ABOUT US
Helping dogs and their humans build a relationship, confidence, trust, and real life skills together!
Meet Aneesa
Hi, I’m Aneesa! Certified professional trainer, honors graduate of Good Dog Academy, and the owner of Leia’s Barkside Training!
My journey with dogs started long before becoming a trainer. From volunteering in shelters during high school and university to fostering rescue and street dogs, I quickly fell in love with helping dogs feel safe, understood, and successful in life.
Over the years, I’ve worked with dogs of all ages, temperaments, and backgrounds, from energetic puppies to fearful and reactive dogs needing extra support and confidence-building.
Before becoming a full-time trainer, I spent years balancing my career as a CPA alongside my passion for dogs. Eventually, that passion became Leia’s Barkside Training; a business built around helping people better understand their dogs while creating real-life results in a supportive environment.
About Leia
Leia is the heart behind Leia’s Barkside Training, and the dog who continues to shape the way I see training, relationships, and life with dogs.
She is fun, deeply sensitive, incredibly intelligent, and always eager to learn. Through training, enrichment, sport, and everyday life together, Leia reminds me that success is about far more than ribbons or obedience.
Living and working alongside her has reinforced my belief that dog training should strengthen the bond between dogs and their people, not suppress who dogs are.
Leia inspires my passion for relationship-based training, confidence-building, and helping dogs live full and meaningful lives as dogs.
More than anything, she’s the reason I want other people to experience the same connection, trust, and joy with their own dogs.
Leia’s Titles:
Instinct - Canadian Canine Trailing Association (Man Trailing)
Scent Detection, Started, Special Placement - Scent Detection Dogs Association (Scent Work)
DS1, Jr - Canadian Detection Sports Association (Nose Work)
DSG1, Clean - Canadian Detection Sports Association (Nose Work)
Relationship and trust
My Training Philosophy
Learn the species
Practical life skills
Natural behavior focus
I believe dog training is about far more than obedience, it’s about building a relationship rooted in trust, communication, and understanding.
Dogs deserve the opportunity to live fulfilling lives as dogs: to explore, sniff, move, learn, and engage with the world around them in ways that support their emotional and behavioral well-being.
My approach combines modern canine science, an ecological perspective, and relationship-based training to help dogs and their people work together in a way that feels sustainable, supportive, and realistic for everyday life.
Rather than focusing on quick fixes, I work at the pace of the dog. Together, we set achievable goals while building the skills, confidence, and understanding needed for long-term success.
A large part of my work is teaching humans, helping you better understand your dog as a species, recognize their individual needs, and learn how to communicate clearly and compassionately.
Because when we better understand dogs, we create better outcomes for both ends of the leash.
Qualifactions and experince
Dog Behavior and Obedience:
Professional Dog Trainer Certification, with honors – Good Dog Academy
Certified Canine First Aid- Dogsafe
Noise Phobias in Dogs Master Class– Dr. Else Verbeek
Certified Dog Walker – Good Dog Academy
Certified Daycare and Boarding Management- Good Dog Academy
Family Dog Mediator - Kim Brophy L.E.G.S (in progress)
Dog Sports:
Teaching Scent Work - Scent Work University (in progress)
Scent Work Training Course – Good Dog Academy
Scent Work Exercises - UK Sniffers
Associations and Memberships:
Quest K9 Trailing Club - Member
Canadian Association of Professional Dog Trainers - Member
Contact us
Interested in working together? Fill out some info and we will be in touch shortly. We can’t wait to hear from you!