Meet our expert team

As the head trainer and co-founder of the Yorkshire Canine Academy, Jacob brings a lifetime of passion and a wealth of experience to the team. Growing up with German Shepherds, his connection with dogs was forged early on. The passing of his childhood companion, Soffi, in 2013 ignited a deep-seated desire to dedicate his life to working with them. While studying, Jacob spent several years volunteering to walk friends' dogs, which eventually led him to get his own dog, Ranger, followed shortly by Darla in 2016. Initially finding himself out of his depth, he faced behavioural challenges with both dogs. This pivotal experience prompted him to seek professional guidance and immerse himself in the study of animal behaviour. Through countless hours of study, numerous online courses, and the help of experienced trainers, Jacob transformed Ranger and Darla into the well-behaved "stooge dogs" that are now a familiar sight at the academy. With over six years of professional experience and having trained more than 2,500 dogs, Jacob's expertise is extensive. He has a particular passion for working with large breeds and, more importantly, with dedicated owners who are committed to helping their canine companions. In 2021, Jacob welcomed Stark, a Belgian Malinois, to his team. Stark has been a prominent feature in many of the academy's puppy training tutorials. Their partnership has since flourished, with Jacob and Stark successfully achieving their PSA titles and now competing at the PSA 2 level. Jacob's influence extends far beyond the academy. He has become a globally recognized figure in the dog training community, traveling the world to deliver seminars to fellow trainers. His commitment to education has led him to mentor dog trainers from every continent, sharing his knowledge and helping to elevate the standards of the profession worldwide.

Ian (also affectionately known as Kirkey) is one of our senior trainers and co-founder of the YCA. You may have heard his name before, in very different circumstances. Ian is an ex-professional Rugby League player who had many notable performances with Leeds Rhinos, earning himself 5 grand final rings (yes, FIVE). Upon his retirement, Kirkey took up a career in strength and conditioning, gaining another grand final ring but this time as coaching staff. Ian got his first dog aged 11, an elderly and wayward Rottweiler who taught him many lessons in management of behaviour rather than ‘fixing’a problem. He had another two rescue dogs before his current team of four. Three rescues, (Rita 10, bullbreed. Blue 4, whippet/spaniel and Nerf, Frenchie), and a fresh Frenchie puppy Cora. Having studied behaviourism with the BCCS Ian was inspired by Jacob’s justification of modern dog training leading to a more inclusive life for dogs. Subsequently he bought into Sensei Jacob’s ways and hasn’t looked back! Kirkey enjoys working with all dogs and issues but has a particular penchant for a cute Frenchie, even the biters!

Despite being one of our youngest members of staff, Elisha has a wealth of experience training her own dogs from the age of 16, and has recently entered into the world of protection sport with her Cane Corso, Chief. Her love of dogs began with her first dog, Eddie the Jack Russell, at age 9. Since then, she’s gone to the opposite end of the size spectrum, currently owning a Cane Corso and a Presa Canario. Elisha studied for her level 3 in Equine Management at college and has previously trained and kept race horses before joining us here. Elisha loves nothing more than getting some downtime, adventuring in the lakes with Chief and Kyra, but when she’s at work she never stops. This girl is the toughest cookie we’ve ever met and isn’t afraid of a hard day’s graft. If you’re ever wondering how you can show your appreciation to Elisha as your trainer, Salt and Vinegar Squares, or Peperamis are the answer.

YCA’s very own southern fairy, proof that sometimes, fate really does have a sense of humour. I first came to YCA as a client through the Training With Instinct programme when it first launched, desperate for help with my dog-reactive Rottweiler, Thor. I’d already tried it all, from pure R+ to old-school “yank and crank.” Every method seemed to make things worse. Then came TWI. I didn’t just fix my dog… I found my passion. (And, somewhere along the way, I fell for Kirky too.) Not long after finishing the programme, I asked Kirky and Jacob for a job, and here I am. From struggling dog owner to full-blown dog trainer, living proof that the right guidance can change everything.

I first came to YCA with my Cane Corso, Freya, she lacked confidence, and I just wanted her to enjoy life a little more. Fast-forward a few months, and during one of our sessions, YCA announced they were looking for junior trainers. I figured, why not give it a shot? Four months later, I’m officially part of the team — proof that sometimes your dog’s journey leads you right into your own.

Four years ago, I had a reactive dog, and everything went wrong. It got so bad that I eventually had to leave him with my parents on their big farmhouse. That experience completely changed me. Since then, I’ve spent years studying behaviour and training, eventually becoming a dog trainer in Spain. But when I discovered YCA, something clicked. I wanted to keep learning from the best, and bring something to the table too. Now, I combine my tech wizardry with my passion for dogs, helping YCA run smoothly behind the scenes while soaking up every bit of dog training knowledge I can.

Brought to you all the way from sunny Northern Ireland, Chloe is one of our newest members of staff and has taken on the role of Admin Assistant. Having moved to Leeds for university she fell in love with it and never left. Her love of dogs began with her first puppy – Lily, the golden retriever – who was definitely only bought to appease her after the arrival of her little sister. The golden retriever theme continued throughout her childhood, and she has experienced first-hand how it feels to have two dogs of the same breed behave entirely different to the other. As an adult, her love of dogs continued, volunteering as a foster mom for a Staffy rescue before finally giving in and getting one of her own. Enter…Kevin. Kevin is the little ginger Staffy you may see on site, he occasionally makes an appearance as a stooge but is more frequently found sleeping in between bouts of being an absolute lunatic. Chloe has always had an interest in the YCA and been involved from a distance, as a close friend of Jacob and Ian. So, she jumped at the chance when they offered her the role. Chloe will be the person with whom you have most contact, outside of your trainer, as she sends all our emails and mans the phone – so please excuse the accent when you give us a call (translator available on request).

I first joined YCA as a client, just wanting to learn how to do more with my dog, Honey. What started as training sessions quickly turned into a full-blown passion, now I’m the Client Success Manager, making sure every client not only hits their goals but actually enjoys the journey with their dog. Watching those transformations happen every day is easily the best part of the job.

For over a decade, I worked as a freelance event groom and head groom, travelling across Europe with Olympic riders, grooming, training, and living the fast-paced life of the equestrian world. But after an injury forced me to slow down, I decided to take a break over the winter of 2024/2025. That’s when my focus shifted to my dogs, spending my days out on shoot days, working them several times a week. Somewhere between muddy fields and early mornings, I came across YCA’s job post. One call with Jacob later, and within a couple of days, I was officially part of the team, and honestly, I haven’t looked back since.

Suzanne is our Social Media Manager and in-house photographer/videographer. She graduated from Leeds College of Art in 2015 with a BA in Graphic Design. Suzanne’s first dog was a Retriever cross called Sandy. More recently she’s had Russel the Bulldog and Dennis the Cane Corso. Suzanne first came to the YCA as a client in 2021 with her Cane Corso, Dennis. Dennis arrived at the centre with a severe aversion to humans, Suzanne can now happily walk him, on her own, with no issue. Suzanne is a keen knitter, she has 80 balls of wool (that her husband knows about). We proudly display one of her creations above our sofa in the consultation room – keep an eye out for it the next time you’re in.

Before ever bringing a dog home, I wanted to do things right. I researched everything. from costs and training to how to build a life where both the dog and I could truly thrive.Somewhere down that rabbit hole, I found Jacob’s videos. The dog training advice hooked me, but so did his marketing. I loved how honest, bold, and different his approach was. So I followed him on Instagram… and a few months later, he posted a job opening for an email marketing role. I applied. And just like that, I went from curious dog nerd to part of the YCA marketing team.

I started my dog training journey after rehoming a reactive XL Bully. Back then, I was based in Bristol, and honestly, every trainer I reached out to was either force-free only or refused to work with “that type of dog.” So, I did what most people wouldn’t, I went all in. I spent hours deep-diving into YouTube tutorials, watching every YCA clip I could find, and learning everything possible from a screen. One random day, I showed up at YCA for a week’s work as a painter, and never left. The rest, as they say, is history.