Adele Harrison

Trainee Trainer Durham

Adele joins the Adolescent Dogs team as a Trainee Residential Dog Trainer based in Durham, bringing with her an impressive 22 years of experience as a qualified Veterinary Surgeon. Having spent the majority of her career in small animal practice, Adele developed a strong passion for canine behaviour and training, leading her to pursue further education in this field.

Expertise in Dog Training & Behaviour

Adele has trained and competed with four of her own dogs in agility, with one reaching championship level. She has a deep appreciation for shaping behaviours, teaching new skills, and developing confident, well-mannered dogs. Her combined veterinary knowledge and training expertise allow her to take a holistic approach, ensuring that both a dog’s physical health and behavioural needs are considered throughout training.

Residential Training in Durham

As a Trainee Residential Dog Trainer, Adele provides a structured and immersive training experience, where dogs stay in her home for intensive, personalised training.

She is ideally located near a variety of training environments, including:

🏞 Hamsterley Forest & nature reserves – perfect for outdoor training and building recall skills
🐑 Beamish Outdoor Museum – offers exposure to livestock, steam trains, people, and other dogs
🏙 Local dog-friendly shopping centres – ideal for public access and obedience training
🐾 Open playing fields & footpaths – great for proofing obedience, lead walking, and recall

Life with Dogs

Adele lives in Annfield Plain, Durham, where she shares her home with her five dogs and a Conure. Her extensive personal experience raising and training multiple dogs has given her hands-on expertise in understanding different temperaments, learning styles, and behavioural challenges.

Passion for Positive Training

Adele is dedicated to force-free, science-backed training methods that prioritise dog welfare and emotional well-being. She is passionate about helping dogs build confidence, develop life skills, and integrate successfully into family life.

We’re thrilled to welcome Adele to the Adolescent Dogs team, where she will be offering residential training services in Durham, helping dogs and their owners achieve their training goals with expert care and guidance.

Qualifications and courses attended

Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery - 2003
Post-Graduate Certificate in Small Animal Medicine (currently)
Level 5 Diploma in Advanced Canine Behaviour Management - 2013
Diploma in Advanced Feline Behaviour - 2013
Mental Health First Aider - 2023
Aggression Seminar 2009 Companion Animal Behaviour
2010 Diploma in Canine Aggression
2012 Human Directed Aggression
2013 Behavioural Problems and OCD/ Misdirected Hunting Behaviours in Working Cockers
2017 Do Dogs Bite Without Warning or Should We See it Coming?
2018 Pet Remedy Natural De-stress
2019 What You Should Know Before Neutering