Suzie Douglass, Head Coach

Suzie began working for Dogs Trust as a Canine Carer at the Darlington centre in 2014. Suzie then progressed to Senior Coach at Leeds Dog School, before taking on the role of Head Coach at Darlington Dog School.

Suzie holds diplomas in Animal Management and Dog Behaviour, and is an accredited member of The Association of Pet Dog Trainers (MAPDT UK - 01470).

In 2020 Suzie adopted a little Terrier from Dogs Trust and is currently enjoying teaching him lots of new skills, as well as going on plenty of adventures together.

Hannah Copeland, Senior Coach

Hannah joined dog school in 2020 and has worked in the animal care industry for almost ten years. In that time, she has worked with a wide variety of species from dogs and cats to snakes and raccoons! She previously worked as a lecturer in animal care and also as senior animal care technician at a local agricultural college. She holds a foundation degree in Canine Behaviour and Training and a level 3 diploma in Animal Management.

Hannah has recently completed a level 3 in Education and Training. Hannah has two dogs, Pebbles and Lulu. Pebbles likes nothing better than to eat and sleep, but loves her training. Lulu was rescued from Dogs Trust Darlington in 2019 and likes quiet walks and playtime with her toys. Hannah enjoys watching dogs and owners progress throughout their courses at Dog School and aims to help them build a strong bond and understand each other better.

Jacob Sahadeo, Coach

J joined Dog School in 2021, after having worked with animals for over 2 years. In that time, he has worked in a wide range of settings including rescue, his own dog walking business, dog training, pet shop and vets. This has allowed him to gain experience with all types of animals from kittens, guinea pigs, fish, and most importantly dogs!

He currently has a pet axolotl called Waffle, who spends his days exploring his tank and searching for food. Despite being a fish, he has learnt to recognise faces, food tweezers and loves to play chase like a dog.

In his spare time, J loves to further his passion of dog behaviour and training by reading the latest research papers and books, to ensure he uses the best information in his training classes.