Jim is a dog handler with the Staffordshire Search and Rescue Team, one of the national NSARDA trainers, and a former trustee of the organisation. He previously handled Jake, a fully qualified Chocolate Labrador Retriever, and the pair shared a number of successes during Police searches for missing people.
Working with dogs for over 20 years in various settingsāincluding as a dog warden, dog walker, and dog trainerāJim holds local dog training classes teaching people basic and advanced handling skills and scent discrimination. When he's not training customers or Search and Rescue Team colleagues, he can be found handling a variety of different dogs, walking them in idyllic locations, and training his own search and rescue dog alongside team colleagues.
Expert Canine Behaviour & Training
Blending over two decades of practical handling with advanced academic study, Jim specialises in helping you and your dog build trust, respect, and clear communication. Whether you are laying the foundations for a new puppy or navigating complex behavioural issues, his approach is strictly reward-based. Jim achieves lasting, reliable results through understanding and motivationānever through the use of harsh discipline.
His coaching is grounded in the same high-stakes precision required for active Search and Rescue operations. This means you get practical, highly effective strategies that actually work in the real world, not just in theory.
Professional Qualifications & Accreditations
- Advanced Diploma in Applied Animal Behaviour (Level 5) ā Distinction: This rigorous academic qualification ensures every modification plan is rooted in the latest ethological science. Jim addresses the underlying emotional cause of your dog's behaviour, rather than just treating the symptoms.
- 20+ Years Practical Experience: Decades of extensive fieldwork, including active-duty handling, training, and assessment management within national Search and Rescue operations.
š Jim has been working alongside the UK Police since 2011 locating vulnerable missing people, and has featured in Dogs Monthly Magazine and on the BBC's Crimewatch Roadshow.
"Working with search dogs is so rewarding, but the skills and techniques used to work search dogs are not just limited to working dogs. You and your pet dog will also benefit massively from training techniques used by Search Dog Handlers."