Loving Leader Dog Training

Loving Leader Dog Training Loving Leader Dog Training

Does your dog know nothing yet?Or can they sit in your living room with a cookie, but lose focus the second something mo...
10/27/2025

Does your dog know nothing yet?

Or can they sit in your living room with a cookie, but lose focus the second something more exciting shows up?

Maybe they’ll work for food, but only if the distraction isn’t too big.

Or have you put in the time consistently, so now they can respond anywhere, anytime -regardless of what’s going on around them?

Training is a journey. Knowing where you’re at helps you know what the next step should be. ✨



Working breeds:Working dogs were designed with a specific job in mind such as Siberian Huskies and pulling sleds, Newfou...
10/27/2025

Working breeds:

Working dogs were designed with a specific job in mind such as Siberian Huskies and pulling sleds, Newfoundlands were bred for hauling fishing nets and to lifeguard, and Saint Bernards who were bred to save travelers buried by avalanches.

Working breeds includes a broad range of skills in dogs, but they are powerful, driven, and thrive with purpose.

Pros: strong, determined, and capable of incredible tasks

Cons: Without outlets they may appear stubborn, destructive, or too much for the average household

Meeting their needs at home: The needs of each breed in this category can vary greatly, but each one needs clear direction. Huskies can run, bike, or learn to pull safely in harness sports. Giant breeds like Bernards thrive with calm structure, steady walks, and clear boundaries. For most working breeds, a balance of mental work and structured exercise keeps them happy.



10/25/2025

An Ode to Gaia 🌿

After years of fostering, Gaia was a first for me. I had never whelped a litter before, so I hit the books, asked my friends, and used every resource available to prepare myself. From the start, she was calm and friendly as an expectant mom. She never strayed far and quickly earned off-leash privileges, she just wanted to be near me. She had her pups right in my front room, and handled it like a champ.

When her puppies arrived, she was a good mama. Attentive, gentle, and patient. She cared for them with ease, always cleaning her babies. She would go out for a quick p*e and run right back to them, not letting them out of her sight for long.

Once her puppies were old enough, she could finally be a puppy again too. She turned into this playful girl, racing around with Major and making friends with anybody she could. This girl is truly a social butterfly.

Gaia taught me so much. About whelping, about raising puppies from day 1, about the way growth and youth exist all at once. It feels like we raised those puppies together, an experience not many people get to have. She was a mom, but she was also still just a puppy herself.

Watching her go off to her forever home feels bittersweet, but mostly it feels right. She’s loved, safe, and getting to live the carefree life she deserves.



10/24/2025

Meet Massey 👋

Massey is here for a Board and Train. I am working on his reactivity, leash pulling, jumping and overall manners. Massey tends to get overstimulated on walks and can react to other dogs or excitement around him. I’ll be focusing on building confidence, engagement, and neutrality.

Helping Massey feel more confident and focused in challenging environments will give him the tools he needs to succeed when he goes home.



10/23/2025

Sporting breeds were bred to work alongside hunters, flushing, retireving, and being active all day. This category includes Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, German shorthaired Pointers, and Cocker Spaniels.

These dogs are energetic, biddable, and very people-oriented.

Pros: Friendly, adaptable, and can be great family dogs if their needs are satisfied
Cons: They have stamina which often means a short walk will not satisfy their needs

Meeting their needs at home: Sporting breeds love to have a purpose. Fetch, swimming, hiking, and obedience can help fulfill that need. They can enjoy food puzzles, hide and seek games, and nose work to engage their antural instinct. A lab is not just a couch potato, they enjoy having both their mind and body active!



Companion breeds:Companion breeds were created for closeness. Think Pugs, Shih Tzus, Maltese, and Cavaliers. Their origi...
10/20/2025

Companion breeds:

Companion breeds were created for closeness. Think Pugs, Shih Tzus, Maltese, and Cavaliers. Their original purpose was to keep us company!

They thrive on affection and human contact, and often want to be with you and follow you everywhere.

Pros: Adaptable, loving, and loyal household pets.
Cons: Some are prone to separation anxiety and can have stranger-danger if not properly socialized

Meeting their needs at home: Companion dogs may not need marathon runs, but they do need regular exercise. As many companion breeds are small dogs, it’s easy to forget that they have the same needs, and need the same training as larger dogs. They need to learn boundaries to prevent separation anxiety, they need socialization to prevent stranger danger and fear reactivity/aggresssion. These dogs were bred to be companions to us, but not fulfilling their needs as a dog can result in behavioural issues that cause stress and headache.



When choosing a specific dog breed, it’s important to look at what that dog was originally created to do. Working breeds...
10/18/2025

When choosing a specific dog breed, it’s important to look at what that dog was originally created to do.

Working breeds weren’t created by accident, they were chosen for very specific traits and those traits, instincts and features do not just disappear because the dog now lives domesticated in a house.

If your dog was bred to run - you better also enjoy running. Or can you find another way to meet that need such as playing, biking, canicross, or treadmill?
If you don’t want your dog herding your kids, then a herding breed may not be the best match.
If you want a couch companion, choosing a high-drive working dog will set both of you up for frustration.

Every breed has it’s base qualities:

Herding breeds: quick, focused, and often motion-sensitive

Guardian breeds: protective, strong-willed, and territorial

Sporting breeds: energetic, biddable, and eager to work

Working breeds: driven, purposeful, and physically demanding

Companion breeds: people-oriented and designed for close bonds

Now, none of these traits are bad - they’re intentional - they are features. They are strong instincts that require outlets to allow your dog to be fulfilled. Stay tuned for our 5-part mini series on what these dogs were bred to do, and how to satisfy their needs as a house dog.



Another way people sometimes find a dog is through rehoming posts online such as Facebook groups, Kijiji, or Craigslist....
10/12/2025

Another way people sometimes find a dog is through rehoming posts online such as Facebook groups, Kijiji, or Craigslist.

These are usually individual owners looking to rehome their dog directly, without going through a breeder, rescue, or shelter. Sometimes it’s due to life changes, housing issues, or simply not being able to care for the dog anymore.

Some pros:

✅ You may be able to meet the dog in their current home and learn directly from the owner about their personality, routine, and quirks.

✅ It can sometimes be quicker and less expensive than adoption fees or breeder costs.

✅ You might help keep a dog out of a shelter if the rehoming is handled responsibly

But there are important cons to keep in mind:

⚠️ There are no health testing or vetting guarantees and you may not know the dog’s full medical history.

⚠️ Screening is often minimal, which means people sometimes rehome dogs without making sure it’s a good fit.

⚠️ Scams do exist in online postings, so caution is needed.

⚠️ Behaviour history may not always be shared fully or honestly. If somebody is desparate to rehome a dog, the situation may be sugarcoated without any legal remifications on the seller

Rehoming posts can be a way to connect with dogs who genuinely need new homes, but it’s important to ask the right questions, request vet records, and ensure it’s a safe, responsible transfer for everyone involved.



10/10/2025

Following up the last post about adopting from a rescue… featuring the cutest video of adoptable Gaia 😊

Some more pros:

✅ Adoption usually includes vetting, spay/neuter, vaccines, and sometimes even training support.

✅ You’re giving a dog a second chance, while also freeing space for the rescue to help another.

And one more con:
⚠️ Popular dogs are in high demand and can go quickly (although there are always more coming into rescues all over Ontario!)

Through a rescue you’re not just finding a dog, you’re joining a network of people dedicated to giving animals another shot at life.



Another way to find a dog is through an animal shelter.Shelters are usually brick-and-mortar facilities, often city- or ...
10/10/2025

Another way to find a dog is through an animal shelter.

Shelters are usually brick-and-mortar facilities, often city- or region-run, that take in strays, seized dogs, or owner surrenders. They provide housing, medical care, and adoption services, and many work closely with rescues to place dogs.

Tinpa was a rescue pull from a shelter in Quebec (through a rescue).

Some pros:

✅ Adoption fees are often lower, and dogs usually come spayed/neutered and vaccinated.

✅ There’s often a wide variety of different breeds, ages, and sizes.

✅ Shelters give you the chance to walk through and meet multiple dogs in person.

✅ By adopting, you free up space for another animal in need.

Continued in comments 👇



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