SpiritDog Training Review 2026: My Honest Experience After 5+ Years

If you’re wondering whether SpiritDog Training is worth it, my honest answer is yes, for many dog owners it is.

I first found SpiritDog because I needed better help with reactivity. I did not want more random training tips. I wanted a plan I could actually follow with my own dogs.

Since then, I’ve used SpiritDog for several different struggles in my own home: Ginger’s resource guarding, Bear’s leash pulling, Thunder’s focus and patience, and Wizard’s reactivity.

So this review is based on real use with real dogs in real life.

If you’ve ever stood in your driveway bracing yourself before a walk, felt embarrassed by your dog barking or lunging, or wondered if you’re helping your dog or making things worse, I understand that feeling. That is exactly why I recommend SpiritDog.

➡️ Check out SpiritDog Training here

SpiritDog Training Quick Review

Want the video version? I also shared my SpiritDog Training review on YouTube. In the video below, I walk through my personal experience using SpiritDog and why I’ve continued recommending it.

My Real Experience With SpiritDog

I’ve used SpiritDog with four very different dogs, which gives me a pretty good feel for how the training holds up in real life.

Ginger needed help with resource guarding.

Bear used to pull so hard on leash that walks felt stressful before we even got started.

Thunder needed to learn patience while another dog was being trained nearby.

Wizard’s reactivity pushed me to look for training that went deeper than “just get his attention with a treat.”

SpiritDog did not magically fix every issue overnight. Real training takes time. But it gave me something I could come back to when I felt stuck… a clear plan, broken into small steps.

Why I Chose SpiritDog Training

The first SpiritDog course I got was the Tackling Reactivity Bundle. That one got my attention because reactivity can take over your daily life fast.

Walks become stressful. Having guests over becomes complicated or impossible. You start scanning the street, hoping you notice the other dog before your dog does. I’ve been there.

What I liked was that the course helped explain what was happening underneath the reaction. Once I understood that better, training felt less frustrating.

That’s why I keep using SpiritDog. The lessons feel doable, the training methods match how I want to work with my dogs, and I can fit the practice into real life.

How Much Does SpiritDog Training Cost?

SpiritDog pricing can change depending on the course, bundle, promotion, or access option available at the time.

Based on current SpiritDog pages, many individual courses and bundles fall somewhere between about $49 and $149. Full-library or all-access offers may cost more.

I would choose based on the problem you need help with first. If walks are miserable because your dog barks and lunges, start with reactivity. If your dog is nervous or shut down, start with confidence work. If your dog ignores you outside, start with focus or recall.

➡️ See current SpiritDog courses and pricing here

Which SpiritDog Course Should You Start With?

The SpiritDog Courses I’d Look At First

Tackling Reactivity Bundle

⭐️ Best for: dogs who bark, lunge, growl, or overreact to dogs, people, cars, or movement.

This is where I started, and it is still the first place I’d send someone if reactivity is the main struggle.

Reactivity is exhausting because it follows you everywhere. A simple walk turns into a strategy session. You watch for other dogs, cross streets early, tighten the leash, and hope your dog can hold it together.

And it’s not just for leash reactivity. This course covers sound reactivity, reactivity towards visitors, TV, and even in the car.

What I liked about this course is that it helped me understand what was driving the behavior. That helped me approach Wizard with more patience and a better plan.

➡️ Learn more about the Tackling Reactivity Bundle

Confidence Booster

⭐️ Best for: nervous rescue dogs, shut-down dogs, hesitant dogs, or dogs who seem unsure of the world.

Confidence work is one of the most overlooked parts of training. When a dog starts to feel safer, everyday things often get easier too: walks, new sounds, new people, new places, and simple routines around the house.

This is one of the first courses I’d look at for a rescue dog who needs trust-building and gentle structure.

➡️ Check out the Confidence Booster program

Coming When Called

⭐️ Best for: dogs who listen in the house and forget you exist outside.

Recall can keep your dog safe, but it has to work beyond the living room. This type of training helps your dog learn that paying attention to you is worthwhile, even when the world is exciting.

I love this course because Steffi makes it fun using games… which is my favorite way to train my dogs… when we both can have fun and learn at the same time.

➡️ Check out the Coming When Called course

Perfect Focus Bundle

⭐️ Best for: distracted dogs, impulsive dogs, busy dogs, or dogs who struggle to stay connected during training.

I love the bundles because you get the best deal. With this one you get: Focus in Public, Recall Expert Course, Calm Down Course… all with lifetime access to all videos and resources.

Focus work helped me with Thunder because he needed more than a cue. He needed practice staying mentally present while other things were happening around him.

➡️ Learn more about the Perfect Focus Bundle

Rescue Dog Bundle

⭐️ Best for: newly adopted dogs, nervous rescue dogs, and dog parents who want help with confidence, trust, and basic training after adoption.

This is one I’d look at if you recently adopted a dog and you’re trying to figure out where to start. The first few weeks and months can feel like a lot. Your dog may be scared, shut down, overstimulated, clingy, reactive, or simply unsure of what life looks like now.

That’s why I like the idea of a rescue-focused bundle. It gives you a more thoughtful starting point than jumping straight into obedience and expecting your dog to “just listen.”

For many rescue dogs, the first goal is not perfect behavior. It’s helping them feel safe, learn your routine, build trust, and slowly gain confidence. Once that foundation is there, everything else becomes easier.

➡️ Start building your pup’s confidence today

What’s Inside SpiritDog?

SpiritDog courses are usually broken into short, easy-to-follow lessons. Depending on the course or offer, you may see video lessons, written instructions, printable materials, progress tracking, and trainer support or Q&A.

1. Short video lessons
2. Written explanations
3. Step-by-step training instructions
4. Printable materials
5. Course progress tracking
6. Access you can revisit over time
7. Trainer support or Q&A, depending on the course or offer

I like that I can watch a lesson, try it with my dog, and come back later when I need a refresher. That is much more useful to me than trying to remember everything from a single class or private session.

SpiritDog Pros and Cons

SpiritDog vs. Other Dog Training Options

SpiritDog vs. Brain Training for Dogs

Brain Training for Dogs is another popular online training program. It works more like a structured level-by-level program.

SpiritDog is stronger when you want help with a specific issue, such as reactivity, leash walking, recall, focus, or confidence. That is why I prefer SpiritDog for many rescue dog owners.

SpiritDog vs. Local Group Classes

Group classes can be helpful for dogs who are ready to work around distractions. The challenge is that you share the trainer with several other people and dogs, and the class moves on whether your dog is ready or not.

SpiritDog lets you move at your dog’s pace. You can pause, rewind, repeat, and practice when your dog is actually ready to learn.

SpiritDog vs. Private In-Person Training

Private training is the right choice when there is serious aggression, a bite history, or a safety concern.

For many common training struggles, SpiritDog can be a good first step or a helpful supplement. It gives you a plan to work from before spending hundreds or thousands of dollars on one-on-one help.

Who SpiritDog Is Best For

SpiritDog may be a good fit if you:

• want step-by-step training you can follow at home
• prefer positive training methods
• have a rescue dog who needs confidence and patience
• are dealing with reactivity, leash pulling, recall, focus, or basic manners
• want something more organized than random free videos
• are willing to practice in short sessions consistently

Who May Need In-Person Help First

SpiritDog may not be the best first step if:

• your dog has a bite history
• your dog’s behavior feels unsafe
• your dog has severe aggression
• you need hands-on help with timing, leash handling, or body language
• you know you will not follow through without scheduled accountability

There is no shame in needing more support. Some dogs need an experienced professional in the room.

Is SpiritDog Worth It?

For me, yes.

I’ve used it long enough to know it was more than a good first impression. It has been useful across several dogs, several issues, and several seasons of life.

The biggest value is clarity.

When you’re struggling with your dog, especially a rescue dog, advice can get overwhelming fast. Everyone has an opinion. Every video says something slightly different. You try one thing, then another, and pretty soon you’re exhausted.

SpiritDog gives you a place to start and a path to follow.

That is worth every single penny you invest in your dog’s training.

Frequently Asked Questions

My Final Thoughts

I will always recommend SpiritDog because it has held up in my own life.

I’ve used it with Ginger, Bear, Thunder, and Wizard. I’ve used it for a variety of training scenarios… leash struggles, focus issues, confidence work, and the everyday training pieces that make life with dogs easier.

What I appreciate most is that SpiritDog gives you a plan. It helps you stop spinning in circles and start working on the next small step.

And when you love a dog who is struggling, that small step can mean everything.

If you want easy and practical training you can do at home, SpiritDog is worth its weight in gold. Start with the course that matches your biggest challenge right now and go from there.