4.5★s
Life on the Leash is the first novel by American dog trainer and author, Victoria Schade. Cora Bellamy’s dog training business is going well. She loves her job because she loves dogs and people and wants their interactions to be positive. Her emphasis is on love and compassion and reward, unlike the famous Dog Dictator, Boris Ershovich, whose tele-evangelist-like shows promote forced submission and punishment. Cora vents her anger over his methods on her anonymous blog, ChienParfait.

Cora’s methods give dog owners proven ways to correct their pets’ behaviour without cruelty: excessive barking, toilet training, jumping up at visitors, separation anxiety, all manner of impolite and perhaps dangerous behaviour can usually be remedied if owners are prepared to follow her instructions and practice consistently. Cora’s own dog, Fritz is a rescue dog, and she regularly fosters other rescue dogs until a forever home can be found.

And now, Cora has the chance to promote her kinder, science-based method: she’s going overcome her anxiety to audition for a new dog training TV show. Her friends and clients are all very supportive, and Cora hopes she can make a good impression. But she is somewhat distracted by one of her clients: a gorgeous (hot!) dog lover who is making eyes at her despite his ongoing relationship with a high-powered attorney. Cora is eighteen months ex-fiancé and her sexual frustration could be clouding her usual good intentions to maintain a professional distance...

While parts of the plot are predictable, there are one or two surprises. The tone is fairly light-hearted, most of the characters not deeply complex, and both dialogue and several incidents offer plenty of humour. There is a love triangle, which is probably necessary as the very intelligent protagonist seems to have difficulty picking the decent guy without first experiencing the sleaze-bag. She could be allowing lust to overcome sense and appears set, at one stage, to make some disappointing decisions.

Schade’s love for, and expertise with, dogs is apparent in every scene, and her protagonist is a passionate advocate of her philosophy in dog training, eschewing force over kindness. This feel-good novel with its happy ending will appeal especially to dog-lovers. Dog shelters and rescue schemes will also appreciate the positive publicity afforded them by this heart-warming debut novel.