Dog lovers are now signing up to an unlikely new online craze, a playful virtual ‘dog school’ that has exploded in popularity thanks to its mix of challenges, wholesome chaos and solid expert advice.
Skool Dogs, a free online community hosted on learning platform Skool, is fast becoming a go-to space for owners whose camera rolls are 98% pictures of their pets.
What began as a small, supportive group for confused dog owners is suddenly attracting members across the world with its blend of humour, education and affectionate nonsense.
Inside Skool Dogs, the vibe is closer to a virtual playground than a traditional training forum. There are ‘dog homework’ challenges, quarterly awards for the silliest pet photo, and even a tongue-in-cheek leadership team, including the legendary Head of Snacks, a fictional Skool Dog character who “signs off” community updates with crumbs on his chin.
And while it’s all fun and memes on the surface, the group is quietly helping owners learn vital skills about ageing, behaviour, wellbeing and emotional health, often without realising they’re learning at all.
Behind the fast-growing platform is Angela Day, the respected canine rehabilitation specialist and founder of The Canine Advocate.
Angela, who has spent her career working with everything from UK sporting champions to police dogs, set up the community after becoming increasingly concerned about the tidal wave of confusing, contradictory and sometimes downright dangerous advice circulating online.
“I wanted to create a space where owners feel safe to ask anything, laugh a lot, and learn without being judged,” Angela says. “There’s so much noise out there about dog care and behaviour, and people are terrified of getting it wrong. Skool Dogs cuts through all that with good information wrapped in humour, community and kindness.”
Angela’s expertise underpins Skool Dogs, even if the members don’t always realise they’re getting professional guidance between the memes. Her work focuses heavily on the early signs of issues, something she sees many owners overlook until their pet is noticeably struggling.
She explains that subtle changes are often the first clues: slower recovery after exercise, stiffness getting out of bed, hesitation on stairs or in and out of the car, and a shift towards gentler play. Behaviour can also change, with older dogs becoming clingier, more anxious or more easily startled as discomfort creeps in.
It’s this ethos, practical, evidence-based and grounded in compassion, that now shapes Skool Dogs’ most popular threads. Members can share videos of warm-ups before walks, post photos of their dogs practising helpful balance and stability exercises, or swap tips on making homes safer for wobbly seniors using nonslip mats and supportive bedding.
Still, the beating heart of Skool Dogs is joy, in all its muddy, tear-jerking, biscuit-crumbed glory. Members cheer each other on through setbacks, celebrate tiny wins and share the kind of photos that only dog people truly understand: the wonky smile just after a sneeze, the proud “I found a stick” moment, the post-bath sulk.
For Angela, this mix of sincerity and silliness is exactly the point.
“Learning doesn’t always have to be serious,” she says. “If owners are having fun, if they feel supported and they’re laughing together, they absorb the important stuff almost effortlessly. That’s why Skool Dogs works.”
She believes that empowering owners early, especially as their dogs head into their golden years, can transform quality of life. Core conditioning, once considered an elite technique for sporting dogs, is now being embraced by ordinary families thanks to her guidance.
Strengthening stabilising muscles, she says, helps dogs move more confidently, reduces strain on painful joints and protects against further injury.
And if things don’t feel right, she urges owners to seek professional help sooner rather than later.
For those wanting to join the fast-growing movement, the group is free to access at www.Skool.com/SkoolDogs
