Loyal Pawrenting

Loyal Pawrenting I'm a positive reinforcement, fear-free, licensed dog-family mediator, and a certified trauma-informed professional.

🐾 What if we stopped asking, "How do I fix this behavior?" — and started asking, "What is my dog trying to tell me?" 💬🐶A...
07/01/2025

🐾 What if we stopped asking, "How do I fix this behavior?" — and started asking, "What is my dog trying to tell me?" 💬🐶

At Loyal Pawrenting, that's the heart of a trauma-informed approach: seeing behavior as communication, not disobedience. 💛
In my latest blog, I share:
✨ What it truly means to be a trauma-informed pet professional
✨ How trauma can shape a dog’s behavior and emotional health
✨ How does this approach differ from traditional training focused on compliance
✨ Why trust, choice, and emotional safety are the keys to real transformation

When we honor a dog’s story, we create space for healing, growth, and connection. 🌿

Ready to see your dog—and your relationship—in a whole new way?
🔗 Explore the blog ➡️ https://loyalpawrenting.pet/what-is-trauma-informed-dog-training-the-loyal-pawrenting-approach/

👇 Spanish Translation can be found in the comments ❤️

Home again—heart full, mind buzzing, and soul stirred. ✨I just returned from Suzanne Clothier’s trainer workshop, and I’...
06/30/2025

Home again—heart full, mind buzzing, and soul stirred. ✨

I just returned from Suzanne Clothier’s trainer workshop, and I’m still processing the depth of what I experienced. Relationship Centered Training isn’t just a method—it’s a mindset. One that asks us to meet dogs where they are, honor who they are, and walk beside them with clarity, compassion, and purpose.

I feel incredibly grateful for the chance to learn directly from Suzanne, whose wisdom, generosity, and lifelong commitment to dogs continues to light the way for so many of us. I made new friends, connected with some incredible trainers, and left feeling inspired to be better and do better.

From cooperative care to processing failure with grace, from diving into search and rescue to simply listening more closely—I can't wait to bring these RCT skills into my work and daily life.

But for now, I’m soaking in cuddles from my husband and pups, who I missed very much. 🐾💛 And yes… plans are already forming to return next year.

🐾✂️Flashback to last month when all the Joann Fabrics stores were closing and I may or may not have gone a little flee...
06/27/2025

🐾✂️
Flashback to last month when all the Joann Fabrics stores were closing and I may or may not have gone a little fleece crazy 😅
Huge shoutout to my amazing husband, who stood in line with me for 2.5 hours (!!) while I stocked up for future snuffle mats. And an even bigger shoutout to my sweet grandma, who helps me cut and tie every single one of them by hand. 💛🧵

Swipe to see the before (mountain of fleece) ➡️ and after (a fluffy enrichment masterpiece)!

👉 Snuffle mats are one of my favorite ways to keep pups mentally stimulated and engaged—plus, they’re just so satisfying to make.

Do you have a favorite enrichment DIY? Let me know in the comments! 💬👇

On our way to what I know will be one of the highlights of my year—the trainer’s workshop with the one and only Suzanne ...
06/26/2025

On our way to what I know will be one of the highlights of my year—the trainer’s workshop with the one and only Suzanne Clothier! 🙌🐾

Bonus? My parents are tagging along for a mini family vacation. 💛 We made a nostalgic pit stop at Niagara Falls to relive some childhood memories (I was 8 the last time we visited!). I vaguely remembered getting absolutely soaked on a boat ride—and today, we made sure to refresh that memory. 💦😉

Tomorrow kicks off Day 1 of 3 full days of hands-on learning, thoughtful conversations, and mind-expanding insights with fellow trainers, mentors, and four-legged teachers. I am so ready for it. LET’S GO! 🎓🐶✨

P.S: My amazing husband Dan Lepkofker is taking care of our pups and we miss him ❤️ thank you babe for making this possible 🥰

🦴 of the Week 💞🐾Your voice is one of your dog’s favorite sounds—make it a comforting one.Dogs are constantly tuning in...
06/23/2025

🦴 of the Week 💞🐾
Your voice is one of your dog’s favorite sounds—make it a comforting one.
Dogs are constantly tuning in to how we speak, not just what we say. A calm, soothing tone can help your pup feel safe, connected, and ready to learn. Harsh commands or raised voices, even when unintentional, can cause confusion, fear, or shutdown.

So this week, try swapping the drill sergeant tone for a bedtime story voice. 🛏️📖 Speak with warmth. Use pauses, soft encouragements, and gentle rhythms. You’re not just giving cues—you’re building trust.
Let your words be a bridge, not a barrier. 💬🐶
Because when your pup feels heard, they listen with their whole heart.

06/20/2025

✨ Hello friends! We’re back with another 🐾
I love sharing these early videos of Coco and me during our first training days. While I’d definitely do things differently now (including not asking my not-even-one-year-old pup to jump 😅), these clips still make me smile.

Not just because Coco is irresistibly adorable (she really is!), but because they capture how far we’ve come. More than that, they reflect a real and honest learning journey—for both of us. Growth isn’t linear, and every moment (even the messy ones) matters.

As Suzanne Clothier beautifully puts it, “Look for the fireflies.” 💛

✨ What’s one “firefly” moment you’ve had with your dog recently? Share it in the comments—I’d love to celebrate with you! 🐶👇

I just received the most thoughtful surprise in the mail—a copy of Why Does My Dog Do That? by the wonderful Delores Car...
06/17/2025

I just received the most thoughtful surprise in the mail—a copy of Why Does My Dog Do That? by the wonderful Delores Carter! 💌📚

I first met Delores last year when I began my journey into Animal Centered Education, diving into the world of Free Work. Since then, we’ve been classmates, collaborators, and friends—and we finally met in person at the Conference this past May! Getting to know her beyond the Zoom screen was such a gift. 💛

Delores is not only a brilliant trainer and a kind, compassionate human—she’s also a powerful writer. I can't wait to dive into her book and soak up her wisdom. Thank you so much, Delores, for this generous gift and for being such an inspiration in my journey. 🐾✨

Interested in learning "Why does your dog do that? Get your own copy here:
https://www.amazon.com/Does-That-Life-Multi-Species-Explained/dp/B0CR5CJLQG

🧘‍♀️✨ For this , I wanted to share one of my absolute favorite tools—something I use in nearly every session.If you’ve ...
06/13/2025

🧘‍♀️✨ For this , I wanted to share one of my absolute favorite tools—something I use in nearly every session.

If you’ve ever had a consultation with me, chances are you’ve heard me talk about Really Real Relaxation, created by Suzanne Clothier. Once I learned this protocol, it became my go-to way to teach dogs—and their humans—how to truly relax together.

This isn’t just about giving a cue like “settle.” It’s about teaching a real-life skill—helping the dog learn how to relax. It reaches deeper than obedience and taps into emotional regulation and trust.

I completed the PRO-level course on April 17, 2024, and have used this method with clients of all ages and abilities ever since. It’s one of those tools that quietly transforms everything.

💡 The best part? You don’t have to be a dog trainer to try it. Suzanne offers a light, quick version that’s perfect for pet guardians, fosters, and shelter volunteers.

👉 Check it out here:
https://suzanneclothier.com/shop/really-real-relaxation-quick-course/

🦴 Breaking News 🗞️🐶Your dog’s nose has the scoop on all the neighborhood gossip! 🐾Sniff-ventures aren’t just walks—the...
06/09/2025

🦴 Breaking News 🗞️🐶
Your dog’s nose has the scoop on all the neighborhood gossip! 🐾
Sniff-ventures aren’t just walks—they’re headline-worthy investigations filled with scent trails, pee-mails, and breaking “pupdates.” When you let your pup lead the way and follow their nose, you're not just giving them freedom—you're giving them mental exercise, emotional fulfillment, and the ultimate enrichment experience.

Dogs experience the world through their noses. Sniffing reduces stress, boosts confidence, and helps your dog feel more grounded in their environment. It’s like reading the daily news... but way smellier. 😄👃

So this week, loosen the leash, let them take the reins (er, leash), and enjoy the journey at their pace. Because sniffing isn’t just fun—it’s essential.

06/06/2025

Once again, it’s , everyone! Here’s a flashback to when Coco and I first explored the “Do as I Do” training method. We enrolled in the program and completed three sessions (I think — it’s been a while!) before realizing that neither of us was really having fun — and that’s totally okay!

For those who aren’t familiar with it, “Do as I Do” is a training method developed by Dr. Claudia Fugazza that uses a dog’s natural ability to imitate. In other words, your dog learns by copying your actions. It’s a brilliant concept, and I absolutely encourage anyone interested to check it out!

I plan to revisit it with a different pup someday, but it didn’t quite click for Coco and me. Our training history is built on back-and-forth communication, and our daily life has a very relationship-centered rhythm. So, asking her to perform cues without eye contact or body language felt strange for us both!

I’m also a very expressive person. I talk with my hands, my face, my posture — you name it. Coco knows that better than anyone! So when I had to give cues without looking at her or moving a muscle, it threw us both off.

Why no eye contact or body language? That’s to avoid something called the Clever Hans effect! In the early stages of the program, you’re asked to deliver verbal cues in a consistent way without looking at your dog. This helps ensure your dog is truly responding to the words, not reading your body language or even your eyes.

It’s a thoughtful and precise approach but not the right fit for us then. Have you tried "Do as I Do" with your dog? I’d love to hear how it went!

𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧'𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 —especially when it comes to sentient beings! 🐾We've all scrolled past the desperat...
06/02/2025

𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧'𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 —especially when it comes to sentient beings! 🐾
We've all scrolled past the desperate pleas for dog training help online: jumping, excessive licking, potty-training nightmares, reactivity... And while the advice comes from a good place, it can often do more harm than good.
Quick fixes like spray bottles or cans of coins don't address root causes—they create fear, confusion, and mistrust. Your dog deserves more.

🐶 Why professional guidance matters:
Certified trainers and behavior consultants use compassionate, science-based methods to strengthen your bond and resolve behavioral challenges. Good intentions start conversations, but informed expertise creates lasting results.
At , I'm committed to helping you build a joyful, trusting relationship with your dog—one paw at a time. 🐾💖

👉 https://loyalpawrenting.pet/good-intentions-arent-enough-why-social-media-dog-advice-can-do-more-harm-than-good/

For this , I’m sharing a quote that really stuck with me:"It is often more effective to change the environment than to ...
05/30/2025

For this , I’m sharing a quote that really stuck with me:
"It is often more effective to change the environment than to change the dog."

This powerful insight came from Kerry Ryan, owner of Dog Adventures Northwest—an incredible human whose presentation at truly shifted my perspective.

Kerry shared how she runs her business with a focus on environmental adjustments and enrichment rather than traditional obedience training—and the results speak for themselves. Her approach has transformed the lives of countless families and their dogs, often with little to no formal training involved.

This photo captures just one of many takeaways from her talk, but it’s one that continues to echo in my mind as I think about the welfare of shelter dogs in Atlanta. I’m so grateful for the chance to learn from her and excited to explore how we can bring this mindset into our own work.

🐾 Let’s build better environments for dogs and the people who love them.

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