Take the Lead Dog Training

After being attacked while walking on leash, our Black Lab became scared and aggressive toward other dogs. We chose the six private lessons with Catherine and learned important ways to help our dog relax and become more focused. Catherine is very knowledgeable and always uses positive methods in her training techniques. We definitely would recommend her.

We worked with Catherine for puppy class, life skills and 1:1 training once reactivity issues started to show with our covid pup. Working with Catherine over the first 2 years of our dog's life has been tremendous in helping us to understand and manage our dog's behaviour. She is a huge believer in teaching you humane methods and shows you how to be a better advocate for your dog. We have recommended Catherine to all our friends with new dogs - do not hesitate to work with her if you have a reactive dog or have a new puppy!

I contacted Catherine to help me with my reactive mini Aussie. Luna is a very intelligent dog and had done well with basic training and trick training but had huge anxiety issues when there was any change in her environment (ie. people entering the house or other dogs in general). Catherine worked with me, using several different methods, to find what worked to help with Luna's anxiety and get her through a stressful situation much more calmly. I still have a ways to go with Luna but I now feel like I have a lot more techniques to use and a great support system with Catherine! Her methods are all based on positive reinforcement and she is a patient, experienced trainer who also has a great sense of humour!

Adding a furry member to your family can be a beautiful, rewarding, and sometimes quite difficult experience! Although things are never perfect Catherine helped give me the tools to succeed and overcome difficulties by working along side Bailey so we could learn and grow together. Catherine’s positive reinforcement style of training has allowed a strong relationship to develop between Bailey and myself, the foundation of which is trust. I can not say enough positive things about my overall experience and I look forward to enrolling in the advanced classes come summer.Thank you again Catherine for your knowledge, dedication, and kindness Bailey and I are forever grateful.

I am so glad that my vet recommended Catherine and Take the Lead to me to help with my extremely social but anxiety ridden poodle-sheepdog. Riley had a very hard time with any environmental distractions and was simultaneously afraid and interested in pretty much everything! Over several months Catherine taught me the skills I need to help Riley manage her big emotions and I feel much more confident moving forward. I look forward to continuing to work with Riley and maybe even join a class! And my family and friends have noticed a marked improvement in Riley's new ability to calm down quicker when greeting them. Thanks Catherine!

Catherine was a massive help with training our fearful rescue. She is obviously very dedicated to her profession and is continuously learning new ways to help her clients and their dogs. The tools she gave us allowed us and our dog to make amazing progress in the time we were working with her and in the months following. We highly recommend her!

I can't thank Catherine enough for her exceptional dog training services. Her expertise and dedication have been instrumental in addressing my dog Finn's reactivity towards other dogs. Catherine's emphasis on collaboration and teamwork has made a significant impact on our training journey.Catherine's positive reinforcement techniques have been incredibly effective. By rewarding Finn's good behavior, she has helped him with his reactivity in a positive and enjoyable way. I also appreciate her commitment to training both Finn and myself as the owner, providing valuable insights and strategies.Thanks to Catherine's expertise, Finn has shown remarkable progress. He is more confident and composed around other dogs. I am also able to read Finn better and help support him in his needs. I highly recommend Catherine Adams as an outstanding dog trainer who truly cares about the well-being of both dogs and their owners.

At the very beginning, I just looked for a trainer who is able to make my puppy behave well. During the lessons, I found that Catherine brought me a big surprise more than what I expected. Catherine is a really nice and patient dog trainer that I've ever met. We learnt many happy methods from her to train my puppy. And my puppy loves her so much! :D I will definitely choose her again if possible!

Catherine is amazing at what she does. We worked with her both in a puppy group class (right before Covid) and most recently as a 1:1 trainer for our Shiba Inu.She has a calm demeanour and is extremely knowledgeable in dog behaviour and training. She has an ability to break down lessons into actionable steps, guiding us with kindness, wisdom, and expertise.Our Shiba now walks on leash without pulling, acts appropriately towards other dogs he comes across on walks, and complies with behavioural expectations in our home. He's shown tremendous growth in these valuable 1:1 lessons. If you are looking for a dog trainer, she is the best in the area.We are forever grateful for her help. Thank you so much, Catherine!