CaDeLac Dog Training.

Denise McLeod owner and head trainer of CaDeLac Dog Training, has been fascinated by all animals, for as long as she can remember. She began training ‘problem’ dogs at the age of six, horses at ten. Unable to own a dog of her own because of a family illness, she began walking and training all the dogs that lived on her street. She remembers, ‘At the age of six, I ‘swapped’ my bike for my friends boxer dog, called Butch. When the friend rode off the dog followed, dragging me along the floor behind and breaking my collar bone. Even back then I remember thinking, there must be a way to get this dog to want to be with me, so I set out to find one.’

Having acquired her first dog Cassie, from the RSPCA in 1990, Denise and her beloved companion soon had a good deal of success on the agility circuit, winning many prizes from her very first show onwards.

She recalls, ‘People have always come to me for help with their animals, obedience and behavioural problems have always fascinated me, agility came later as I had success at the shows. I just love seeing a dog’s behaviour change and improve and the relationship between a dog and its handler flourish.’ After her success at agility, Denise began running formal classes at the weekends in 1992.

In January 2001 Denise took the decision to leave a successful 17-year career in I.T. to follow her heart and CaDeLac became her full time occupation.

CaDeLac is named after her two first dogs Cassie and Lace, who where both rescue dogs with major ‘problems’, providing the reason for Denise to invest even more of her time, studying dog behaviour through observation, courses, books and videos.

Through CaDeLac, Denise offers training and socialisation for all dogs and puppies as well as agility for older dogs. She also offers private lessons by appointment and behavioural advice and counselling to those with specialist needs. She also runs regular talks on dog behaviour and is available to provide talks or training events at other dog clubs.

Training each week with one of the worlds most renowned sheep dog trainers and handlers, she is also learning the mysterious art of sheep dog training, with the latest family member to the Clan CaDeLac Cloud, a border collie. She is also able to offer help and advice in that arena, to those who are just starting out in the world of sheep dogging.

Training at CaDeLac

All CaDeLac instructors have significant dog training experience, from the world of competition obedience or agility. One of the instructors fosters unwanted dogs until they are found a permanent home and another has experience of training and handling working police and sniffer dogs. Denise comments, ‘Between us, I believe we have an unprecedented variety of experience and knowledge. All of us are committed to canine welfare, modern training techniques and continuous improvements to our own knowledge base. Together, I like to think we are one happy family and are always looking to provide the best dog training experience on offer, in the area.’

CaDeLac uses modern lure, reward and clicker based techniques to develop the relationship between dog, and handler and to train the dog. Denise adds, ‘Fun is an essential element in our dog training and we like to see happy wagging tails coming towards our door, not depressed or oppressed dogs’.

What does CaDeLac training offer me and my dog?

Basic obedience and socialisation classes cover the basic controls of sit, down, stand, wait, heel, recall and basic manners. Further and more advanced training classes are available for those who wish to continue training throughout their dog’s life, or who wish to compete in obedience competitions. Clicker and trick training form part of the more advanced classes.

CaDeLac also provides training and testing for the Kennel Club Good Citizens awards including puppy foundation courses.

Agility classes cover basic agility obedience and equipment safety training for beginners, through to advanced competition techniques.

All classes include question and answer sessions.