ABOUT ME
I truly love what I do, and I get so much satisfaction and reward from seeing clients leave sessions feeling more knowledgeable, more confident, and better equipped to communicate with their dogs on a deeper level. My aim is not just to work with the dog, but to empower owners with understanding, clarity, and trust in themselves.
My roots have always been in working with rescue dogs, having run a dog rescue charity in the past, and I also bring a wealth of professional experience from my time as a former partner in Yorkshire K9 Ltd. I also enjoy dog sport and advanced obedience, and have a passion for behavioural work. No matter what the 'problem' is though, be it reactivity, lead pulling or something complex, I love it when the owners see the progression and enjoy their dog again.
"I encourage all prospective clients to explore my social media platforms to gain a genuine feel for who I am, how I work, and what my training approach looks like in real life."
Over the years, I have worked across a wide range of training environments and philosophies. My journey began with more traditional, positive only-based approaches and expanded into a balanced-style training. Through exposure to many different schools of thought, I was able to identify what aligned with my own values and ethics—and just as importantly, what did not.
After working alongside various trainers and observing the limitations of rigid or one-size-fits-all methods, I chose to step back and explore training styles and methodologies independently. This allowed me to develop a more flexible, thoughtful approach that considers both the dog in front of me and the individual needs of the handler.
I have now worked with over 10,000 dogs. All breeds, sizes, and ages with their own unique goals. No breed discrimination here!
Today, I draw on experience from multiple training systems, techniques, and perspectives. I do not limit myself to a single “label,” instead combining knowledge, practicality, and ethics to create training that is fair, effective, and fulfilling. I remain deeply grateful for the trainers, schools, and experiences that have all shaped and contributed to the philosophies I use now.
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE.
QUALIFICATIONS
Slatmill Certified Fun Agility Instructor Dog Law Canine Fulfilment Dementia in Dogs Entire Male Dog First Aid CPR Diploma in Animal Behaviour (Distinction) Waldrop Canine Semantics 101 Canine Nutrition
EXPERIENCE
Volunteered and worked part time for The Dogs Trust (2003 - 2004) Manager of a boarding kennels & cattery (2004 - 2010) Founded and managed a Dog Rescue Charity (2005 - 2011) Trained Assisted in Training Protection Dogs (2010 - 2012) Although not working with dogs professionally for a few years , I continued to expand my knowledge. Train and foster rescue dogs free of charge. Began 121 dog training with pet clients professionally circa 2018 - 2021. First working for a busy company, and then franchising for that company in York under York Dog School. Co Founded successful training company Yorkshire K9 Ltd with friend Martin 2022 - 2026. Co Founded Canine Fulfilment Centre The K9 Vault 2025 - present day. RSK9 Dog Training was born!
SEMINARS
Barbara Sykes Thinking Like Canines Program (2008) Tom Davis (2022) Hans Verbruggen (2023) Ivan Balanonov (2024) N2N Canine Fitness (2025) Forrest Micke (2026)