Canine Intervention

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Canine Intervention is an American Netflix reality series with six episodes, each about 35 minutes long. It started as a web series and premiered on Netflix on February 24, 2021. The show is set in Oakland, California, and follows dog trainer Jasalah Leverette and his Cali K9 facility in San Jose. Each episode shows Leverette tackling different dog behavior cases, offering practical, easy-to-follow training ideas for owners. The series highlights that training can be a necessity and often a last chance for dogs with serious issues, and it also focuses on guiding the owners.

Directed by Elise Duran and produced by A. Smith & Co-Productions, Canine Intervention aims to teach both dogs and their owners how to improve behavior, even in challenging cases. It can be a useful resource for households that can’t hire a professional trainer.

Episode highlights:
- Episode 1: Lady Macbeth, a two-year-old pit bull with aggression; owner Brendan; the dog’s rough past and a leg injury; Cali K9 steps in as a last chance before potential euthanasia.
- Episode 2: Diesel, a large, untrained German Shepherd; the team starts from basics to build obedience.
- Episode 3: Nino, owned by boxer Andre Berto; tests the protection dog’s skills with ongoing coaching for tight obedience.
- Episode 4: Heaven, a Maltipoo emotional support dog; the family learns not to overly humanize the dog.
- Episode 5: Blue, a dominant pit bull puppy; owners Ray and Johnnetta work through basic training to calm the temper, with a backstory of early separation from his mother.
- Episode 6: A visit to Jeannette’s rescue camp in the Mojave Desert to show how training helps rescue dogs get adopted.

Reception:
The first season mostly received positive reviews. The Los Angeles Times called it easy to watch and emotionally satisfying, and Decider called it a feel-good show. Common Sense Media noted that some viewers may disagree with the techniques, but it will attract many dog lovers. Some trainers and owners criticized Leverette’s methods as dangerous or harmful; a Change.org petition with thousands of signatures urged cancellation, and debate continued about whether the training approach respects dogs’ natural learning.