Kay Laurence

Life with dogs began in 1973 with a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. "You'd better take that to training class" was my father's first remark, initiating a career in dogs and training. Cavaliers became Gordon Setters and Border Collies arrived to organise the household, rearing more than 30 litters of all three breeds under the GenAbacab kennel name, with the collies now spanning 9 generations.

From a career at Heathrow Airport to a Welsh hill sheep farm and then into Adult Education the dogs have continued an unbreakable thread. Competitions in the early 70s were limited in choice with Obedience providing the easiest access with some Working Trials to extend the horizons. Sheep farming developed a deep understanding of the evolved instincts of Border Collies and Search and Rescue with the Gordon Setters built my respect for their hunting skills and desire to bounce on casualties.

The 90s saw the evolving new sport of Heelwork to Music and Freestyle. Kay began the new organisation Paws N Music and spent many happy moments partnering Mary Ray in pairs competitions and creating new moves and ideas. Kay judged the Heelwork to Music and Freestyle Events at Crufts 2008.

Success in these sports together with 35 years running classes in pet, sports and working training has been crystallised with post graduate qualifications in teaching and course design. Kay has designed and taught several new college courses covering many aspects of dogs: training, behaviour, psychology, history, care and welfare as well as courses for Teaching People Teaching Dogs.

She is a regular presenter at the Karen Pryor Expos and the University of North Texas ORCA Conference held in the USA and many workshops around the World.

Enthusiasm for training is equally shared between Mabel (she of the video fame, and now 13 years old), her son Kent, and granddaughter Tessie, Collies: Quiz, Speck, Dottie, Flink, Quick and Time.
In April 2007 Kay enjoyed the experience of expressing her opinion as “Judge Kay” in the BBC2 TV “The Underdogs Show”.

Kay Laurence is "one of the world's top clicker trainers" (Karen Pryor)

Helen Phillips CAP3

A professional gundog trainer with a successful team of home bred Viszlas working through the Winter in the field. Helen teaches on the Warwickshire College course in Canine Behaviour Education and Training, has achieved the award with Distinction and is a qualified Teacher in Adult Education.

Helen teaches on the Clicker Trainers courses, the Teaching People Teaching Dogs courses and the specialised Gundog Training course. She also organises  the K9 Multi Sports events and is author of the Learning About Dogs book: Clicker Gundog.

Sarah Harrison CAP2

Sarah first got involved with dogs 30 years ago training and handling boxers in the show ring for one of the top breeders at the time. She won her first Best in Show at age 14 and has since won reserve best of breed at Crufts twice with her own GWPs. Sarah got her first German Wirehaired Pointer 18 years ago and has had them ever since. She is on the committee for the German Wirehaired Pointer Club UK organising shows, field trials, training days etc., and she has judged the following breeds: GWP, GSP, Hungarian Vizslas, Italian Spinone, and Large Munsterlanders.

Sarah began clicker training 8 years ago when she purchased a new puppy and decided the way forward was going to be different this time. She was looking for a new method of training that would be fun, inspirational and stress-free for both herself and her dogs. She has been with us at LADs training for the last 7 years. She has achieved CAP1 & 2 and nearly completed CAP3.

Mandy Stroud CAP2

Mandy teaches on the Clicker Trainers Courses, has graduated from the Canine Training and Behaviour Course taught by Helen Phillips at Warwickshire College. She is working towards her Learning About Dogs Teachers Diploma, and Puppy Education Diploma.

Mandy teaches the Foundation Clicker Trainers workshops.

Lesley Buxton CAP2

Lesley has always shared her home with a variety of dogs, the current residents are Harry (rescue Terrier X) and Biggles (Irish Terrier). Up until 2007 she worked in the finance department for an animal charity then decided to leave behind the desk job and pursue the dream to become a dog trainer.

• Graduated from the Canine Training and Behaviour Course at Warwickshire College in 2008.
• Achieved CAP 1/ CAP 2 and currently training towards CAP 3.
• Completed the Pet Dog Training Instructors Course introductory level in 2007.
• Attended Agility Training for Trainers 1 & 2 with the Derbyshire Agility Centre.  Competed and won a few rosettes at UK Agility shows (beginner level) with Harry.  

Lesley regularly attends the Dream Team workshops, discovering how to do freestyle and heelwork to music and is working towards the Learning About Dogs Teachers Diploma and Puppy Education Diploma.

Lesley teaches Puppy, Puppy Graduate and Foundation Clicker Trainers Workshops.