Focus around real distractions.

A 20-year curriculum that teaches your dog to tune in to you — even with other dogs around. Puppy/Beginner and graduate Workshop sessions, held outdoors at Dee Dog Park. Dogs start in the 9am Puppy/Beginner series, and graduates move up to the 11am Workshop. Puppies of any age welcome.

Group classes are paused for now. The fall series wrapped November 7, and classes come back in the New Year.

Dee Dog Park, San Juan Capistrano · Saturdays · Puppies of any age welcome

Step 1 · 9am

Puppy/Beginner series

5 Saturdays of focus, manners and socialization around real distractions.

Step 2 · Week 5

Graduate

Week 5 is graduation — your dog works with you in a busy, real-world setting.

Step 3 · 11am

Workshop

For Puppy/Beginner graduates only. Graduates are already on my list — no need to register again.

Don’t want to wait? Private training is available now, at your home or on location. See private training →

Real distractions, real progress.

There's no substitute for practicing around other dogs. In a calm, structured class, your dog learns to focus on you with anywhere from 10 to 60 dogs around — the exact skill that's nearly impossible to build at home.

You'll leave every week with clear homework and a dog that's a little more dialed in. And because I tailor each class to the dogs who show up, no two weeks are the same.

The 5-week curriculum

Five consecutive Saturdays at Dee Dog Park — each week builds on the last. Here's exactly what we cover.

iSpeakDog beginner group class working on focus

Week 1

Foundations

Introductions & your training goals
How your dog learns — reward the good, redirect the rest
Timing & consistency: the make-or-break basics
Body language vs. tone — move less, talk less
Handle your dog anywhere (grooming & vet ready)
The Focus command — the root of all training
Potty training (14 days in a row!) & crate training

Tommy Stark working a dog on manners and greetings

Week 2

Manners & impulse control

Review Focus; redirecting unwanted behavior
Why dogs jump — and how to fix it
The auto-sit for polite greetings
Teeth-on-skin / mouthing
Sit with release
Collars & leashes — proper fit and types
Choosing the right toys for your breed
Walking on a leash vs. true heeling

One-on-one training working leave it and down

Week 3

Leave it, drop it, down

Loose-leash walking
"Leave it"
"Drop it" — without building resource guarding
The Down, with proper reward placement
Nutrition primer — because diet drives behavior

Owner walking a dog past distractions on leash

Week 4

Recall & real life

Walking past distractions; ignoring things on a walk
The basics of grooming
"Come" — how recall is really taught and learned
Stay with release

Large iSpeakDog group class socializing dozens of dogs

Week 5

Socialization & proofing

Reading other dogs
Proper on-lead greetings (sniff and go)
Combining commands before the reward
"Pass the dog" — a stranger cues your dog
Graduation: your dog works with you in a busy, real-world setting

For graduates of the Beginner series

The Workshop builds on everything from Beginner and pushes a little harder each week. We use AKC Rally and Agility plus focused-based heeling to sharpen your timing and deepen the handler–dog "team." There's no fixed script — I tailor each class to the dogs who show up. 10–40 dogs, 45–60 minutes. Graduates are already on my list — no need to register again.

Seasonal

Winter Clinics & workshops

I also run focused, single-topic clinics — deep dives on the issues owners ask about most. Clinics aren’t on the calendar right now:

From Breeder to Behaved — choosing the right breeder & raising the perfect pup
Handler's Dream — mastering the walk & perfecting the pace
The Perfectly Social Pup — socializing without overstimulation
Fear or Fury — understanding fear-based & aggressive behavior
Fueling Fido — how nutrition drives behavior
Barking Back — reading and improving your dog's communication

If one of these is exactly what your dog needs, we can work on it in a private session. Text me at 949-343-0000.

Focus around real distractions.