Meet the Trainer
Capital City Canines is here to help you start living the life you have always dreamed of with your dog. With over 15 years of experience, we work with any breed to fix any issue!
Breanna Leonard
Certified Dog Trainer and Behavior Consultant
Founder and Head Trainer
Growing up as an only child in an animal-loving family here in New England, all my “siblings” were animals. We always had animals in our house, from small to big but I was always the most drawn to our dogs. When I was a teenager, I had one goal in mind: getting my own dog. I was thrilled when the day finally came. Being young, I looked on Craigslist and found an ad for Bandog puppies. However, my excitement was short-lived when I struggled to handle my new puppy, Duch. She wanted nothing to do with me, would pee and scream when I tried to touch her. After a few days, the issue reversed. Duch would cry and become anxious whenever I left the room. I couldn’t leave her alone without disturbing my neighbors. I searched the internet for help and slowly made progress. Just when I thought things were improving, Duch started displaying aggression towards people and other dogs. She grew into a large and powerful dog that I struggled to control.
After trying out a few trainers, I found one who was great for both Duch and I. Our trainer did an amazing job not only with Duch but also in helping me understand Duch better. Seeing the progress we were making, I realized that I wanted to dedicate my life to helping dogs and their owners communicate more effectively. So, in 2009, I began attending Mount Ida College in Newton, MA to study Canine Behavior and Training.
Once I graduated from dog training school I was hired by a small locally owned pet store in the greater Boston area to teach a few entry-level group classes a week. This quickly grew into a full-time job teaching group classes of all skill levels, running a Day School program, and training apprentice trainers.
Even while working full-time with dogs I still wanted to gain more experience so in my free time I partnered with a few local rescues and shelters helping them evaluate, train, foster, and place their more challenging dogs. I quickly became known for taking in the underdogs. Seeing these dogs make transformations that allowed them to be placed into homes solidified my choice to dedicate my life to dogs. It also pushed me to become the best trainer I could be as I was working with dogs that needed more than just learning basic obedience commands.
I spent those years with only one focus, learning from as many dog trainers and canine experts as I could and helping as many dogs as I could. I have been incredibly lucky for the opportunities that dog training has provided me. Dog training has brought me all over the country, living and training in Colorado, Oregon and Michigan. After over a decade of training dogs and managing different training facilities all over the US, I came home to the place I love most, New England and opened Capital City Canines. Capital City Canines was created with an emphasis on helping dogs and their owners understand each other. Drawing from my experience to create custom training plans that not only address the dog’s behavior but their health, happiness, and well-being.
Meet Bre's Best Friends
Outside of work, my life still revolves around dogs. I share my life with three amazing companions: Fritz, an 8-year-old Doberman; Sven, a 5-year-old Chihuahua mix; and Stevie, a 1-year-old Belgian Shepherd.
Our favorite weekends are spent camping and hiking all across New England—or competing in dog sports. Fritz has traveled to 27 states (and counting!) with me, and if you asked him, I’m pretty sure he’d say he loves traveling just as much as I do. Sven may be small, but she has a huge personality and would never let her size stop her from hiking up a mountain. Stevie is full of energy and has been an incredible hiking partner, as well as my current sport dog, competing in a variety of dog sports.
Steve "Stevie" Irwin
Contact Us For Your Free Consultation Today!
Are you ready to embark on a journey towards a well-behaved, happy, and harmonious life with your canine companion? Contact Capital City Canines today to schedule your first consultation. Breanna Leonard and our team of experienced trainers are eager to guide you through the rewarding process of transforming your dog's behavior. Let's make your dog's transition a success story together!
