If you're struggling with your dog's behavior and unsure how to change it, it's because you are missing the right knowledge. I can provide you with the skills, knowledge and understanding needed to create the life you’ve envisioned with your dog.

If you're dedicated to making a change, committed to helping your dog succeed, and ready to embrace the process, then let’s work together! Call me and tell me more!

I am a certified, Knowledge Assessed dog trainer with a strong background of academic learning in canine behaviour.  In addition, I've accumulated thousand of hours of canine hands on experience starting when I owned and operated my dog daycare start up from 2003-2011.   In addition to all this background, my own dogs have had a hand in enhancing my dog ‘experience’.

Sadie Mae, who is now gone, was my introduction to the world of fear and dog aggression.  Nothing teaches you faster than living with a dog with behaviour issues. It  makes you appreciate the 'Disney' dogs!

Leash walking Kelowna

Louie is my 4th Doberman Pinscher and our latest addition to the family in December 2019

Mission Statement

Take the Lead Dog Training trains dogs and coaches dog guardians how to apply humane training practices and techniques that result in trust and respect at both ends of the leash.

Catherine's Experience

  • Life time dog guardian and enthusiast
  • Owner/Operator Paws to Play, Day Centre for Dogs (Cloverdale) – 7 yrs+ ’03-’11
    over 19,000+ hrs working hands on with hundreds of dogs of various breeds and personalities
  • Guardian to a ‘reactive’  Doberman, 2006 – 2016
  • 2 yrs facilitating the Doberman Rescue arm of the BCDPC
  • Past Volunteer Dog trainer for the Shake-A-Paw training program
  • Past Volunteer at the Langley Animal Protection Society (LAPS) as “Red collar” dog walker (dogs with behavioral issues)

The Learning Never Stops...

  • 2021-Leslie McDevitt Control Unleashed conference
  • 2019-Dog Aggression Course-Michael Shikashio
  • Certified Knowledge Assessed (KA) by the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers
  • 2018-Aggression in Dogs-Michael Shikashio & Trish McMillan
  • 2013-Coaching People to Train their Dogs Course 1 (Chicken Camp!)YUP! Training Chickens!
  • 2013-Training a Reactive Dog Class
  • 2012-Dr. Sophia Yin
  • 2008-Dr. Ian Dunbar Seminar:Dog Aggression: Biting and Fighting
Certified Behavior Consultant Canine, Knowledge AssessedCertified Behavior Consultant Canine, Knowledge Assessed
Certified Dog Trainer
Dog Classes West Kelowna
Positive Reinforcement Dog Training
Dog Classes West Kelowna
Puppy Training Classes Summerland

Contact Take The Lead Today!

Don't wait any longer to start working towards your dog training goals. I help people make change in their dog’s behavior through empathy, and with the individual dog's needs in mind.