🗞️ THE WEEKLY WOOF
Powered by iSpeakDog! + The Dog Director
The app is LIVE!! You can "share" it from your safari or chrome browser and save it to home screen. It will get better but right now has all the functions we need! Dee Dog Park also has an app now.
DogTrainerX.com for the iSpeakDog! app
app.ocdogpark.com for the Dee Dog Park app
I will be out of town for my birthday early week!
🐕 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
Loose-leash walking means training every single step you take together. You don’t sprint out the door at the beginning of the walk, and you absolutely should take a tired dog on the walk—especially when you’re first building the habit.
A dog that’s already had some exercise (mental or physical) has far less pent-up energy to pull like a freight train. Tire them out first with a quick game of tug, fetch in the yard, or even a short sniffari, then head out for your structured walk. The moment the leash goes tight, plant your feet and stand like a tree until it softens. bring the dog back to start position and start the pace again. give the yellow light giving the dog enough time to correct its pace before the red light (end of leash).
Do this right from your front door, down the driveway, around the block. Short, consistent sessions with a calmer dog beat long frustrated ones every time. Once your pup learns that walking nicely beside you gets them where they want to go, the whole adventure becomes more enjoyable for both of you.
🐶 Group Classes Update
Intermediate/Workshop - Sunday April 19th at 9am
New group class series
kicks off Saturday, May 16th at Dee Dog Park!
We’ll cover the foundations—sit-stay, loose-leash walking, focus, and building real-world confidence in small, hands-on groups led by me. Spots are limited.
💬 Message @ocdogtrainer or visit dogtraineroc.com to get on the list!
🏖️ South OC Dog Spot to Visit
Las Ramblas Trail in San Juan Capistrano—easy access, gentle terrain, and just enough elevation changes to keep things interesting without wearing anyone out.
✅ Wide paths perfect for practicing loose-leash skills
✅ Scenic views and open space that naturally encourages focus
✅ Plenty of room to step off to the side for quick “sit” or “watch me” resets
Great spot for a calm, productive mid-week walk that doubles as training time.
📰 Pawsitive Dog News
Exciting developments in canine science: researchers are launching new studies in 2026 on targeted immunotherapy for histiocytic sarcoma, exploring whether myasthenia gravis plays a bigger role in megaesophagus than we thought, testing oral rabies vaccines with facial recognition tech for free-roaming dogs, and advancing monoclonal antibody treatments for mast cell tumors. Plus, the University of Arizona is digging into how growth hormone IGF-1 affects cognitive aging in dogs. Real progress that could mean more healthy, happy years ahead.
📚 Sources: Morris Animal Foundation, University of Arizona
💬 Quote of the Week
“The greatest pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself too.” – Samuel Butler
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
