refund window, access terms and support for the exact course you select. A focused course can give you a clear practice structure, while safety or health concerns still call for individual professional support.
How the online training works
SpiritDog's courses are pre-recorded and on-demand. You get access straight after checkout and work through the lessons at your own pace, on a computer or mobile device.
Based on SpiritDog's course pages, a typical course includes:
- Video lessons that, according to SpiritDog's courses page, show each skill from the beginning through to mastery
- Written instructions and downloadable PDFs to keep beside you while you practice
- Quizzes at the end of sections, on some courses
- A comment area under each class for questions
- A progress dashboard, according to independent reviewers at iHeartDogs
The Calm Walk Formula is a good example of the structure. SpiritDog describes a daily lesson of a few minutes, followed by two short practice sessions with your dog. The core idea is a calm pre-walk routine at home, including sniffing and focus games, before you head out and gradually add distractions. As SpiritDog puts it on that page, "The walk starts before you ever leave the house."
That approach suits real life. Most owners don't have an hour a day for training, but they can manage a few minutes before breakfast and dinner.
SpiritDog's Rescue Dog Bundle page also says its videos feature dogs from 20 different breeds. Seeing a skill taught to several kinds of dogs can make it easier to picture how it will look with your own, whether you have a small, sensitive dog or a big, bouncy one.
Because everything is recorded, you can also pause, rewatch a tricky section or show a lesson to everyone in the household, so the whole family trains the same way. That consistency is often what makes the difference between a skill that sticks and one that falls apart.
Support, feedback and community
Self-paced video training works best when you can ask questions as you go. SpiritDog's Rescue Dog Bundle page describes:
- Trainer answers within 24 hours, Monday to Friday
- Video feedback, where community members can upload clips for trainer feedback
- The SpiritDog Community, for questions and support
- Weekly live Zoom Q&A calls with trainers, with recordings of past calls. SpiritDog describes these calls as exclusive to that bundle.
SpiritDog's homepage also lists a phone number, an email address and a support chat.
Support details can differ between courses, so check what's included on the page for the course you're considering. If live calls or video feedback matter to you, our guide on self-paced dog training or live coaching can help you decide how much support you need.
Who is SpiritDog best for?
SpiritDog is likely to suit you if:
- Your dog is reactive on walks and you want a structured, positive plan you can follow at home. Reactivity is clearly a central focus for SpiritDog, with a dedicated system and a leash-walking program.
- You have a new puppy and want help with potty training, biting and early manners.
- You've adopted a rescue dog who needs patience and confidence-building.
- Your dog pulls on the leash and you'd like a day-by-day plan.
- You prefer reward-based training and want a provider that says it doesn't use punishment or corrections.
- You'd rather learn at home, at your own pace, than travel to classes.
If your dog's reactivity is part of a wider pattern of barking at other dogs, our guide on what to do when your dog barks at other dogs on walks explains the basics, and SpiritDog's reactivity programs go much deeper.
SpiritDog may not be the right first step if your dog has bitten, shows serious aggression, panics when left alone or has had a sudden change in behavior. Those situations need your vet and an individual, qualified behavior professional. A course can still be a helpful support alongside that care. Our guide on when your dog needs professional behavior help explains how to find the right help.
Find the right SpiritDog course for your dog
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What customers say
On Trustpilot, SpiritDog Training had a TrustScore of 4.4 out of 5, rated "Excellent," from 144 reviews when we checked on October 15, 2026, with 90% of reviews at five stars (Trustpilot: SpiritDog Training reviews). Trustpilot notes that the company hasn't recently invited customers to leave reviews.
Common themes in the positive reviews include knowledgeable, responsive trainers, the depth of the training resources and progress with reactive dogs on walks and recall. Trustpilot notes that the company has not recently invited customers to leave reviews, so treat the score as a snapshot of published feedback rather than a prediction of your dog's results.
Independent reviewers at iHeartDogs rated SpiritDog 4.5 stars after trying it with a young Goldendoodle, praising the positive methods, prompt trainer answers and detailed materials. Like most review sites, iHeartDogs earns commission through affiliate links.
Every dog is different, and reviews describe individual experiences rather than typical results.
Prices, guarantee and terms
SpiritDog's prices vary by course and change with offers, so check the current price on the course page before you buy. When we checked, the online courses page and an individual course page showed different prices and guarantee periods for the same bundle, so the checkout page is the best guide to what applies to you.
A few terms are worth knowing:
- Money-back guarantee. SpiritDog's homepage advertises a 30-day money-back guarantee on every course. Its Terms of Service say refunds are given within 30 days of joining (SpiritDog: Terms of Service). Some course pages advertise a longer, 60-day guarantee, and the Calm Walk Formula also has its own "Calm Walk in 7 Days" guarantee with conditions.
- No guaranteed outcome. The Terms of Service note that SpiritDog can't guarantee the outcome of its recommendations, which is true of any training.
- Lifetime access. SpiritDog describes course access as lifetime.
Our guide on how to assess an online dog training program before buying has a short checklist that's useful for any course purchase.
Tips for getting the most from a SpiritDog course
- Pick one course for your biggest problem first. It's easier to stay consistent with one clear plan.
- Schedule short sessions. Tie them to things you already do, such as before meals.
- Use the support. Ask questions early, and use video feedback where your course includes it.
- Track progress. A quick note after each session helps you see change over weeks, not days.
- Keep safety first. For reactive dogs, keep enough distance from triggers while you train.
If leash pulling is your main issue, our guide on loose-leash walking foundations explains why practice before the walk matters, which fits well with SpiritDog's Calm Walk approach.
Frequently asked questions
Is SpiritDog Training positive reinforcement based?
Yes. SpiritDog describes its training as positive, game-based and science-based, and its Rescue Dog Bundle page states that it doesn't use punishments or corrections in any of its courses.
How long do I have access to SpiritDog courses?
SpiritDog describes course access as lifetime, starting immediately after checkout.
Does SpiritDog offer a money-back guarantee?
Yes. SpiritDog advertises a 30-day money-back guarantee on its courses, and some course pages offer 60 days. Check the guarantee shown for your course at checkout.
Can I ask a trainer questions?
SpiritDog's Rescue Dog Bundle page says a professional trainer answers student questions within 24 hours, Monday to Friday, and that community members can upload videos for feedback. Check the support details on the page for your chosen course.
Is there a free option?
SpiritDog's homepage offers a free seven-day email course.
Can SpiritDog help with aggression?
SpiritDog offers courses on reactivity and resource guarding. If your dog has bitten or shows serious aggression, work with your vet and a qualified behavior professional, and use any course alongside that support.
Final verdict: is SpiritDog worth exploring?
If you want positive, practical online training aimed at a specific problem, SpiritDog is well worth a look. Its clear stance against punishment, focused courses for reactivity, puppies, rescues and leash walking, short daily lessons, lifetime access and money-back guarantee make it an easy provider to recommend exploring, especially for owners who want to train at home on their own schedule.
Start by choosing the course that matches your dog's biggest challenge, check the current price and guarantee on its page, and use the support as you go.
Explore SpiritDog Training's courses
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You can also browse our online training guides to compare your options.
Affiliate disclosure: This review contains affiliate links to SpiritDog Training. If you buy a course through these links, DogTrainingScout may earn a commission. SpiritDog sets its own prices and terms. This review is based on research of SpiritDog's public pages and independent sources, checked on October 15, 2026. Details can change, so check the current offer before you buy.