“What is your dog’s sense of style?” Waggleview with Lisa Leonardi, The Room Doctor.

Waggleview with Lisa Leonardi, the owner of The Room Doctor, a home staging and design company.

Please read the Waggleview below to find out about this remarkable woman leader and her dog.

Woof on!

The Dog Owner:

Lisa Leonardi lives in Madison, CT and is the owner of The Room Doctor, a home staging & design company.

Lisa believes your home should reflect your personality, taste, and lifestyle. She wants  to share the joy that a stylish and relaxing home can bring comfort to you and your family and friends.

Lisa received training and certification from the School of Interior Redesign. Lisa is the recipient of several prestigious awards in the interior redesign and staging industries. In 2006, Lisa was recognized and awarded by her colleagues with First Place in Interior Redesign Challenge. At a 2007 conference in Nashville, Tennessee, Aaron Foster of HGTV’s Free Style presented Lisa with an award for her superior skills in the area of home staging, the National Redesign Challenge for Best Vacant Staging.

In addition to running a successful business, Lisa uses her drive and determination to help those in need. In 2007 Lisa created Design Wish, a charitable project through which she collaborates with other local designers to provide a complimentary room makeover for a deserving individual or family. Go to www.designwish.org to learn more.

Dog type and Name:

Sophie is my West Highland Terrier.

Q: Why did you choose this dog?

L: We chose Sophie because my husband had owned a “Westie” when he was a kid. They are known for being good with kids and having a great disposition. Sophie also has hair instead of fur, which is best for our daughter who suffers from asthma.

 

Q: Do you talk to your dog? If so, what do you talk about?

L: I talk to Sophie whenever she is in my presence. I usually tell her how much she is loved, how adorable I think she is, and how happy she makes me. I ask her questions about whether she saw any bunnies or deer during the course of her day. She loves to bark at them and let them know this is her territory.

 

Q: If she could talk to you, what would she say?

L: If Sophie could speak to me, I think she would say, “Mom, I’ve got you wrapped around my little paw! You’re a pushover! Now where’s my bone?”

 

Q: If your dog had a job or career, what would she be doing?

L: If Sophie had a job, I believe she would be a security guard. She loves to greet you at the door, whether you are family or a stranger. She enjoys standing watch over her yard looking for any intruder. When she sees one, she will bark incessantly, and if given the opportunity, she will hunt that intruder down with great speed.

 

Q: What lesson in life has your dog taught you?

L: Sophie has taught me many lessons. Most importantly she has taught me how unconditional love brings great joy, as well as inspires you to reciprocate that same type of love.

Q: How does your dog inspire you?

L: Sophie inspires me to live my life like hers…greet my family each day as if I haven’t seen them in months…know that a little snuggling can turn a bad day into a good one… give kisses to make up for a mistake made…have no fear, no matter what your size…

 

Q: Where is your dog’s favorite place to go with you?

L: Sophie’s favorite place is going to Chatfield Hollow where she can go for a long walk through the woods and meet many other canine friends along the way.

 

Q: What is your dog’s sense of style?

L: Simply stinky and dirty.

 

Q: Who or what does your dog find the most interesting?

L: Sophie finds squirrels, deer and rabbits most interesting.

 

Q: What is the most annoying thing other dog owners do?

L: I find it annoying when other dog owners bring their pets shopping with them. I don’t see the need.

 

Q: What does being a responsible dog owner mean to you?

L: Being a responsible dog owner is like being a good parent. You have to love your dog, keep your dog healthy and safe, teach your dog lessons, make time to spend with your dog, and forgive your dog when she breaks the rules.

 

Q: Do you ever dress up your dog? If so, as what?

L: I have dressed Sophie for Halloween as Dracula. At Christmas, she also has a festive sweater she wears. My husband thinks I’m nuts!

Q: How has your dog changed your life?

L: I never had a dog growing up, so I never really had the desire to have one as an adult. After constant nagging from my kids, I caved and we got Sophie. That was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Sophie is a constant source of joy in my life. She makes a bad day good, and a good day better. It amazes me how much she means to me.

 

Q: Does your dog have a philosophy of life?

L: My dog’s philosophy on life is simple…Eat, drink, play, soak in the sun, give plenty of kisses, snuggle, forgive, and most of all…love!

 

I love my dog because she makes me feel like I’m the most important person in the world.

 

WAGGLEVIEWS: These interviews are focused on woman leaders in business, the community, or at home. My hope in doing this is to present remarkable and respected women in their community with their beloved pets. Who can resist reading about dogs and what these women do? This is a platform for women to display their talents; their own business, a new book, a deeply loved passion for a charity or their own job. It also shows their love for their dog!

Thank you Lisa  for taking the time to participate in the Waggleview.

Please comment below.

  If you dog had a decorating style, how would you describe it?

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