In this episode, I’m chatting with Victoria Schade, a dog trainer, author, and entrepreneur. We talk about her first novel Life on the Leash, a romantic comedy about a dog trainer whose skills unexpectedly come in handy in her dating life. As a fellow professional dog mom, I’m especially excited to see how Victoria’s expertise in canine behavior translates to a fictional story.
Victoria’s novel also has a deeper purpose. It features a pit bull storyline that helps educate readers and shift perceptions of this misunderstood breed. It’s so great to blend that kind of advocacy into an entertaining romantic storyline. I loved talking to Victoria about how she wove that in.
We also talk about what it’s really like to work behind the scenes at Puppy Bowl (spoiler alert: it’s just as adorable as you imagine), the challenges and joys of writing fiction, and her experience publishing both nonfiction training books and now diving into novels.
INTERVIEW HIGHLIGHTS: Meet Victoria Schade
Victoria has been a professional dog trainer and writer for over 17 years. Her resume includes everything from working behind the scenes as the lead animal wrangler on Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl to hosting Faithful Friends for two seasons on Animal Planet, and writing educational dog training content for platforms like petMD, PawCulture, and NBC Universal.
She’s also the author of two dog training books, Bonding With Your Dog and Secrets of a Dog Trainer. Her first novel, Life on the Leash, was released on September 18, 2018.
Tori: After two nonfiction books, what made you decide to write a novel?
Victoria: Writing the novel was kind of a no-brainer. For years, I worked as an in-home dog trainer, and every time I walked into a new house it felt like I had stepped into a totally different sitcom—with an adorable dog as the main character. That sparked the idea.
Even when I was writing the nonfiction books, I included little fictional vignettes, and I found myself really enjoying those. So the move into fiction just made sense..
Tori: Your main character in Life on the Leash, Cora, is a dog trainer. Is she based on you?
Victoria: ora is definitely not me! When I first started writing, I thought I’d model the character after myself. But that turned out to be a little tricky and kind of limiting. So I pivoted and created someone who’s just incredibly sweet and genuinely nice—almost to a fault.
That gave me a lot more freedom and made it more fun to write her story.
Tori: Are any of the dogs in the book based on real-life dogs?
Victoria: Good question! There are actually two dogs in the book inspired by real pups. Lucy, the French Bulldog, belonged to a dear friend of mine. Including her in the story was my way of honoring that special bond.
And Honey the Doberman was a nod to one of my client’s dogs. That dog was actually a Vizsla in real life, but I thought a Doberman worked better for the story. So yes, real dogs did sneak their way in!
Tori: The book includes a pit bull storyline. Why was that important to you?
Victoria: One of my goals with Life on the Leash is to help change perceptions about pit bulls.
I’ve always been a fan of pit bull advocacy, and this felt like a great way to subtly educate people while entertaining them. There’s so much misinformation out there that’s just accepted as fact. I think it’s more important than ever to double-check what we’re reading—especially when it comes to breeds like pit bulls that have an unfair reputation.
(We also mention the book Pit Bull: The Battle over an American Icon in the episode).
Tori: What’s it like working on the Puppy Bowl?
Victoria: [2018] will be my 13th Puppy Bowl, and I have to say—it’s even cuter in real life than it is on TV! I’m there to keep an eye on everything that happens on the field and to make sure the puppies are happy and having fun.
I’m also behind the camera, doing whatever it takes to get them excited about running onto the set—sometimes that involves a lot of silly noises and treat bribes! It’s not just about the cuteness though. A big part of it is promoting foster care and rescue, which I’m really passionate about.
Connect with Victoria:
Website: www.victoriaschade.com
Instagram: @LifeontheLeash
Twitter: @VictoriaSchade
Facebook: Victoria Schade Author
Order Life on the Leash and start reading today!
NEW FROM VICTORIA SCHADE As of 2025
Since our interview, Victoria has published a few more novels that continue blending canine charm with heartfelt storytelling:
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Who Rescued Who – Where can you turn when the world turns against you? When Elizabeth Barnes’ life fell apart she never imagined that she’d be rescued by a new friend on four paws.
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Lost, Found, and Forever – What do you do when you discover your four-legged best friend might belong to someone else? From the acclaimed author of Who Rescued Who comes the charming story of a custody battle between two pet parents who would do anything for the dog they both adore.
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Dog Friendly – A burned-out veterinarian takes a much-needed beach vacation, where a charming surfer makes waves in her love life, and a unique foster pup renews her passion for her work.
- Unleashed Holiday – When an old rival reappears right before the holidays, a professional dog trainer must decide if the melting frost between them can make up for their ruff past.
- Pick Me – Coming November 18, 2025!
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