Team

Kirubell | Head Trainer

Since 2016, Kirubell has built KIBA K9s into a quality hallmark company in New York City. His creative approach to dog training — especially with complex or challenging behavioral cases — has caught the attention of dog owners, enthusiasts, and professionals across several disciplines in the canine industry. KIBA K9s has since developed a global reputation for producing dogs that perform “on cue with heart and soul.”

In 2021, Kirubell finished his B.A. in Economics at The King’s College and launched a brick & mortar location for KIBA K9s in Brooklyn. Around that time, he was introduced to schutzhund (protection dog sport) by Ivan Balabanov, which sparked a deep love for competitive training.

In 2022, Kirubell continued his education under dog training avant-gardes Michael & Bart Bellon, graduating from the NePoPo® Gold School. He then began working with The Brains Project at Harvard University, actively participating with the Hecht Lab’s research and testing peer-reviewed studies on canine behavior, cognition, and olfactory systems. By the end of the year, Kirubell also became a certified instructor for the Animal Behavior College in Santa Clarita where he still teaches the applied requirements of the Canine Obedience Dog Training (CODT) certification.

Throughout this time, Kirubell discovered a gift for resolving difficult cases, particularly with dogs exhibiting severe behavioral issues (namely anxiety and aggression). His ability to read dogs and come up with creative solutions received international acclaim and high demand. To date, Kirubell has taught seminars and led workshops in countries such as the UK, Germany, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Italy, Brazil, and Mexico.

In 2023, Kirubell became one of only 90 NePoPo® instructors world-wide. Furthermore, he was invited as a guest lecturer for Harvard University’s undergraduate course on Canine Behavior. Nonetheless, Kirubell aggressively continues to pursue further education and skill development in the craft of dog training, frequently traveling across continents to learn from the very best experts in the industry. Some of these include, but are not limited to:

In 2023, Kirubell became an instructor and international ambassador of the NePoPo® system. As mentioned above, he has certified over a dozen professionals across multiple fields of dog training. Nonetheless, Kirubell remains a dedicated student of the craft, traveling extensively to train with and learn from the best canine experts in the world. He most recently traveled abroad to live with and apprentice under Dr. Helmut Raiser as a shutzhund helper in Germany.

Additionally, Kirubell is an active certified instructor for the Animal Behavior College in Santa Clarita, California. He is responsible for preparing seniors for the Applied Training requirements of their Canine Obedience Dog Training (CODT) certification. This accredited program is recognized by the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT), International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC), and the National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors (NADOI). When Kirubell isn’t training or researching dogs, he loves playing pick-up basketball, hiking, training in Jiu-Jitsu, and traveling abroad with his dogs, Biggie & Jegna.

Meet Yves

Yves is Executive Partner & Trainer at KIBA K9s. His love for, and dedication, to dogs shined when he met Kiba, and the two formed a strong brotherhood almost immediately. His exponential growth as a trainer has put him on a fast track toward becoming a senior trainer/partner, and his light-hearted, funny demeanor has cemented him an invaluable member of both the KK9s & Zen family.

Before immigrating from his home country of Haiti, Yves was immersed in a world of animals, particularly around horses and dogs. While he always had a love for horses, nothing compared to the bond he built with his family’s dogs.

After moving to the United States, Yves spent countless hours researching all things dogs. He volunteered at veterinary hospitals & rescues while simultaneously pursuing mentorships from canine professionals all over the world. Before long, Yves found himself adopting a Doberman puppy to call his own, Damien. This new relationship cemented his commitment to a career in dogs, and the rest was history.

Although Yves spends almost all of his time on dogs over the last couple of years, he loves to hike, travel, try new foods, work out, and play with his dog Damien.

Team

Kirubell | Head Trainer

Meet Yves

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