SpiritDog Training Review: An Honest Take From a Certified Trainer
By Jenna Hayes, CPDT-KAUPDATED 06/26Modern, certified-trainer courses targeting one problem at a time (reactivity, leash, puppy), with real feedback.
What SpiritDog Training Is
SpiritDog Training is an online dog training company founded by Steffi Trott, a certified trainer based in New Mexico. The whole catalog is built on positive reinforcement, so you will not find a single shock collar or prong collar recommendation anywhere in it. That matters to me, because plenty of "online programs" still quietly lean on aversive tools. SpiritDog does not.
What makes it different from most online courses is the structure. Rather than selling you one master program that tries to do everything, SpiritDog breaks training into focused courses that each solve a specific problem. Struggling with a dog who lunges at other dogs? There is a reactivity course for that. Constant pulling on walks? There is a dedicated loose-leash course. New puppy chaos? A puppy program covers it. You buy what you actually need.
Every purchase comes with lifetime access, so you can rewatch lessons months or years later when the next dog comes along or when an old problem creeps back. If you are weighing your options across the market first, our best online dog training roundup puts SpiritDog next to the other programs worth paying for.
Format and Teaching Style
The courses are video-based, short, and to the point. Steffi and her team demonstrate each step with real dogs, which is far more useful than watching someone talk over a slideshow. The production is clean, the explanations are calm, and the progression is logical: you learn a skill, practice it, then build on it.
The teaching itself is modern and reward-based. You will use markers, food rewards, and a lot of repetition broken into tiny, achievable steps. This is the same approach I use with my own clients, and it is the same philosophy behind clicker training for dogs. Nothing here relies on intimidation or corrections.
The feature that genuinely sets SpiritDog apart is instructor feedback. On most courses you can submit a video of you and your dog and get a personalized response from a certified trainer. That feedback loop is the closest thing to having a trainer in your living room, and it is what you are really paying for. A video is worth more than a thousand forum posts when you are not sure if your timing is off.
The Course Catalog and Bundles
SpiritDog's catalog is wide. The most popular courses tackle the problems owners actually search for, and you can buy them individually or grab a bundle to save money. Here is a snapshot of the main offerings and who each one fits.
| Course or bundle | What it covers | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Reactivity course | Calmer responses to dogs, people, or triggers | Owners of a reactive dog |
| Loose-leash walking | Walking without pulling, step by step | Pullers, strong dogs |
| Puppy program | Foundations, manners, early socialization | New puppy owners |
| Obedience and focus | Recall, attention, core cues | General obedience at home |
| Bundles | Several courses grouped together | Owners with more than one issue |
If your main struggle is pulling, the loose-leash course pairs well with the free fundamentals in our leash training guide. If you just brought home a puppy, the puppy program lines up with a puppy training schedule to keep you consistent day to day.
Who It Suits (and Who It Does Not)
SpiritDog is a strong match if you have one or two clear problems and want a focused, well-organized fix. The a-la-carte model means you are not paying for fifty lessons you will never watch. It is also a great fit for owners who want their work checked, since the instructor feedback turns guesswork into real progress.
It is a weaker match in a couple of situations. If you want one single, all-in-one curriculum that walks you from puppyhood through advanced obedience in a fixed order, a more linear program may feel more cohesive. In that case, compare it against The Online Dog Trainer, which is built around a continuous membership rather than standalone courses. And if your dog has serious aggression or severe separation anxiety, no online course replaces a qualified trainer or veterinary behaviorist working with you in person.
Honest reminder: you can teach a lot for free. Reputable YouTube trainers, the AKC's guides, and your own vet cover the basics well, and consistency from you matters more than any program you buy. A course like SpiritDog mainly buys structure, a clear curriculum, and that feedback loop, so it earns its keep when you want a system instead of scattered videos. For more on how I judge these programs, see how we review.
Strengths and Limits
After working through the material and watching how owners use it, here is where SpiritDog clearly wins and where it falls a little short.
Strengths:
- Fully force-free, taught by a certified trainer, with zero aversive tools.
- Focused courses let you fix one problem without buying a whole system.
- Real instructor feedback on submitted videos, which is rare at this price.
- Lifetime access, so you keep it for future dogs and future problems.
- Short, demonstration-heavy videos that are easy to follow and apply.
Limits:
- Buying several individual courses can add up, so check the bundles first.
- The a-la-carte model can feel less unified than one continuous curriculum.
- Feedback depends on you filming and submitting; it is not live coaching.
- Like any course, it only works if you put in the daily reps. No quick fix exists.
Price and Honest Verdict
SpiritDog uses one-time payments, not a recurring subscription. Individual courses are modestly priced, and bundles bring the per-course cost down meaningfully if you need to tackle more than one issue. Because access is lifetime, there is no clock ticking and no monthly renewal to forget about. Pricing does shift with sales and bundle changes, so check the current numbers on the official site before you buy.
Disclosure: we may earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. It never changes our recommendations.
My verdict: SpiritDog Training is one of the easiest force-free programs to recommend, especially if you have a specific problem and want it solved properly. The teaching is sound, the values are right, and the instructor feedback is a real differentiator. Buy it when you want structure and a trainer's eye on your work, and lean on free resources for everything else. You can see current courses and bundles at SpiritDog Training.
Still comparing? Look at how it stacks up against the alternatives in our broader coverage, weigh a course against an app in our apps roundup, and read the case for online versus in-person training before you decide.
Ready to start with SpiritDog Training? It is one of our recommended force-free programs.
Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes our recommendations (see how we review). Free resources work for most single issues.
Frequently asked questions
Is SpiritDog Training force-free?
Yes. Every course is built on positive reinforcement, and there are no shock collars, prong collars, or correction-based methods anywhere in the program. It is one of the more consistently reward-based programs on the market.
Do you really get feedback from a trainer?
On most courses, yes. You can submit videos of you working with your dog and receive a personalized response from a certified trainer. That feedback loop is the standout feature and the main reason the price is worth it for many owners.
Is SpiritDog a subscription?
No. You pay once per course or bundle and keep lifetime access. There is no monthly fee and nothing to cancel, which makes it easy to revisit lessons years later or use them with a future dog.
Should I buy individual courses or a bundle?
If you only have one problem, a single course is the cheaper, cleaner choice. If you are juggling two or more issues, such as reactivity plus pulling, a bundle usually costs less than buying each course separately. Check current bundle pricing first.
Can SpiritDog fix serious reactivity or aggression?
It can genuinely help with mild to moderate reactivity, and the reactivity course is well built. For serious aggression or severe anxiety, though, no online program replaces a qualified trainer or veterinary behaviorist working with you in person. Use the course as support, not a substitute.
Is it worth it when free resources exist?
Free guides and reputable YouTube trainers cover the basics well, and your consistency matters more than any program. SpiritDog earns its price by giving you structure, a clear curriculum, and a trainer's feedback on your own dog. Buy it when you want a system, not just scattered videos.
Positive, force-free trainer. She works through every program with real dogs before recommending it, and always points you to the free resources that are good enough. How we review →