Relationship comes first.
Meet Jack
My journey with dogs began in my teenage years when I volunteered at a small independent rescue. Spending my days mucking out kennels and walking the dogs, little did I know these humble beginnings would shape my entire career. It was during this time that I encountered a man whose bond with dogs seemed almost magical. He could walk into a room with dogs deemed aggressive and have them at ease in no time.
After months of persistence, he agreed to mentor me, becoming my first guide in the world of dog training. Together, we revamped training methods and organised the rescue, and soon I found myself caring for the dogs on their last chance.
Those early experiences exposed me to the complexities of canine communication, igniting a passion that has stayed with me for over 14 years. Despite the challenges—being bitten, facing aggression—I transitioned from rescue work to training pet dogs. It turns out, connecting with dogs comes naturally to me, and my knack for communicating with people only added to my skills.
My journey eventually led me to the world of working dogs, where I've spent the past four years under the tutelage of Jay Gray at Obsidian K9. Jay has not only been a mentor but also a friend, guiding me as my business and expertise have flourished.
Throughout my career, I've encountered every behavioral issue imaginable, yet dogs still manage to surprise me. That's the beauty of dog training—it's an ever-evolving learning process. Each dog is unique, with its own personality, motivations, and quirks. I firmly believe in training the individual, not the breed.
As a trainer, my focus boils down to two things: Fostering a strong bond between my clients and their dogs, and guiding my clients through their journey as their coach. I understand the trust you place in me when you entrust me with a member of your family, and I'll always honor that bond as we embark on this journey together.
Meet the Gang
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Maska
My boy is my best living friend and has pushed the edges of my dog training ability into new horizons.
Maska and myself compete in IGP - a protection sport that asks a lot of both handler and dog. We work and develop our skill sets as a team day in and day out. A team that feels more akin to a coach and athlete relationship!
He is my pride and joy in the world of dogs and was my first experience with a real working dog. I can proudly say that his advanced obedience, forthcoming and confident nature and his connection to me is something that I take immense pride in. I have built this dog from day one and he is the example of the top end of my ability as a dog trainer. My boy. -
Dude
Big ol' Dude is the latest addition to the team and was originally a rehab and re-home case. Over my time with him his behavioural issues have made absolutely massive strides forward and he's showing me every day that no matter how long you spend in this game, there will always be a dog to test your ability.
He's a big goof, full of personality but has some serious genetics wrapped up in that big ol' body of his! He's a dog that has taught me immense amounts: Patience, empathy and understanding being the forefront of that list. Over our time together however he's truly grown on me. He's challenged parts of myself that needed to be challenged and for that I’m grateful. -
Poppy
May I introduce you to the duchess, the P in J&P.
Poppy is and always will be the heart at the centre of J&P. Losing her in 2023 was one of the hardest experiences of my life. I rescued her when she was 10 years old and she gave me 8 years of learning and developing together.
She was my heart dog, a great teacher and a dog that I rehabilitated into a phenomenal companion over our time together. She got away with murder, but we didn't mind. Her soft nature and ambitious work ethic was the perfect combination of heart and body. I miss her dearly every day.
Love you, Pops!