About the K9 Guide Team

Collin Young

Lead Trainer

Collin is the K9 Guide Lead Trainer and the head of our protection training program. He is an extremely talented and multifaceted trainer with 15 years of professional dog training experience. He works tirelessly to perfect his craft, and after a decade and a half of training under some of the world’s best trainers, very few can come close to Collin. He regularly teaches at seminars on protection and competition obedience and has been commended for his instructing and training styles. We are very lucky to have Collin leading our team!

Collin specializes in pet training, competition obedience, protection, and multiple types of nosework. He places utmost importance on clear, concise communication between owners and their companions and loves helping people build a better relationship with their dogs.

• NePoPo® New Gold Program Graduate
• NePoPo® Silver Program Graduate
• NePoPo® Electronic Collar Training Certification
• Don Blair Detection K9
• Georgia K9 Tracker School Handler Certificate

Collin lives on-site at our scenic property in Bath, OH – all the Board & Train dogs always have a friend present! He has three trained protection dogs – our clients love seeing Douglas at our group classes!

Jimmie Turic

Owner and Trainer

Before training dogs, Jimmie was a Chef for 20 years. Being a Chef has helped him refine a very technical approach to things: knowing not just the hows but also the whys. This approach to work has been a tremendous benefit in the world of dog training, as it’s just as important to know why processes do/don’t work as it is how to apply those principles.

Jimmie’s adventures in training started with a Meyer’s Parrot named Ucello. That experience gave him a strong understanding of how to use positive reinforcement to free-shape behaviors and build a desire to work. Years later, Jimmie adopted his Pit mix, Ginger. While he had a foundation in training animals, treats weren’t enough for Ginger. He sent her to a 2 week bootcamp for ECollar training with a national franchise. When she came back, while Ginger complied, she wasn’t happy to train. Jimmie took a step back with training her and focused his time and energy on learning everything he could about dog training, animal behavior, and the science behind training dogs so he could build more good vibes in Ginger and explore this new passion. The new bond they created is clear to anyone who sees Jimmie and Ginger work – he is her world, and she shines at any opportunity to make him happy.

To further his education, Jimmie attended Highland’s Master Dog Trainer certification program, where he learned to train pet dogs in basic obedience and behavior modification, as well as train dogs to perform service tasks for disabled owners, train police K9s in detection, apprehension, and man-trailing. After his graduation, he stayed on for an internship with the working dog department of Highland to learn more about training police K9s. He has a vast amount of knowledge, and we’re lucky to have him be a part of our team.

Jimmie is training his German Shepherd Zoey for a bitework sport PSA and detection, as well as doing rally with Ginger. He works with our Board & Train dogs and does a lot of the follow-ups for the pups once they go back home. Jimmie is often seen doing decoy work for K9 Guide. He is detail-oriented, results-driven, passionate about educating, and prioritizes dog emotional and physical well-being above all else.

• Master Dog Trainer w/ Honors: Highland Canine School for Dog Trainers
• Awards in SAR and Detection

Yana Allport

K9 Guide Owner and Training Director

Yana brings over a decade of professional dog training and instructing experience to the K9 Guide team. Her diverse background includes training and handling dogs for basic and advanced obedience, Search and Rescue, detection, Service Dogs, protection dogs, and dogs training for various sports – building a breadth of expertise very few other trainers can claim. She specializes in behavior modification and Service Dog training, combining technical expertise with a calm, clear approach that helps both dogs and their handlers succeed.

In addition to her hands-on training, Yana is also a mentor for other trainers and has assisted multiple agencies, businesses, and nonprofit organizations in developing and improving their training programs. Yana is very passionate about teaching people – guiding owners, handlers, and future trainers to build lasting, effective relationships with their canine partners.

As a mom of two young kids and an owner of high-drive working dogs, Yana understands firsthand the importance of safety, structure, and harmony in the home. She has worked with hundreds of families to create balanced environments where children and dogs can live together safely and happily. Her training methods are fun, effective, and rooted in real-world family life. Yana is also…

• A Professional Member of the International Association of Canine Professionals
• A Professional Member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers
• Consults for the detection dog training aid company Precision Explosives
• An AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator
• Certified in Pet Emergency First Aid through Pet Emergency Education (we recommend everyone take this thorough course!)
• Certified in Cat and Dog First Aid through the American Red Cross