Lea- Calm that Snout

14/09/2026

My name is Albert.

I’m 3½ years old.

And today, I have been loved for exactly one year.

You probably wouldn’t guess what happened to me before that.

I was abused.
I wasn’t fed properly.
I was shot in the hip.
I was hung, and the injury left me with a spine that will hurt for the rest of my life.

For a long time, people saw me as difficult.

Too energetic.
Too excited.
Too pully.
Too much.

But I wasn't too much.

I was a dog who had spent so long without enough movement, attention, safety or understanding that I didn't know what else to do.

And sometimes, walking at a human's pace hurt.

Sometimes, when a man came towards me, I was scared.

Sometimes I reacted before I had the chance to think.

But then someone saw me.

She didn't just ask me to behave.

She started asking herself why.

She took me swimming.

She took me on adventures.

She showed me what she wanted me to do instead of only telling me what not to do.

She taught me that when I'm scared, I can walk away.

She taught me that I don't have to fight every battle.

She gave me choices.

She gave me time.

And she told me I was a good boy approximately 47,000 times a day.

Now I run.

I swim.

I explore.

I meet other dogs.

I go on adventures.

I get treats.

I have a cosy bed.

I have my own room.

And in the evenings, I get to curl up on the sofa with my person.

To the people who hurt me, I don't know if you remember me.

I hope you don't.

Because I don't live there anymore.

What you did left me with scars that I will carry for the rest of my life.

But you don't get to decide what the rest of my life looks like.

And to the people who saw me when I was easy to overlook:

Cécile and Lorene ,my two fairy godmothers, who made sure I was seen and not forgotten.
And Marie-France, who walked me every week when nobody else would and gave me love when I desperately needed it.

You changed my life.

Today, I'm doing great.

I'm safe.

I'm loved.

And apparently...

I'm a very, very good boy.

Happy one-year Gotcha Day, Albert. ❤️

13/09/2026

Pain and discomfort can’t be ruled out just because a dog didn’t react during a physical examination. 🐶

Even with manipulations that we know can be painful, a stressed dog may not show the response we’re looking for. And let’s be honest… most dogs are at least somewhat stressed in a veterinary setting. Adrenaline can mask pain and discomfort, while some dogs simply shut down when they’re overwhelmed and know they have no way out of the situation.

And pain doesn’t have to be constant. A dog can be comfortable with most movements but experience pain with one very specific movement or position.

My own dog is a perfect example. He has a spinal condition that causes pain when his spine is flexed — but if you don’t flex his spine, you wouldn’t necessarily see anything happen at all.

So a dog not showing pain during an exam ≠ pain has been ruled out.

Sometimes, you need imaging, a pain trial, and most importantly, the whole clinical picture to understand what’s really going on.

And yes… this is basically my face when I hear “we’ve ruled out pain” without any imaging or pain trial. 😂🌶️

12/09/2026

DAY 1 — Debunking harmful separation anxiety myths 🐶

There are many different factors that can contribute to separation-related behaviours — but letting your dog on the sofa is not one of them.

This idea comes from a very outdated dominance/“pack leader” framework: the belief that if your dog is allowed on the furniture, they’ll see themselves as higher-ranking, try to dominate you, or somehow become less able to cope without you.

There’s simply no good scientific basis for this.

Your dog doesn’t climb onto the sofa because they’re plotting a coup. 😂
They climb up because it’s comfortable, it smells like you, and… well, you’re there. Why wouldn’t they want to be close to you?

And the idea that allowing your dog lots of proximity will make them unable to cope when you leave confuses secure attachment with separation-related distress. Having a strong bond with your dog does not automatically make them unable to be alone.

Our dogs are only with us for a tiny fraction of our lives. They didn’t choose to live in our homes, follow our routines, or adapt to our human world.

So if you want your dog on the sofa? Let them up. 🛋️❤️

If you don't? That's completely fine too. There is no universal right or wrong answer when it comes to where your dog is allowed to sleep or relax.

But please don't make that decision because some random “trainer” online told you that your dog needs to stay on the floor to prevent separation anxiety.

Day 1 of debunking harmful myths about separation anxiety.

Because our dogs deserve better than outdated theories dressed up as behavioural science.

08/09/2026

Meeting a dog’s needs is about so much more than exercise.

Of course, physical exercise matters — but it needs to be appropriate for the individual dog, taking into account their breed tendencies, age, physical condition and, most importantly, who that dog actually is.

Because exhausted doesn’t mean fulfilled.

Dogs also need opportunities to use their brains and express natural behaviours. Sniffing, exploring, problem-solving, foraging, making choices — and engaging in breed-specific activities that tap into what they were bred to do — can be incredibly valuable.

And this is where we need to look beyond labels.

Breed and age can give us useful information, but they don’t tell us everything. Physical and emotional sensitivities, preferences and learning history all matter.

A lick mat, a chew and a long walk can all have a place. But there is no one-size-fits-all enrichment formula.

The goal isn’t to create the most tired dog. It’s to create a life that is genuinely fulfilling for that individual dog.

Sometimes that means more exercise.
Sometimes less.
And sometimes, it means letting them follow their nose. 🐾

03/09/2026

**3 things to do BEFORE starting separation training 🐾**

Separation-related problems are often the **tip of the iceberg**.

Before we jump straight into teaching a dog to be comfortable alone, there are a few important foundations to look at first. Because if we don't address what is happening underneath, the chances of successful separation training can be much more limited.

**1️⃣ Assess for pain & discomfort**

Up to **82% of behavioural issues may be associated with an underlying health condition, pain or discomfort.**

You cannot train pain away.

But you *can* identify it, manage it, and adapt your dog's environment and activities to support their wellbeing.

Pain and discomfort can affect how a dog feels, copes, sleeps, moves, learns and responds to stress — all things that matter when we're asking them to cope with being alone.

**2️⃣ Meet their needs**

We can't reasonably ask a dog to feel comfortable alone if their needs aren't being met.

And meeting a dog's needs is much more complex than simply providing food, walks and a garden.

There is **no one-size-fits-all approach**. Every dog is an individual, with their own preferences, genetics, history, personality, physical needs and emotional needs.

Understanding *your* dog's needs is an essential part of helping them feel safe and secure.

**3️⃣ Reduce daily stressors**

If your dog is experiencing stress throughout the day from multiple sources, asking them to suddenly be calm when you leave can be a very big ask.

Their nervous system may already be operating on high alert, making it harder to cope with the additional challenge of an absence.

This doesn't mean we need to remove **ALL** stress from their lives — because, well… that's impossible. 😅

But we can:
🐾 Manage their environment to reduce unnecessary exposure
🐾 Learn to read their body language and give them space when they need it
🐾 Help them develop better coping skills
🐾 Consider the cumulative effect of everyday stressors

Because separation-related problems rarely exist in isolation.

**The goal isn't simply to train the dog to tolerate being alone. It's to understand what makes being alone difficult for *this individual dog* an

07/12/2023

Anyone wants an adorable pup that will make you laugh every single minute ?

***Available to Rehome***
Not one enquiry for this handsome boy.

Loki 😍

This is Loki.

Loki is a meatball.

He is a French Bulldog/Pug cross aged 7 months.

There is nothing low-key about Loki.

He is stubborn, delinquent, talkative, persistent, flirty, and extremely playful.

He’s that cool 17-year-old that hangs out your street corner eating burgers with his mouth open and chasing women and getting nowhere fast.

He’s the kind of guy who marches into your house and starts fixing himself a coffee in your kitchen and doesn’t offer you one.

Like most teenagers he can spend endless hours playing with his toys and games. Or any activity that involves exercising his teeth.

He might throw up in your car and refuse to clean it up. It’s a good job he doesn’t drink.
If he could drive, he’d have a Vauxhall Chevette with an oversized exhaust, pink furry dice dangling from the rear-view mirror and baldy tyres.

I would say he had more balls than brains, but CIN is kindly taking care of that for him.

He is also insanely cute with his big meatball head and burnt pork chop ears. Those ears can hear a plastic bag rustle from the next village.

His beautiful brindle colouring sets him apart from the crowd.

When I say he gets on well with other dogs, I mean he sticks his tongue in their ear and tries to impress them with his bunny hops. Surprisingly some dogs are into it.

For him people are up there with women and Vauxhall Chevettes. Especially if they have treats. He considers treats anything that fits in his mouth, and not necessarily edible in nature.
This is the kind of dog that makes you exhausted just looking at him. He has endless energy. Once he’s worn out your dogs, kids, family and neighbours he is liable to hop on a bus to the local working men’s club to find fresh playmates.

This dog is needing someone to spend plenty of time with him engaged in activities.

He does enjoy working for treats.

He is likely to need plenty of exercise.

Lead training is currently in progress.

Loki is still a chunky puppy with a mouth that likes to investigate his environment, so we recommend a home with no children under 5 years old.

He could be homed as an only dog or along with playmates.

I look at his big round face and give thanks dogs don’t have opposing thumbs.

If this goofball sounds like he might be your soulmate, please PM the page.

Please note
✅Rehoming fee and homecheck applies
✅No children under the age of 5 in the household
✅You must be prepared to visit Loki in his foster home at least twice
✅Loki is in foster in Northern Ireland

11/10/2023

Thank you for that brilliant comparaison. Let's spread the word, and keep your doggos on a long line if their recall isn't reliable enough to be totally free.
Other dogs and their humans will thank you!

18/09/2023

Thank you for having me on your podcast 🤗

Puppy socialization course starting on the 26 th of september in Ringsend community center !

Come join us to learn the basics of training and give your pup the chance to socialize with other pups their own age in a fun / supervised environment.
IMDT certified trainer - Lea Chevalier

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd1WWl-IB8HEX6Sh4Y9ZS7VFYYVDeKFDpl9UbEA7svlaebgNw/viewform?usp=sf_link

Listen Now - https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/riccradio2020gmailcom/episodes/Community-Newsdesk-82-e29aehr Harmony 4 paws dog training ClapHandies

12/09/2023

Puppy socialization course starting on the 26 th of september in Ringsend community center !

Come join us to learn the basics of training and give your pup the chance to socialize with other pups their own age in a fun / supervised environment.
IMDT certified trainer - Lea Chevalier

Sign up here :
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd1WWl-IB8HEX6Sh4Y9ZS7VFYYVDeKFDpl9UbEA7svlaebgNw/viewform?usp=sf_link

Limited spaces, Come get yours!

R + dog training, behaviour condulting. IAABC certified dog behaviour consultant. Separation anxiety specialist, Sep Anx Pro Trainer, Certified Dynamic dog practitioner.
Let's figure out what is causing your dog's behaviour and find solutions together ☺️