The Weekly Woof

🗞️ **THE WEEKLY WOOF**  

Powered by iSpeakDog! + The Dog Director  

GROUP CLASS FOR INTERMEDIATE AT 11am. – see you there this Sunday at the usual spot. Bring your best focus and let’s keep building on that solid foundation!  

🐕 **Pack Walk Alert!**  

Mark your calendar! The next **THE Pack Walk of OC** is happening on  

🗓 April 25th  

🕔 5:00 PM  

📍 Laguna Niguel Regional Park  

Let’s get those paws moving with Emily Haley + Tommy Stark leading the pack. All dogs welcome—just bring your leash, good vibes, and poop bags.  

👉 Check for updates: ocpackwalks.com  

🧠 **This Week’s Training Tip**  

Make sure you always release your dog from a sit or a down—otherwise they’ll start anticipating the stay command and it can get sloppy fast. Use a clear, consistent release word like “okay” or “free” right after they hold the position for a few seconds. This teaches them that the stay only ends when you say so, not when they decide. Practice it every single time in short sessions so the foundation stays rock-solid when you layer on longer stays or real-world distractions.  

🐶 **Group Classes Update**  

Waiting on the Little League baseball schedule to lock in field times at Dee Dog Park. Once those dates are confirmed, I’ll announce the full Winter Training Series—covering solid basics like sit-stay, loose-leash walking, and building real-world confidence in small, hands-on groups led by me.  

💬 Message @ocdogtrainer or visit dogtraineroc.com to get on the list!  

🏖️ **South OC Dog Spot to Visit**  

Tewinkle Park – a hidden gem that’s perfect for working on small animal distractions.  

✅ Open grassy areas with plenty of squirrels and birds to practice focus  

✅ Quiet pathways for controlled loose-leash drills  

✅ Benches and shade so you can reset between sessions without heading home  

📰 **Pawsitive Dog News**  

A 2025 study from the Dog Aging Project found that dogs drinking water treated with reverse osmosis systems had significantly fewer owner-reported health conditions compared to those on unfiltered or basic sediment-filtered water. The research highlighted reduced exposure to heavy metals like arsenic, lead, and copper—common in well water and some municipal supplies. Simple home filtration, especially reverse osmosis, can make a real difference in supporting kidney function, hydration, and overall long-term health for our dogs.  

📚 Source: studyfinds.org / PLOS Water (Dog Aging Project data)  

💬 **Quote of the Week**  

“Dogs do speak, but only to those who know how to listen.”  

– Orhan Pamuk  

That’s the Woof this week—short, real, and all about building better connections with our dogs. Hit me up if you want to chat training or anything else. Give your pup an extra scratch from me.  

Tommy Stark  

The Dog Director