In Netflix’s reality docuseries, Canine Intervention, Jas Leverette extends his expert hand and guidance to all kinds of misbehaving dogs. From protection dogs to therapy dogs, Jas is there to make sure each one receives the support they need to be the best dog they can be. After all, it’s his theory that there are no ‘bad dogs.’ Not even out-of-control, 5-month-old pit bulls like Blue.
Johnetta and Ray of Oakland, California, adopted their precious pit when he was just two weeks old. This is way too early for a dog to leave its pack. Most people recommend a pup stays with its mother and litter until at least eight weeks, six weeks at the very earliest. Those early weeks are incredibly formative for a dog, and they’re when the mother teaches the puppy manners. She will gently bite, snarl, or growl to correct the puppy’s unacceptable behaviors and provide boundaries.
When Blue came to live with Johnetta and Ray, they instantly fell in love with the teeny tiny pup. He absolutely became their baby. But soon the bad behavior went unchecked and he grew into an uncontrollable puppy-monster. He was rambunctious but scared of being outside, so he’d refuse to go on walks and cry when taken outside. Then one day, disaster struck. He charged at Johnetta and bit her multiple times.
Knowing what would happen if they took a dog who’d bitten a person to the SPCA, Johnetta and Ray called Jas, the animal communicator with the most, desperate for his help. They couldn’t bear the thought of more loss in their lives. Both Johnetta and Ray had had entirely too much of it.
In 2005, Ray and his brother were on their way to a clemency rally when they were mistaken for someone else and shot. Ray was shot in his face and head and lost sight in his left eye, but his brother lost his life. Johnetta knows his pain because two years ago, she found her sister laying on the floor, dead of pneumonia. They needed Blue in their lives and can’t take any more tragedy.
From a starting place of jumping up on everyone and having never once been on a walk, Jas got to work with Blue. He quickly discovered that Blue, who has a natural prey drive as a pit bull, was most motivated by toys. He’d do anything to get someone to play tug with him. But for Blue, simply knowing what motivated him wasn’t going to be enough for the pup who was taken from his mom far too early.
Jas took Blue for some intensive training at his Cali K9 facility in San Jose for a couple of days. And when he came home, he was a whole new puppy, a true Canine Intervention. Blue could sit, stay, down, come, and most importantly display a significant level of self-control. He understood when it was play time and when it was time to behave.