Jake has been part of the Rags & Bert’s team for more than seven and a half years. He began his journey with the company as an apprentice and has since progressed to become a senior Team Leader and qualified Dog Trainer.
His interest in training developed through years of working closely with dogs and seeing the positive effect that considered, effective training can have on their behaviour, welfare and overall wellbeing. He is also continuing his professional development through further study in canine behaviour.
His wider experience within the company has allowed him to work with dogs of many different ages, breeds, temperaments and backgrounds. Through daycare, assessments and training, Jake has developed a strong understanding of canine behaviour and communication, while recognising that every dog experiences and responds to the world differently.
His training experience spans both everyday foundations and more complex behavioural concerns. For Jake, effective training begins with taking the time to understand the individual dog: what motivates them, what they may be communicating and what is driving their behaviour.
Rather than applying the same method to every case, he considers the dog’s emotions, environment, previous learning and individual needs when deciding how training should progress.
Individuality, welfare and positive training methods are at the centre of Jake’s approach. Even when two dogs display similar behaviours, the reasons behind them may be completely different. Jake therefore focuses on creating realistic, achievable training plans that prioritise the dog’s welfare while helping both the dog and owner develop skills they can use confidently in everyday life.
Jake sees training as a partnership between the trainer, dog and owner. He believes lasting progress comes from involving owners throughout the process, helping them develop the understanding, timing and confidence needed to continue working with their dog beyond the training environment.
Jake also believes owners should understand not only what to do, but how and why each exercise works. Jake explains important behavioural concepts in a clear and accessible way, demonstrates how techniques can be applied in everyday situations and provides detailed updates following each session.
Owners also receive longer footage and shorter clips where appropriate, allowing them to see what was practised, how it was approached and how they can continue the work themselves.
The most rewarding part of training for Jake is seeing a dog become more comfortable and capable while their owner gains the confidence to understand and support them. Among the clearest examples of this are dogs who were initially unable to remain comfortably in the same space as another dog, but who, through gradual training, careful management and consistent support, have progressed to attending daycare and interacting successfully within appropriate groups. Whether progress involves a significant behavioural change or a small but meaningful step forwards, Jake values every moment in which a dog and owner begin to understand one another more clearly.
Most importantly, Jake wants every dog and owner to feel heard and supported. Behavioural challenges can sometimes feel isolating, but owners should never feel that they have to navigate them alone.
His aim is to build trust, confidence and understanding, giving owners practical skills they can transfer into everyday life and providing consistent support throughout and beyond their dog’s training experience.
“For me, training is not about applying one method to every dog. It is about understanding the individual in front of you and giving both the dog and their owner the confidence to move forwards together.”
"Highly recommended, Jake was wonderful!
We recently attended a puppy training session at Rags & Bertss with our dachshund, Koi, and it was such a wonderful experience! Jake helped us so much to better understand our dog — how to help him enjoy life while also becoming a well-behaved and disciplined pup.
You can really see how passionate Jake is about what he does; he works with so much patience, dedication, and genuine love for animals. We’re so grateful for everything we’ve learned and for how much progress Koi has made. Highly recommend Rags & Bert's and Jake to anyone who wants the best start for their puppy!"@Georgiana & Koi
"My dog Alfie has just completed the Steady Paws training programme and the experience has been excellent from start to finish. I’d especially like to highlight how fantastic Jake has been throughout the programme.
The training was tailored perfectly to help address Alfie's anxiety on the lead when he meets other (bigger) dogs and Jake has been so supportive and encouraging. In addition to demonstrating and explaining everything so clearly his patient and calm manner, combined with his natural ability around dogs has had a really positive impact on Alfie's responsiveness and overall behaviour.
I can’t recommend the training programme highly enough — it’s been an absolute game-changer for me and for Alfie."
@ Lindsay & Alfie
