Leia's Barkside Training

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Port Coquitlam, BC
Leia's Barkside Training

At Leia's Barkside Training, we offer relationship-based dog training that helps puppies and adult dogs build confidence, calmness, and real-world skills.

Based in Port Coquitlam, we specialize in positive reinforcement techniques that prioritize your dog

10/13/2026

THE TOY GROUP

Our small dogs ❤️

Toy breeds were developed primarily for companionship, often selected to live closely with people. Many are affectionate, playful, curious, and deeply connected to their humans.

But small doesn’t mean simple! Toy dogs still need mental stimulation from training, exploration, play, enrichment, and opportunities to build confidence and independence.

Some may be quick to alert bark, cautious around unfamiliar people or dogs. Due to their size, these dogs are often over-handled without thought to their individual needs. They are adventurous little explorers who are ready to join you on your next nature exploration. As always, given the different sizes, physical traits, and overall personalities, look at the dog in front of you rather than assuming every dog in a breed group is the same.

A little note about size and dwarfism:

Toy breeds aren’t all small for the same reason, and being a Toy breed doesn’t automatically mean a dog has dwarfism. Some breeds have been selectively bred for smaller size, while others have characteristic shortened limbs associated with skeletal conditions such as chondrodystrophy.

These differences can matter for movement, jumping, exercise, and spinal health. For dogs with body proportions or health conditions that affect mobility, activities and home setups should be adapted to the individual, with veterinary guidance when needed.

And remember: being small doesn’t mean less than a dog, just as any large dog is not always comfortable being picked up, approached, or handled by everyone, this group is no different. They deserve choices, respectful interactions, and the chance to explore the world safely.

Do you live with a Toy breed? 🐶 Have you experienced any of these traits with your little companion?

Toy dogs . Bichon. Havanese. Maltese. Papillon. Pomeranian. Shih tzu. Toy poodle. Chihuahua. Coton de Tulear.

10/04/2026

THE GUN DOG GROUP!

Gun Dogs are one of my absolute favourite groups to work with. ❤️

My very first dog was a Golden Retriever, and my dog today is half Poodle, so this group has a pretty special place in my heart.

And yes, if you have a Standard Poodle mix (“Doodles”), you have a Gun Dog living in your home, too.

Retrievers, Spaniels, Setters and Pointers were developed for different parts of the hunting process. Some were bred to locate, some to flush, some to point, and some to retrieve. Those differences can still give us clues about what a dog may find naturally rewarding.

And this is where I think breed history becomes really useful for pet parents, as their instincts don't disappear in a pet home.

Your dog doesn't need to go hunting to have hunting-related behaviours. Those tendencies can show up in how they explore, search, move through the environment, interact with objects, notice wildlife, or respond to movement.

That also means a walk usually isn't enough. A dog can come home from a 60-minute walk and still be looking for something to do because the walk didn't necessarily meet the needs behind their behaviour.

These dogs tend to not grow up as quickly! They are HAPPY to be alive, and that tends to come out through enthusiasm, excited greetings, playful behaviours, and oral fixations.

Do you have a gun dog, does any of this sound like your dog?

09/23/2026

THE HERDING BREED GROUPING!

Herding dogs were bred to find, move, and control livestock. So if you live with a herding breed you likely know that movement MATTERS to them. A car goes by, a bike, a child, and suddenly your dog is fully invested.

Staring, chasing, circling, following, blocking, and trying to control movement can all make a little more sense when you understand what your dog was bred to do.

They are focused on their environment and are incredibly intelligent, meaning activities that involve learning, problem solving, movement, searching, and working together very rewarding.

These dogs are workaholics, so if you are just looking for a buddy on your strolls, these likely won’t be the breeds for you! What may be labeled as hyper, controlling, or obsessive can make a lot more sense when you understand their history as a breed, and why they need important ongoing outlets!

Remember, breed does not determine an individual dog’s personality or behaviour. Genetics, learning, environment, health, developmental stage, and individual needs all matter.

What kind of herding breed do you have? Any of these resonate with you?

—

Border Collie. Cattle Dog. Kelpie. Shepherd. Berger Picard. Corgi. Collie. Sheepdog. Puli. Puli. Schnauzer. Valhund. German Shepherd. Doberman.

09/19/2026

Sniffed so hard, they gave me a ribbon! Congratulations to the best teammate on her DS2 in Nose Work 💕 and thank you CDSA and Coastal Canine Training

09/16/2026

THE GUARDIAN BREEDS! They needed to constantly monitor their environment, recognize what was normal, identify what was unusual, and decide when something actually required a response.

They were selected for high tolerance and social stability within their social group, while also being more vigilant and responsive to individuals or situations outside of it.

Think about a livestock guardian living amongst sheep. The sheep may bump into them, climb on them, run around them, and generally be sheep, and the dog needs to tolerate all of it. Those animals are part of their social environment, not something to chase or prey on.

But an unfamiliar person, animal, or other potential threat may be a very different story.

Now put that same dog in a suburban home.

Their “job” might become:
Watching the window
Alerting to a strange noise
Investigating someone at the door
Making their own decisions
Monitoring the home and family
Being incredibly patient with their own people

This is why understanding breed history can be so useful, because behaviours that we might label as stubborn, aloof, overprotective, or difficult can make a lot more sense when we understand what those traits were originally selected to accomplish.

Of course, breed does not determine an individual dog’s personality or behaviour. Genetics, learning, environment, health, development, and the individual dog all matter.

I see so many of these traits in Leia with her being a half guardian breed herself. What kind of guardian do you live with? Notice any of these traits with them?

09/13/2026

I wanted to give a HUGE shout out to my client Percy 🍐 and her pawrents for the incredible work all three of them have put in these past few months. Percy has struggled with loud sounds causing immense fear and anxiety, sometimes to the point where it has gotten in the way of enjoying life and even meeting some of her basic needs.

Unfortunately for Percy, she lives in a VERY busy neighbourhood filled with all kinds of scary sounds. And this little grass and seating area directly beside her home? It was basically her greatest enemy. 😂 Loud noises, construction, and booming buses could send her into a full spiral, making it incredibly difficult for her to feel safe enough to just be there, let alone even walk close to it.

So when I received a text from her parents this weekend , with a photo of them sitting AT THE SPOT that Percy made the choice to go to on her own, my heart absolutely exploded.

This might look like a simple photo of a dog hanging out on some grass, but knowing where Percy started, this is HUGE.

It’s a reminder that progress doesn’t always look like a dramatic breakthrough. Sometimes it looks like being able to exist in a place that once felt terrifying. Sometimes it’s choosing to stay instead of flee. Sometimes it’s simply having enough confidence to take in your surroundings and realize, “Hey… maybe I’m okay here.”

And none of this happened overnight. It has taken patience, consistency, trust, and a whole lot of work from Percy AND her humans.

I’m so incredibly proud of them and so grateful they’ve allowed me to be a part of their journey. Watching a dog regain pieces of their world that fear had taken away is one of the most rewarding parts of this job.❤️

Way to go, Percy. You’re doing AMAZING.

09/03/2026

Which breed group(s) is your dog a part of??
Using Kim Brophey grouping of classifying dog breeds, we can gain some really interesting insight into behaviours, motivators, needs, and tendencies we may see in our dogs. While the breed does not determine who your dog will be, understanding genetic history can help us understand and work better with our pups. So stay tuned, we are going to jump into@each of these groups! Which are you most excited for?

08/30/2026

Jake 💕💕

theodore.thegoldie12 🐶🐶

🌊 swim with Leia

Remi’s happiness >>

Guided walks with Milly showing off her skills, peep cutie Queso in the back 🐾🐾. MattyB

Toller baby 🐕

Mabel became a detective 🕵️. Katherine V

So did Bulldozer 🕵️‍♂️. Donna Garing

Blessed to have met this angel puppy Winnie the Golden Retriever

Made new friendships with Annie + Sadie ft. Dog Mom Riscann 🩷

Then Asher graduated!!! Nora Kistchouk

Leia learned to tolerate love

🥾🥾

MattyB Wendy T 👹

Nora Kistchouk MattyB Wendy T Puppy Asher going on a parallel walk with Milly. She was so scared at first, but he was so calm and lovely, making her feel so much more confident!

Address

Port Coquitlam, BC

Website

http://www.leiasbarksidetraining.com/

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