I am James Grey, a professional and accredited Dog Training Instructor and Canine Behaviour Consultant, with 40+ years of experience with all types of dogs – from companion animals to duty dogs serving in the Police and military.
My journey began at a very young age. As a child who experienced emotional neglect and lack of support when I needed it most, I went through stages of frustration, fear, anxiety and rebellion. I naturally found comfort and relief in the company of animals, who seemed to understand me better than people did.
Eager to stay close to animals, I joined a Junior Naturalist group at my local zoo at the age of 13. Those formative years gave me valuable knowledge of zoology, biology and animal psychology. With free access to the zoo grounds, I spent countless hours observing and interacting with a wide range of animals – from big cats and wolves to bison and llamas – forming bonds with many of them that helped soothe my social and emotional pain. My love for animals was unconditional and wholehearted, regardless of the species. Dogs, in particular, became a natural focus for continuing this journey, especially as I was able to keep them at home – along with cats, who were my own “little tigers” outside the zoo.
At age 15, I joined a local dog sports club. Although, at the time, our understanding of canine behaviour was limited, I was fortunate to learn from trainers who already practiced positive reinforcement techniques. Occasionally, we encountered others promoting fear-based methods at competitions, but I recall those trainers being unpopular, and my senior mentors made sure to shield us newcomers from those approaches.
In 1992, I opened my own dog training company, confident that I was knowledgeable and experienced enough to begin teaching others. It was during this time that my interest shifted more toward canine behaviour than training alone. My early experiences, continued education and relationships with animals paved the way for a deeper understanding of dogs’ emotions and the root causes of behavioural challenges. My well-developed sense of empathy has profoundly supported my journey to becoming a canine behaviour consultant and also enabled me to support elderly or dementia patients, those with brain tumours and traumatic brain injuries, and counselling Oncology patients within the NHS on their paths to either recovery from physical illness or improving their quality of life.
With a deep awareness of the lasting effects of emotional dysregulation and instability, I have centred my work around building strong, healthy relationships between dogs and their guardians—fostering positive, supportive experiences for both.
