About

PictureLeslie LaBelle | Certified Dog Trainer
As a little girl, I always wanted to be a veterinarian. My love for animals started  as a small child and continued to flourish into adulthood. Life circumstances prevented the achievement of becoming a vet and owning a dog but that dream and my love for animals never stopped. But I always longed for a dog, my BFF. 

At last, I was able fulfill my dream later in life. And what a joy I received—Jackson, my BFF. Jackson is a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, a high energy, intelligent and “determined” breed. It wasn’t all roses to start. Jackson and I went through multiple training classes during his first 5 months of life. I started to think I made a mistake in getting a dog. It was a lot more work than I realized. But it wasn’t Jackson that was the problem, it was me, his owner. We just didn’t have the right trainer to help us be successful.

I found a trainer that listened to my needs and goals, cared for my dog as much as I did and had a passion for helping Jackson and I succeed as a team. The trainer used the 5 P’s: Patience, Persistence, Practice, Passion, and Praise. As a result, Jackson passed his Canine Good Citizen and became a Pet Therapy dog, all by 1 ½ years old. He provides pleasure to everyone he comes into contact with. We visit hospice patients, nursing home patients, children at schools and the library as part of the READ program. His success as a Pet Therapy dog led me to become a Pet Partner and CGC Evaluator myself. I also teach Pet Partner Handler classes.

BFF Dog Academy uses the 5 P’s (Patience, Persistence, Practice, Passion, and Praise) in its training with each and every client (both human and animal). We’d love to help you discover your Best Furry Friend too. Let’s get started on your success story. Our philosophy is: “Dog training should be fun, flexible, and fair.”
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Leslie LaBelle
Owner, Certified Trainer

Mission

Our mission is to provide personalized, individualized training for the entire family, looking to find their Canine BFF!

Philosophy
•  Patience
•  Persistence
•  Practice
•  Passion
•  Praise

We do this with each and every client (both human and animal). Our philosophy is that dog training should be fun, flexible, and fair!

Credentials
ABC Certified Dog Trainer
BFF Dog Academy is a working dog obedience company. Leslie has successfully completed ABC’s Dog Obedience Instructor Training Program. Requirements for graduation include the extensive study of the scientific principles of how dogs learn, in addition to, hands-on testing by some of the most talented dog training professionals in the industry.
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What is an ABC Certified Dog Trainer?
ABC Certified Dog Trainers understand the importance of teaching new behaviors through luring, shaping, capturing or molding and have mastered the behavioral principles of operant conditioning. ABC Certified Dog Trainers have been taught to use positive motivation training techniques as their primary training tool which will allow your dog to learn the desired behaviors while keeping alive the unique spark that makes your dog so special to you.
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An ABC Certified Dog Trainer:
  • Loves all dogs and their people too
  • Believes that all new behaviors should be taught through luring, shaping, capturing or molding
  • Does not subscribe to nor condemn other dog training professionals for their beliefs
  • Has been educated in and understands the benefits of professional dog training with operant conditioning
  • Has lots of tools in the toolbox and knows how to use them
  • Knows there is always more to learn and attends seminars, workshops and conferences as often as possible
  • Has a strong sense of ethics which is applied in their business practice
  • Has patience and understands that anger and abuse have no place in dog training
  • Is professional at all times
  • Treats their students (both two and four legged) with respect, kindness, empathy, compassion, kinship and encouragement
  • Is passionate about living and working with dogs
American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen
​Started in 1989, the Canine Good Citizen Program is designed to reward dogs who have good manners at home and in the community. The Canine Good Citizen Program is a two-part program that stresses responsible pet ownership for owners and basic good manners for dogs. All dogs who pass the 10-step Canine Good Citizen test may receive a certificate from the American Kennel Club.

BFF Dog Academy can assist in helping to prepare and pass this test. Leslie is a Certified Evaluator for Canine Good Citizen.
Pet Partners
Pet Partners is the national leader in demonstrating and promoting positive human-animal therapy, activities and education. Pet Partners teams interact with a wide variety of clients including veterans with PTSD, seniors living with Alzheimer’s, students with literacy challenges, patients in recovery, people with intellectual disabilities and those approaching end of life. The impact of these interactions is felt one million times a year. Pet Partners’ curriculum and continuing education for licensed instructors, evaluators and handlers is the gold standard in the field.  Leslie is a licensed Pet Partner Instructor, evaluator of “teams,” as well as handler. She participates with her dog Jackson by visiting patients in nursing homes, hospice patients/camps for children and helping children read. People and animal volunteer teams are the heart and soul of Pet Partners’ Therapy Animal Program.



​Association of Professional Dog Trainers