When you meet Kim Jukes, you quickly realize her life is defined by one thing: dogs. As the owner and certified dog trainer of People & Pups, LLC, based in Waco, Texas, Kim has built her career around helping families and their four-legged companions live happier, healthier lives together.

Kim and her husband, Scott, share their home with four beloved pups—Joy, Trinny, Loki, and Ellie. Their pack isn’t complete without honoring those who have crossed the rainbow bridge—Emmy, Hayley, and Heather—who continue to inspire Kim’s journey as a trainer.

“Every dog I’ve loved has taught me something different,” Kim says. “Even the ones who are no longer with us are still part of the reason I do what I do today.”

Kim’s involvement in animal welfare goes far beyond her business. She actively volunteers with Fuzzy Friends Rescue, the Humane Society of Central Texas, Pet Circle Regional Animal Center, Akita Rescue of Northwestern PA, and Austin Boxer Rescue. She also organized the PawSafe Fall Festival in McGregor in 2023 and 2024, celebrating pets and the people who love them.

Her training expertise is backed by education and credentials. Kim is ABCDT certified through Animal Behavior College, a proud member of the Pet Professionals Guild, and AKC certified to teach and test for Canine Good Citizen and the S.T.A.R. Puppy Program. She’s also a Certified Dog Bite Prevention Educator, Pet Dog Ambassador Assessor, and holds certificates in Pet First Aid and Dog Aggression.

“I believe in learning as much as I can to help my clients the best I can,” she explains.

In 2023, Kim turned her passion into her profession, leaving a career in administration—including roles at Versalift, a local IT company, and an accounting firm—to pursue training full-time.

Beyond training, Kim is an active member of the Waco Animal Coalition, which provides resources to families in need. Her dedication reflects her business name: People & Pups. She also nurtures her creative side at the Brazos Theatre, working behind the scenes and occasionally acting in plays and murder mysteries.

At People & Pups, Kim focuses on private, in-home training, believing many behavior challenges begin—and are best resolved—at home. Her very first clients in the Twin Rivers subdivision were the Washburn family with their beloved dogs, Bert and Ernie.

Her reputation has only grown since she started her business in 2018, fueled by her mission: to strengthen the bond between people and their dogs using positive, force-free methods that respect both ends of the leash.

Whether she’s training a puppy, volunteering at a rescue, or acting on stage, Kim’s heart remains with the dogs who inspire her daily.

“I’ve been lucky enough to build a life around what I love,” she says. “At the end of the day, it’s always about the dogs—and the people who love them.”