Built the bones. still running the trailsLeigh Siegfried
I’m a dog trainer, and I’m a builder. These days, I’m the architect of Lifestyle Dog Training™—a living framework that helps humans and dogs build lives that actually work together. No gimmicks, no obedience Olympics. Just clarity and the kind of communication that holds up when the real world gets real.
Twenty years ago, I started Opportunity Barks with the belief that dogs deserve better, and so do their humans. No plan B, no pedigree, and a relentless curiosity about how we learn to live with each other. My work lives at the intersection of behavior, communication, and real-world results. And what started as a one-woman mission has become a wildly capable team of trainers and culture-shapers.
Lifestyle Dog Training™ is not a method. It’s how you move, lead, and how your dog learns to trust you when it counts. When a dog feels safe and the human gets steady? That’s magic.
My résumé? It’s 20 years of living with dogs who never stop teaching me how to be more human, and dogs that keep us honest-strays, street dogs, semi-ferals, companion dogs, bird dogs, wolf hybrids, and the occasional horse or baby fawn with something to say.
Still learning, still curious. xo
L
Media Features
I’ve been the go-to voice for everything from decoding the weird and wonderful world of dog behavior, showing up in local press, national publications, and viral headlines that make you laugh and learn.
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Philly Magazine
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Philly Inquirer
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Philly Family
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New York Times
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On Air
Whether live, remote, or rolling with a camera crew, I’ve brought real-world dog training into living rooms and headlines. Featured in The Philly Inquirer for puppy training tips, went live on PHL17 and Fox29 Philadelphia with demo dogs in tow, and joined 6ABC’s Karen Rodgers for a remote segment. CBS3 invited me on air with Ukee Washington, and my street dog gal Sweets starred in National Geographic’s Dog Genius and the indie film Still Here.
Awards
We don’t chase trophies, but if you're into that kind of thing: American Dog Magazine named me Trainer of the Year in 2011, Northern Virginia Magazine called me Best Dog Behaviorist back in 2009, and Penny Power gave OPB Best Dog Trainer in both 2020 and 2021.
Conference Speaking
Past speaking engagements include the Humane Society of the United States Conference (two-time speaker), Midwest Animal Sheltering Conference, Pennsylvania Federation of Humane Societies, Petfinder Adoption Options Tour, and a panel on dog fighting at Temple School of Law. I bring a grounded, real-world voice to conversations about animal welfare, behavior, and the deeper relationships between dogs and humans.
Animal Welfare Consulting
Provided consulting and hands-on support to a wide range of organizations including the Humane Rescue Alliance (during the historic Michael Vick dog seizure), Animal Lifeline, Greater Good’s Rescue Rebuild Program, Bucks County SPCA, Philly PAWS, ACCT Philadelphia, Brookline Lab Rescue, Tri-State Weimaraner Rescue, and ACDRA Cattle Dog Rescue. My work centered on building enrichment systems and grassroots facility design, volunteer dog training, and behavior strategies to increase quality of life and placement success. At ACCT Philly, I helped revamp volunteer engagement through actionable, real-world training protocols that improved both outcomes and morale.
Petfinder Foundations Tour
Delivered enrichment-based training to shelters and rescues across the U.S. and Caribbean, with stops in Miami, Tucson, Chicago, Sioux Falls, Madison, and San Juan, Puerto Rico. Focused on companion, semi-feral, and free-ranging village dog populations, I worked with teams to implement practical systems that support behavioral wellness and provide targeted training to increase placement success.
