Sit. Stay. Lead.: Unleashing the Power of Canine-Inspired Leadership

By Daniel Sohn

Leadership lessons can come from anywhere—even from a wet nose and a wagging tail.

In this book, we explore the transformative, canine-inspired leadership traits we can learn from man’s best friend.

From loyalty and discipline to resilience and empathy, dogs show us daily what it means to lead with heart.
As a lifelong dog dad, nonprofit executive, public servant, and advocate, I’ve learned just as much about leadership from my five dogs—Sammy, GG, Lukas, Gracie, and Gillian—as I have from any boardroom or dais.

Sit. Stay. Lead. is dedicated to the leaders who listen, love, and lead—even if it means occasionally chasing
their own tails.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jul 24, 2025
• ISBN: 9781257979455

Book preview

PREFACE

Leadership lessons can come from anywhere, even from a wet nose and a wagging tail.

In this book, we explore the transformative, canine-inspired leadership traits we can learn from man’s best friend.

From loyalty and discipline to resilience and empathy, dogs show us daily what it means to lead with heart.

As a lifelong dog dad, nonprofit executive, public servant, and advocate, I’ve learned just as much about leadership from my five dogs - Sammy, GG, Lukas, Gracie, and Gillian, as I have from any boardroom or dais.

Sit. Stay. Lead is dedicated to the leaders who listen, love, and lead even if it means occasionally chasing their own tails.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

First and foremost, I want to thank my five extraordinary dogs, Sammy, GG, Lukas, Gracie, and Gillian. You’ve each taught me more about leadership, love, and presence than I could ever learn in a seminar. Your loyalty and quiet wisdom continue to shape how I live and lead. This book is your story as much as mine.

To my husband, thank you for your unending support, your belief in my wild ideas, and for loving this pack as deeply as I do. You’ve been my teammate through every late-night walk, every mess, and every beautiful moment in between.

To my late grandmother, Shirley Sohn, your words about every boy needing a dog, and a mother who lets him have one, echo in my life and these pages. You planted the seed.

To my mother, for honoring my late grandmother’s words, for always saying yes when another pet found its way to my heart, and for showing me every day what quiet strength and unconditional love look like.

To the many communities I’ve had the privilege of serving, nonprofits, public agencies, advocacy coalitions, and grassroots movements, thank you for reminding me daily that leadership is about people, not positions.

To my colleagues, mentors, and fellow dog parents who offered insights and encouragement along the way, I’m deeply grateful. Your feedback, stories, and support helped bring this vision to life.

And finally, to every reader who has ever wondered what their dog might be trying to teach them, this book is for you. May you lead with a wag in your step, a spark in your heart, and the kind of courage that only a dog’s love can inspire.

With gratitude,

Daniel H. Sohn

INTRODUCTION

Leadership books come in all forms, some are packed with frameworks, others with philosophies, and many with stories of high-stakes strategy and high-rise success. But some of the most profound leadership lessons I’ve ever learned didn’t come from any boardroom or bestselling author.

They came from a wet nose nudging my hand.

From four paws padding behind me, always in step.

From a pair of eyes that seemed to say, I’ve got you, no matter what.

They came from dogs.

This book isn’t about pet ownership. It’s about leadership, canine-inspired leadership. The kind that doesn’t depend on titles, teams, or even language. The kind that shows up in silence, in subtlety, in motion. The kind that shapes culture through presence, loyalty, rhythm, and love.

Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of sharing life with five unforgettable dogs, Sammy, GG, Lukas, Gracie, and Gillian. Each of them, in their own beautiful, chaotic, loving way, has been a leadership coach in fur. They didn’t attend seminars or earn degrees, but they knew how to sit in stillness when things were loud, how to stay grounded when everything felt uncertain, how to chase joy with abandon, how to walk in sync without needing control, and how to get back up after the world knocked them down.

And they teach me to do the same.

Each chapter in this book reflects one of the core leaderships lessons they’ve gifted me, lessons we’ve since practiced in community spaces, nonprofit teams, family systems, and everyday life. You won’t find fictionalized talking dogs or Disney-level dramatics here. You’ll find stories rooted in reality, in fur and in heart, grounded in the traits that make dogs such exceptional companions, and surprisingly wise guides.

Why Dogs?

Because dogs lead with clarity and without pretense.

Because dogs stay attuned to energy before they react to words.

Because dogs don’t perform trust, they practice it.

And as leaders, we need more of that.

We need more leaders who know how to pause instead of panic.

Who know how to stay when things get hard.

Who finish what they fetch.

Who walk with, not ahead of.

Who speak with integrity.

And who roll over, not in weakness, but in resilience.

That’s what dogs know.

And it’s what I hope this book will help you remember.

Whether you’re leading a company, a community project, a family, or your own healing journey, this book is for you. It’s for the seasoned executive rethinking how they show up in tough conversations. It’s for the new manager who wants to build trust before metrics. It’s for the overwhelmed parent, the weary teacher, the nonprofit warrior, the startup founder, the quiet changemaker who needs a model for strength that doesn’t require shouting.

It’s for anyone who wants to lead more deeply, more honestly, and more fully human.

Who They Are (and What They Teach)?

Sammy teaches me loyalty that doesn’t need attention. He didn’t bark for the spotlight, but he showed up every single time. He reminded me that the most powerful leaders are often the quietest ones, showing up with calm consistency when it matters most.

GG is my first protector. She is named for Gwendolyn Graham, a former U.S. Congresswoman from Florida. Born at the foot of my bed, she emerged with fierce instinct. She taught me that leadership means creating a safe space, not just for people’s bodies, but for their dignity, their voices, and their sense of belonging.

Lukas is our joy bringer. Always ready for a walk, a game, or a nap in the sun. He reminded me that leadership doesn’t have to feel heavy. That there’s wisdom in enthusiasm, power in play, and presence in the now.

Gracie is our rulebreaker, full of spunk, chaos, and individuality. She has this perpetually lolling tongue that hangs just a little off to the side, like she’s mid-thought or mid-laugh. It’s not something she does to be cute. And somehow, it’s become one of her most endearing features. It reminds me that authenticity is magnetic, even in its imperfections. She reminds me every day that leaders don’t have to conform, that growth is often messy. That adaptation is more important than appearance, and that your quirks can be your greatest gift.

Gillian is our nurturer. With eyes full of empathy and a heart that seems attuned to the emotions of everyone in the room, she teaches the kind of leadership that centers on emotional intelligence, where caring is not a weakness, but a strategic approach.

In my time serving on the city council, Sammy’s quiet loyalty reminded me that the best way to earn trust was to show up consistently for the community, not with noise, but with steady presence.

GG’s protective instinct mirrors the way I worked to safeguard the interests of local businesses as a Chamber of Commerce executive, creating safe spaces for people to thrive.

Together, they’ve made me a better person. And a better leader.

Not because they followed me, but because I learned to follow them.

What This Book Is (and isn’t)

This isn’t a manual. It’s a mindset.

This isn’t about management tactics or a one-size-fits-all strategy.