Dogs are completely "in the moment" creatures, with no separation between mind and body. By studying the way they move and honoring their innate wildness, we can help restore their natural function: to be happy, social, and loyal companions.
Our lessons will focus on helping you create a connection with your dog. When your dog feels connected to you, obedience naturally follows. Our obedience work is based on teaching you how to be a confident communicator while learning new skills, sensitivity and patience: resulting in your dog trusting you and YOU trusting your dog.
Elbie
"For those of you who really want to get to know your dog’s nature, gain his respect, and, yes, his love, this holistic approach is enlightening. The bonus is that your dog will walk better on a leash, sit, and other types of calm and polite behavior, naturally. Leah’s YouTube videos are extremely helpful and clear. She is always ready to listen to any question and concern, and, responds immediately whether by text, email or phone. I really appreciated Leah’s compassionate treatment of both canine and human."
-Allyson, Portland
Our training methods emphasize connection, safety, and trust. It may look a bit different from traditional or "mainstream" training.
At Canine Movement Lab, we promote careful observation while honoring your dog’s natural abilities.
If you are ready to embark on a unique journey with your dog, you've come to the right place.
Apollo
"I got Apollo last Oct 2018 when he was 4 months old and emaciated. He was afraid of a lot....the dark, the leaves blowing around, my putting food into his dish etc. None of the other methods of 'traditional' training that worked with my other dog seemed to work with him. He was starting to become afraid of me as well... Leah's method of training has pushed me way outside my comfort zone but the improvements I have seen in Apollo in such a short time have convinced me this is the way to go. I look forward to seeing the awesome dog I know he will be under Leah's training methods."
-Kate, South Portland
Josi
"Leah is amazing with dogs. She helps you relearn the best way to interact and care for your pet. She has an answer for every issue you may be having. If you stick with the program and are consistent with her methods you will start seeing big changes with your dog. I tried more conventional training classes and they did not help at all. I was very stressed out before I started seeing Leah, but after 5 weeks of classes my dog has made big improvements (totally calm indoors, less nipping, less leash biting). If you are considering re-homing a hard to deal with dog, please go see Leah first. I can't recommend her more!"
-Zoe, Portland
Dogs store stress in their bodies the same way people do. Problem behaviors in dogs are caused by this stored stress being expressed in unwanted ways. Stress is simply a natural biophysical reaction to stimulation. When the energy equation is out of balance, i.e. too much stimulus without enough emotional grounding, we get a surplus of energy which is stored as stress. So what we have to do is give your dog a place to download this excess energy.
There are a few core exercises for dogs that work to bring this energy to ground, at the same time making your dog more resilient moving forward. Holistic Dog Training is akin to somatic psychology for dogs. We take into consideration that the mind and body are one, and in working to heal the body of excess stress, we can bring the mind back into balance.
All new clients should start with a Behavioral Assessment. After this initial session, you can move forward with our lessons in Holistic Dog Training. We are located in Scarborough and generally service the Greater Portland area, although we are happy to travel further with a surcharge for mileage.
You can reach Leah directly on her cell phone FMI or to book a session: 207-939-6210.
"Leah has helped me on several occasions with my unruly hound dogs. She has encouraged me in embracing the quality of their breed and she has been right about every situation we have faced to date. She is intuitive and genuinely cares about the dogs she is training. She is encouraging, smart, passionate, and a great teacher. I highly recommend Leah and this program to anyone seeking to better understand their dog."
-Jennifer Grace, Auburn
