Samantha Miyamoto | Leash Free Living

Sam started training dogs in 2008, after her first dog was killed by a larger dog. Inspired to use training to keep dogs safe (and alive), she apprenticed under the late Margot Woods, a nationally renowned dog trainer (and founder of Fido’s for Freedom). Sam graduated in 2011 with a BS in Biology from UMBC, and graduated from Margot’s Professional Dog Trainer program shortly after.

Sam opened Leash Free Living in 2012, where she has been able to assist thousands of dogs along in their training journey, and continues to be inspired to use training as a gateway to fun and exciting adventures with dogs.

While training pet dogs to behave for their owners in a home and community setting is her main goal, she also competes in AKC Obedience and Rally competitions with her own dogs and client dogs to continuously challenge and refine her training skills. Sam has put titles on nine different dogs (listed below), including earning Rally Championship Titles with two Golden Retrievers, a Doberman Pinscher, and a mixed breed dog, and earning the first and only Obedience Trial Championship with a Maltese.

Labrador Retriever, Pete: Companion Dog Title, Companion Dog Excellent Title (Video)
Labrador Retriever, Holly: Companion Dog Title (Video)
Golden Retriever, Lily: Companion Dog Title
German Shepherd, Diesel: Companion Dog Title, Companion Dog Excellent Title (Video)
Golden Retriever, Zach: Companion Dog Title, Companion Dog Excellent Title, Rally Novice, Rally Advanced, Rally Excellent, Rally Master, RAE, Rally Champion (RACH) (Video)
Golden Retriever, Sadie: Companion Dog Title, Companion Dog Excellent Title, Rally Novice, Rally Advanced, Rally Excellent, Rally Master, RAE, Rally Champion (RACH) (Video)
Maltese, Rugby: Companion Dog Title, Companion Dog Excellent Title, Utility Dog Title, UDX Title, Obedience Trial Champion (OTCH), Rally Novice, Rally Advanced (Video)
Doberman, Bourbon: Companion Dog Title, Companion Dog Excellent Title, Utility Dog Title, Rally Novice, Rally Advanced, Rally Excellent, Rally Master, Rally Master 2, RAE, RAE2, Rally Champion (RACH) (Video)
Schnoodle, Lemon: Companion Dog Title, Companion Dog Excellent Title, Utility Dog Title, Rally Novice, Rally Advanced, Rally Excellent, Rally Master, RAE, Rally Master 2, RAE2, Rally Champion (RACH) (Video)
Pumi, Coaster: Novice Trick Dog, Intermediate Trick Dog

Sam currently has four dogs of her own: Rugby (15 year old Maltese), Bourbon (10 year old Doberman Pinscher), Lemon (5 year old Schnauzer x Poodle), and Coaster (4 month old Pumi). Rugby is living the retired life, but you can still find Bourbon dabbling in Nosework, and assisting in socialization and demonstrations at Leash Free Living. Lemon is working on advanced obedience titles, and Coaster is just starting to learn the ropes.

You can find more about Leash Free Living’s Origin Story here.

Jacqui Rudisill

Jacqui started training dogs in 2013 when she trained her family German Shepherd Dogs, Maya and Zeke, to be therapy dogs and complete visits with Pet Partners Therapy Dog. While in college, she started teaching training classes, and training PTSD and mobility service dogs for veterans with Hearts of Gold. Jacqui graduated from West Virginia University with a Biomedical Engineering degree, and began working with Leash Free Living in July of 2021. Jacqui has completed the Leash Free Living Trainer and Instructor program.

Becky Archer

Becky became interested in dog training when she started preparing her dog to become a service dog for her daughter. She took several lessons from Leash Free Living, and enjoyed it so much that she joined the team in 2017. Becky is our Training Manager, and keeps all the lessons, classes, Tag-Alongs and instructor schedules running smoothly when she isn't teaching or training dogs. Becky has two dogs of her own: Strider (10 year old GSDxDoberman), and Winnie (4 year old Blue Lacy)

Jayna Fenton

Jayna has been working professionally with dogs since 2009. She started her career managing a large boarding kennel and day care, and became certified to teach Pet CPR and First Aid. When she rescued an aggressive Pit Bull (Star) that was abandoned at the kennel, she discovered that she loved rehabilitating dogs and using training to make dogs better companions. Star made great improvements training with Jayna and after that rehabilitation was able to pass the Canine Good Citizen test. Jayna then fostered a Toy Poodle that had spent years in a puppy mill. He had extreme noise sensitivity, was anxious and shut down in new environments, and was not potty trained. That dog was also able to pass the Canine Good Citizen exam after his rehabilitation and was successfully adopted into a new home. She joined the Leash Free Living team in 2013 and has completed our Certified Trainer, Instructor and Behaviorist programs. Jayna is our lead instructor for behavior cases, and advanced classes, and is a mentor to other LFL Trainers and Instructors.

Related Staff

Jacqui Rudisill

Becky Archer

Jayna Fenton