DRIVEN BY PASSION
Lifelong Enrichment for Companion Animals (LECA) Academy was established to enrich and stimulate the physical, emotional, mental, social, and instinctive needs of family dogs.
Established in 2017 by lifelong friends and dog-lovers to fill the gap between what their dogs need and what they could realistically provide given the modern work-family lifestyle.
We love our dogs and we take their happiness as seriously as any other member of our family. Unfortunately, doggy daycare centers focus on crowd control and provide little more than a safe environment. Dog walkers don't spend nearly enough time with the dogs, don't have proper training, and are more likely to be distracted or on phone.
We partnered with leading dog training researchers, zoo trainers, and master trainers to develop a daily curriculum based on social cognitive learning theory. Our goal is simple: help dogs thrive every single day they are with us.
Our program has been approved by thousands of dog trainers, animal behavior experts, and veterinarians to be superior to traditional dog walking and daycare service providers based on physical activity, attachment and communication with the handlers, confidence and resilience, and versatility.
WHERE IT STARTED
"We recognized that dogs are task oriented, that is they want a job to do, objective oriented, they want to complete their tasks, and are social, they want to be around others. We started there and built something our own dogs love."
Meet the LECA Family
Max Belenitsky, CEO
After a two decade career as a portfolio manager, quantitative researcher, and executive at firms like Goldman Sachs, MSCI, and Alternative Data Group, he started LECA to help dogs thrive through enrichment, exercise, and proper training.
Max grew up with dogs and around people with dogs. Since age 16, he has worked with hundreds of families to reduce behavioral problems and provide an outlet for excess energy.
Curriculum Directors
Gaby Dufresne-Cyr
Gaby Dufresne-Cyr is the founder, teacher, dog trainer, dog behaviour consultant, and exotic animal trainer at the Dogue Shop in Montreal. Involved with dogs since childhood, Gaby got her first paid dog training client at the age of sixteen.
Gaby became a full-time dog trainer in the 90s, and now devotes her time to teach newer generations the science behind animal training. Gaby also travels internationally to speak about the science of animal behaviour management, training, social learning, and exotic animal-assisted therapy as a means of enrichment, training, and conservation.
Dr. Kristina Spaulding
Dr. Spaulding has a PhD in biopsychology – the study of the biological basis of behavior – and is a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist through the Animal Behavior Society. In addition to her academic background, she has been in the dog training and behavior profession for 18 years.
She is a member of the APDT Education Committee where she helps to develop and evaluate their educational resources. She also teaches Learning Theory to other trainers and behaviorists through the Association of Professional Dog Trainers.
Dr. Spaulding is actively involved in Fear Free Advisory Group for Fear Free which is advocates eliminating fear, anxiety and stress for pets at vet clinics around the country.
Head Trainer
"As a dog trainer I feel it is my job to understand and provide what the dogs need. I love enrichment because it gives me opportunities to improve communication and strengthen the relationship with the dogs, while challenging them and working their minds."
Scott graduated from ABC (Animal Behavior College) in 2013.
Meet The Training Team
PRESS
Montclair Magazine - November 2018
Montclair Magazine calls LECA the KUMON for Dogs and lists us at the top of their Buzzworthy list for Montclair.
