Loving Leader Dog Training

Loving Leader Dog Training Loving Leader Dog Training

09/17/2025

Happy Birthday to Major 🎉

He came in as a foster, and within just two days, I knew he wasn’t going anywhere. He had found his home. ❤️

From that moment on, he’s been my cuddle bug, my adventure buddy, and my ultimate ball catcher.

Life wouldn’t be the same without his loyalty, goofiness, and unconditional love.



“If your dog had to describe YOU in 3 words… what would they be? Drop it in the comments 👇 ...
09/16/2025

“If your dog had to describe YOU in 3 words… what would they be? Drop it in the comments 👇



This is what calm feels like… You want this kind of calm? Dm me to book a session!
09/16/2025

This is what calm feels like…

You want this kind of calm? Dm me to book a session!



Dog parks often get painted as a dog’s paradise. Space to run, new friends to meet, and freedom to play. For many dogs, ...
09/15/2025

Dog parks often get painted as a dog’s paradise. Space to run, new friends to meet, and freedom to play. For many dogs, the experience can actually be overwhelming.

Think about it: a busy dog park is filled with high-energy dogs, constant movement, and unpredictable interactions. For some dogs, this level of chaos can push them into an overstimulated state. Instead of learning calm social skills, they may even developing frustration and reactivity or - over excitement which will lead to reactivity.

Over time, that overstimulation doesn’t stay at the park. It can spill over into daily life, making your dog more excitable, harder to settle, or even more likely to display problem behaviours around other dogs. While some dogs seem to roll with the environment, others quietly struggle in ways that aren’t always obvious until patterns set in.

So no, not all dogs love the dog park, and pushing the idea that they should can do more harm than good.



You learn to drive in a parkinglot, before you progress to the roads. But then your frist roundabout? Scary! But you mas...
09/15/2025

You learn to drive in a parkinglot, before you progress to the roads. But then your frist roundabout? Scary! But you master it. Now try to drive in Europe... everything is confusing again!

This is exactly how your dog feels when they only practice training in small or familiar environments! If your dog can sit, down, or stay perfectly in your living room but suddenly “forgets everything” outside it means they haven’t learned to generalize the skill.

Just because you does can sit in the kitchen, they cannot always apply that to sit in the driveway, the park, or the vet’s office. Each new environment feels like a brand new challenge because of the smells, sounds, and distractions layered on top.

The solution isn’t to drill the same exercise endlessly in one spot, it’s to intentionally change the environment. Start small: practice in different rooms, then in the backyard, then on a quiet street. Slowly build toward busier spaces as your dog shows they can handle it.

This process teaches your dog that a command doesn’t depend on where they are. It’s a universal language between you and them! Once they learn that, the skills finally “stick.”



One of the biggest fears I hear from people who are thinking about fostering is: “But what if I get attached? What if I ...
09/14/2025

One of the biggest fears I hear from people who are thinking about fostering is: “But what if I get attached? What if I want to keep them all?”

And you know what? Sometimes you do. And that’s okay. Fostering isn’t about being immune to attachment; it’s about giving a dog a safe place to land, whether that’s temporary or forever.

When Tinpa first came to me from Quebec, she was supposed to be “just a foster.” I saw Tinpa’s post online and couldn’t help myself, I hadn’t fostered before but she it felt like she was calling to me.

She tested me every step of the way. Shredding crates, screaming like only a Husky can (in the middle of the night and while staring directly into my soul) and pushing boundaries I didn’t even know existed. Tinpa was a very difficult case, for months (8 months!) I thought she was too much… until I realized she was exactly where she was meant to be.

It took me forever to have her posted online. And then once she was posted, the applicants we got were never good enough. My “foster fail” became my forever dog and I don’t regret a thing.

Not every dog you foster will stay. In fact, most won’t. That’s the beauty of fostering, you get to be part of their story and help them get to the right home. But every once in a while the right home turns out to be yours... and is that so bad?



Every breed was developed with intention. Herding dogs were bred to move livestock. Sled dogs were bred to endure long d...
09/14/2025

Every breed was developed with intention. Herding dogs were bred to move livestock. Sled dogs were bred to endure long distances in harsh climates. Guardians were bred to guard livestock. Protection breeds to protect property and family. These instincts don’t disappear simply because a dog is living in a modern household.

When we ignore what a breed was created to do, we risk setting them up for a life of unmet needs, frustration, and behaviour issues. A high-drive working dog in a sedentary home often struggles. A guarding breed without structure can become overwhelmed. Even companion breeds have traits that must be acknowledged and respected.

Choosing a dog should never be based on appearance alone. Even if you have a love for a breed in it’s whole, you need to be real with what you can manage to fulfill their needs. It is a commitment to meeting the physical, mental, and emotional needs that are deeply rooted in their genetics. A responsible match requires honesty about your lifestyle, capacity, and willingness to engage with the instincts the dog will inevitably express.

The qualities you want to train out of them are often “features” rather than faults and deeply engrained in their genetics.



Dogs can’t tell us when something hurts. And yet, pain changes everything.When dogs are in discomfort, whether from move...
09/12/2025

Dogs can’t tell us when something hurts. And yet, pain changes everything.

When dogs are in discomfort, whether from movement issues, a painful and inflammation flare-up, or even just being over-exercised, it can spill into their behaviour. You might see:
⚡ Irritability
⚡ Reactivity or aggression
⚡ Snapping when touched in certain ways
⚡ A shift in how they interact with family or other dogs

What looks like a “behaviour problem” might actually be pain.

That’s why knowing your dog’s body - how they move, how they carry themselves, what’s normal for them - is so important. Not only so we can keep them out of pain, but also because physical wellbeing and behaviour are deeply connected.

Caring for our dogs means paying attention to both.



What’s your dog’s favourite toy? Tennis ball? Stuffed animal? A stolen sock? What is your dog’s favourite toy (intention...
09/12/2025

What’s your dog’s favourite toy?

Tennis ball? Stuffed animal? A stolen sock? What is your dog’s favourite toy (intentional or not)?

Let’s share in the comments!



Puppies are STILL available! Who is your favourite? If you COULD take one home... who would it be? Lets vote in the comm...
09/10/2025

Puppies are STILL available!

Who is your favourite? If you COULD take one home... who would it be?

Lets vote in the comments ⬇️



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