Founder - Kimberley Hutton
Care Dog Academy was founded by Kimberley, a passionate advocate for compassionate, science-based dog training. After years of observing the impact that harsh training methods can have on both dogs and their owners, Kimberley set out to create something different a training environment built on trust, understanding, and positive reinforcement.
Her vision for Care Dog Academy is simple: to help dogs and people build stronger relationships through ethical training, clear communication, and mutual respect.
While researching dog behaviour and training methods, Kimberley also became aware of the wider social impact of poor training and misunderstanding canine behaviour. NHS data shows that over £71 million was spent between 2017 and 2018 treating dog bite injuries, highlighting the real cost of preventable incidents.
This discovery strengthened her belief that education and accessible training are essential for improving both public safety and animal welfare. Kimberley believes every dog owner should have access to reliable guidance, regardless of financial circumstances.
For this reason, Care Dog Academy is committed to offering free training resources, education and preventative guidance, helping families raise confident, well-balanced dogs while strengthening the bond between dogs and their owners.
Co-Founder - Jade Welling
Jade Welling is a co-founder of Care Dog Academy and one of Kimberley’s strongest supporters throughout the development of the project.
With a degree in Law, Jade brings a valuable perspective to the academy, helping ensure that the project is built with strong ethical foundations, an understanding of legal responsibilities, and a focus on public safety. Her knowledge of law and policy supports the wider mission of Care Dog Academy to promote responsible dog ownership and safer communities.
Her encouragement, belief in the vision, and willingness to help bring ideas to life have played an important role in turning Care Dog Academy from an idea into something real. Jade shares the same passion for helping people better understand dogs and believes that accessible education can make a meaningful difference for both families and their pets.
Beyond the project itself, Jade and Kimberley share a close friendship and their families have grown up alongside one another, with their children forming strong friendships of their own.
Her continued support behind the scenes helps Care Dog Academy grow with confidence, purpose and integrity.
Co-Founder - Rebecca Cummins
Rebecca Cummins has been a close friend of Kimberley since they first met while studying Animal Management and Applied Sciences in 2012. The two later completed Level 2 Dog Grooming together, and went on to study the same subjects at university. They both share a passion for animals and a strong interest in canine care and behaviour.
Since then, their friendship has grown alongside their families, raising their children at the same time and remaining closely connected through the years.
Rebecca is currently retraining and studying Veterinary Nursing, having followed a career in dog grooming, bringing valuable knowledge of animal health, welfare and preventative care to Care Dog Academy. Her developing veterinary perspective strengthens the academy’s commitment to responsible ownership, wellbeing and evidence-based education.
Her knowledge, encouragement and longstanding friendship have been a constant source of support in the development of Care Dog Academy. As a co-founder, she shares the belief that better education, kinder training methods and stronger understanding between dogs and people can help create safer communities for both families and their dogs.
