Loving Leader Dog Training

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12/31/2025

New Year’s Eve parties

With New Year’s in mind, let’s talk toxic substances.

With dogs at a party that rowdy, it may be possible for your dog to get into food, alcohol, or possibly ma*****na.

It’s important to keep in mind that alcohol and ma*****na are extremely toxic to dogs and should be kept out of reach, and ensuring guests understand the importance of this.

Along with that, many fun new years treats can cause an upset stomach or be toxic to our dogs! Chocolates, jalapeños, queso, buffalo dip, and sugar free foods containing xylitol (such as some peanut butters) some of the most popular treats, can be a disaster if your dog gets ahold of them.

It’s easy to forget when we’re distracted by all the fun! But it can cause a sick pup or an expensive vet bill if we aren’t vigilant!

Let’s keep our dogs safe for the rest of the holiday season!



Serious question: What role does your dog take on while gifts are being unwrapped? 🎁Supervisor?Paper shredder?Overstimul...
12/28/2025

Serious question: What role does your dog take on while gifts are being unwrapped? 🎁

Supervisor?
Paper shredder?
Overstimulated gremlin?
Or do they patiently wait to see if this somehow involves treats?

Let us know in the comments ⬇️

12/28/2025

Can you get rid of prey drive? Well… not really. But you can fulfill that drive using different forms of play, work and activities.

Does your dog have a high prey drive and you’re unsure what to do? Dm me to book a session!



Merry Christmas from my fur-family to yours! 🎄🎁
12/25/2025

Merry Christmas from my fur-family to yours! 🎄🎁



What’s in your dog’s stocking this year? What have they been begging for all year long? Or do they get a lump of coal…Wh...
12/25/2025

What’s in your dog’s stocking this year? What have they been begging for all year long? Or do they get a lump of coal…

Whis is loving his Christmas gift already… an orthopaedic dog bed

Tinpa would love a good beef cheek roll

And of course, all Major could ask for is more balls and frisbees!

If your dog is on the naughty list this year, contact me to get them on the nice list next year!



12/25/2025

More tips for holiday gatherings with dogs!

Manage excitement: Kids running, loud laughter and yelling, and constant touching can push even tolerant dogs past their threshold. If you cannot manage excitement (because Christmas) use this as time to give your dog down time.

Keep routines when possible: Walks, naps, enrichment, and downtime help regulate nervous systems.

Food boundaries: No feeding from plates, no crowding near dropped food, and watch for toxic-to-dogs holiday treats.

Additional dogs: Maybe your brother’s dog gets along well with yours! Your sister’s dog too! That doesn’t mean all three dogs will get along together, or in a crowded environment. It’s important to remember that dogs, just like kids, respond differently in different situations and with different friends together. Even if they get along, watch how they respond to food being nearby or attention betting spread between dogs.
Keep it safe, and always have a separation plan available.



12/24/2025

Holiday bites often come from stress, not “bad dogs.”

Here’s some tips to prevent these situations:

Escape plan: Give dogs an escape plan. A quiet room, crate, or gated space that is 100% respected by guests, where they can seek down time alone.

Don’t force interactions: Dogs don’t need to greet everyone, pose for photos, or tolerate hugs to be “good.” It’s important we respect their boundaries, and that all visitors know the rules.

Stress signals: Watch for early stress body language. Turning away, lip licking, yawning, stiff body language, freezing, ears back, these are warnings, not nothing and not cute.

The hardest truth… most bites are preventable when we respect boundaries before a dog feels they have to advocate for themselves.

This Christmas, let’s stop asking dogs to “just deal with it.” Let’s listen, advocate, and give them space to stay comfortable.



I just heard a story about a family member being bitten during a Christmas celebration by an otherwise friendly, well-lo...
12/24/2025

I just heard a story about a family member being bitten during a Christmas celebration by an otherwise friendly, well-loved family dog.

The dog wasn’t “aggressive.” Nobody intentionally did anything wrong

But the dog was overwhelmed. There were too many people, too much noise, too much pressure to interact.

That’s the part people often miss.

Stay tuned for some tips to manage dogs during the holiday season.



12/23/2025

In honour of Sam begging me to shoot content for weeks (in all fairness I had the flu), here is a real-life depiction of how I feel about social media days…



12/22/2025

Let’s talk about patience and impulse control!



Winter walks aren’t just cold, they’re hard on paws. The salt put down to melt ice can sting, burn, and dry out your dog...
12/14/2025

Winter walks aren’t just cold, they’re hard on paws. The salt put down to melt ice can sting, burn, and dry out your dog’s paw pads, which is why so many dogs start lifting their paws or refusing to walk this time of year. It’s not stubbornness and it’s not necessarily that they’re cold… it genuinely hurts.

Boots are one of the ways to protect your dog from harsh salt and sharp ice. Even if your dog isn’t used to them yet, slow practice sessions can make a huge difference. Start inside, reward small steps, and build up gradually.

If your dog can’t wear boots or is still learning, using a high-quality paw balm before and after walks helps create a protective barrier. Before the walk, it prevents salt from drying out the pads; after the walk, it helps moisturize and heal any irritation. Balms can also help with snow balls forming between the pads.

And if you’re the one putting salt down at home, switching to a pet-safe de-icer is an easy change that helps every dog in your neighborhood. It’s gentler, safer, and makes winter much more comfortable for the four-legged friends sharing your sidewalks.



12/13/2025

What is the difference between behavioural modification and management when it comes to reactivity?



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