Leaps & Hounds Canine Training & Fitness Ltd.

09/09/2026

Introductory Hooper Skills - Fun with Foundations

Whether your ultimate goal is trialing and competition or a fun, interactive game to play at home with your dog, this program is for you.

Building from a base of connection, communication and clarity, Teams will gain the knowledge, skills and abilities needed to confidently begin their Hoopers journey.

6-week sessions start Saturday, September 26, 2026 @ 9am. No class October 10th. $228.00/Team.

Text Carrie @ Leaps & Hounds Canine Training (778-835-2272) to enquire or book. Payment required to reserve a spot - maximum 4 Teams.

08/30/2026

This post is NOT for the education of my clients or followers. I know you know about the scourge of Puppy Mills (aka Farms), both small, backyard millers and multi-national commercial operations. I'm sharing because Donna's piece is an excellent information summary we can all use to help friends, neighbours and family members make humane and thoughtful choices about where their next puppy comes from. Thank you for being part of the solution, one Litter at a time. Carrie🐾

🐾 STOPPING PUPPY FARMING STARTS WITH THE BUYER 🐾

I have a hope.

You may call it a dream.

I believe that through education, we can help change the puppy-buying culture and make it increasingly difficult for puppy farmers and irresponsible breeders to survive.

Puppy buyers, the power really is in your hands.

When we talk about stopping puppy farming, the conversation often focuses on legislation, licensing and stronger regulation.

These things have an important role to play.

But it's obvious regulation alone cannot eliminate a market for puppies.

As long as people continue to purchase puppies without knowing how to recognise responsible breeding, there will be people willing to supply them.

🧠 EDUCATION CHANGES THE DEMAND

Commercial puppy farming depends on puppies being sold.

The more difficult it becomes for poor breeding practices to find buyers, the less commercially viable those practices become.

An educated puppy buyer is therefore incredibly powerful.

They don't simply ask:

“How much is the puppy?”

They ask:

“Why was this litter bred?”

“Can I see the mother?”

“What health testing has been performed on both parents?”

“Can I see the actual health certificates?”

“Where are the puppies being raised?”

“How are the puppies being socialised?”

“What happens if my puppy develops a problem?”

“What support will you provide after I take my puppy home?”

And perhaps most importantly:

“Am I comfortable with what I am supporting with my money?”

🔍 LOOK BEYOND THE WEBSITE

A beautiful website doesn't prove responsible breeding.

Neither does a long list of testimonials.

Neither does a puppy being advertised as “vet checked”.

Responsible breeding should be supported by evidence.

Look for appropriate health testing for the breed.

Look for transparency about the parents.

Look for puppies raised in an appropriate environment.

Look for thoughtful socialisation and enrichment.

Look for a breeder who wants to know about YOU and the home you can provide.

Look for someone who remains accountable for the puppies they produce.

🚩 AND BE PREPARED TO WALK AWAY

If something doesn't feel right, don't allow excitement, availability or a cute photograph to override your concerns.

Don't let “there are other families waiting” pressure you into a decision.

Don't assume that because a breeder is registered, everything has automatically been done correctly.

Don't be afraid to ask difficult questions.

And don't be afraid to walk away.

❤️ YOUR MONEY IS YOUR VOTE

Every puppy purchase supports a breeding decision.

When you choose a responsible breeder, you are supporting health testing, appropriate breeding decisions, good maternal care, early development, socialisation and lifelong responsibility.

When consumers knowingly or unknowingly support poor breeding practices, they help keep those practices financially viable.

That is why puppy buyer education matters so much.

📚 WE NEED TO EDUCATE, NOT JUST REACT

We need prospective puppy buyers to understand what responsible breeding looks like BEFORE they fall in love with a puppy.

We need people to recognise the difference between marketing and evidence.

We need families to understand that the cheapest puppy isn't necessarily the least expensive puppy in the long run.

And we need people to understand that buying a puppy is not simply a transaction.

It is supporting someone's breeding practices.

🐾 MY HOPE

I don't believe we will change puppy farming with one law, one campaign or one Facebook post.

But I do believe education can change the decisions people make.

One educated buyer.

One family willing to ask better questions.

One person prepared to walk away.

One breeder held to a higher standard.

Then another.

And another.

Eventually, the demand changes.

And when the demand changes, the market has to change with it.

Puppy buyers...

THE POWER IS YOURS.

Please share this post.

Educate someone who is thinking about buying a puppy.

Ask better questions.

Expect evidence.

And never be afraid to walk away.

Together, we can help create a future where breeding dogs is about producing healthy, behaviourally sound puppies and accepting responsibility for the lives we bring into the world. 🐾❤️

Donna Williams,
Emerald Park Border Collies.
www.emeraldparkbc.com

“My mission is to improve the life of at least one dog today!”

07/25/2026

🥵A close call. I spotted a black truck at a farm stand around noon today, parked in full sun and locked up tight with a large dog inside. I caught up with the man and explained that his dog had about 4 minutes left before it would become a heat stroke medical emergency. I could see from the expression on his face that he had forgotten the dog was on the back seat of the truck when he locked up and left. He got back in time, the dog is fine and I doubt the man will ever neglect to check the backseat before leaving again.
I had a plan, whether he had responded positively or not but thankfully he did. Either way, the dog was not going to be left in distress. Please, if you see something, say something and know what steps to take ahead of time. 😐
Photo of my lovely Bella dancing in the Tofino waves on a hot day a few summers ago for tax.

06/13/2026

Heck No - Don't Wanna Go! A certain little girrrl didn't want to leave the doGym©️ today.🥰

05/25/2026

The feedback from my clients has been consistently positive for this service @ Tail Blazers KLO. Care-Filly Pets even makes house calls by appointment.🐾

05/21/2026

Four spots left.🐾

Kelowna's Premier Dog Trainer

05/20/2026

04/12/2026

Whether our dogs are family companions, week-end sport players or competing at the highest national/international levels, the message is spot on and a great reminder as we head into a new season. 🐾

What does Oliver Twist have to do with dog training?

“Please sir… I want some more.” That famous line from Oliver Twist perfectly captures one of the biggest mistakes people make when they take their dog’s training into a new environment… they ask for more. More focus. More obedience. More performance. And they ask for it too soon.

The Fundamental Error

You’ve got a dog who works beautifully at home. Responsive. Engaged. Focused. So naturally, you take them somewhere new and expect the same thing. But instead? They disconnect. They ignore you. They won’t perform. And what do most people do? They ask for more. Push harder. Repeat cues. Add pressure. That “Oliver Twist” mindset — “more, please” — is exactly what causes dogs to lose confidence and disengage.

The Reality of New Environments

A new environment isn’t just a new place. It’s new smells you can’t even perceive, new sounds and movement, potential triggers like dogs, people, wildlife, and a completely different sensory load. To your dog, this is information overload. So before you ask for performance, you need to ask a far more important question: Can my dog even access reinforcement here?

Your First (and Most Important) Barometer

Forget obedience for a second. Instead, assess this: will your dog take food? Will they play with a toy? Not with distractions, not under pressure — just in the environment itself. Because if they can’t take reinforcement, they’re telling you one thing loud and clear: “I’m not comfortable enough yet.”

The Step Most People Skip

Before any training begins, let your dog acclimatise. Let them sniff, observe, and take in the environment. This is data collection for them. Depending on the dog, this might take a few minutes or longer. What you’re looking for is a shift — when the environment becomes less exciting, less overwhelming… almost a bit boring.

Then (and only then) Do You Engage

Once your dog has settled, present reinforcement with no behaviour required — will they take it? Then build engagement — can they play, can they take food from you? Then offer simple interaction — follow a lure, offer a behaviour, choose you. Only after this foundation is there do you begin to build anything resembling training.

Stop Testing. Start Building

The mistake isn’t that your dog won’t perform. The mistake is expecting performance before the dog is ready. When you test too early, you create a pattern: the dog struggles, confidence drops, engagement decreases. Over time, the dog learns that new environments equal pressure and failure. But when you flip the approach, the dog feels safe, chooses engagement, and builds confidence. That’s how you get a dog who can focus and perform anywhere.

Think Progression, Not Expectation

Training shouldn’t jump from living room to busy park. It should flow: living room → kitchen → bathroom → garden → front garden → quiet outdoor space → busier environments. Each step builds understanding and confidence. And at every stage, ask for less, not more.

Your dog isn’t disengaging because they’re stubborn. They’re disengaging because they’re overwhelmed, unclear, or not ready. So next time you go somewhere new, don’t be Oliver Twist. Don’t ask for more. Build first. Let the dog lead. Create success. And everything else will follow.—

04/09/2026

What a wonderful get well surprise for Beau from John & Barton Blazers KLO. Day 2 on his TPLO recovery journey and this will be so entertaining and soothing for him, and a great distraction from his stitches. Thanks a million Guys - you carry the most innovative toys and games. ❤️‍🩹