Apex Canine Behavior & Training

07/01/2025

📆 Deadline July 10th:

This is Haven, a 2.5-year-old Belgian Malinois with a brutal past and a small window left to rewrite his future.

Haven spent the first two years of his life isolated, shocked, kicked, and denied even the most basic care and connection. His trauma runs deep. Several trainers evaluated him—briefly—and recommended behavioral euthanasia after a single meeting, without actually attempting to work with him. None were credentialed or behaviorally informed under AVSAB or evidence-based best practices.

But since beginning work with him, I’ve already seen hope. He’s taking food, offering behaviors like “sit” on cue, and showing me—despite all he’s been through—that he wants to connect. He just needs someone who knows how to listen to him.

I want to be transparent: Haven does not have a significant bite history. I evaluate dogs like Haven using a 15-point behavioral risk assessment framework—considering bite inhibition, resilience, triggers, stress thresholds, and more. Based on that, I believe he has a workable prognosis.

His current owner gave him a second chance when no one else would. She got him out of an abusive home and across the country to safety. But she now faces a forced move, and Haven cannot go with her. If we can’t secure a sustainable, safe solution for him by July 10, behavioral euthanasia will be the only remaining outcome.

🔨 Here’s What We’re Trying to Do:

I’ve offered to take Haven on. I’ve done this before with high-risk dogs like Jude—and I’m prepared to do the same for him. But in order to do this ethically and safely, I need to build a protected-contact kennel setup that allows me to safely provide care, enrichment, and behavior work without forcing close-contact handling before he’s ready.

This is not a forever solution. It’s a transition plan designed to reduce stress, create safety for both of us, and allow his training to move forward. He will be worked with daily, reinforced using humane and evidence-based methods, and integrated into a long-term, structured home environment.

I’m donating 100% of my time and training—but I cannot fund the build and one year of care on my own.

We’re trying to raise $5,000 by July 10 to cover:
• 2 secure Retriever Kennels (indoor & outdoor)
• Guillotine transfer door for no-contact transitions
• Roofs, dig-proof flooring, jump protection
• Health insurance, food, and vet care for 1 year

👉 [https://gofund.me/d9e14d22]

💔 Haven was failed by people. But we can be the ones who don’t look away.

Please share, donate if you can, and help us give Haven the safety, structure, and dignity he’s never known. Every dollar, every share, every act of compassion brings him one step closer to a life worth living.

📅 Deadline: July 10, 2025

Help Build a Safe, Forever Home for Haven I’m fundraising to give my dog Haven the … J Xi needs your support for Support Haven's Journey to a Forever Home

06/30/2025

🐾 A Hail Mary for Haven — We Have Until 7/10🐾

This is Haven, a 2.5-year-old Belgian Malinois with a brutal past and a very small window left to rewrite his story.

Haven was isolated, shocked, kicked, and denied even the most basic care and connection during the first two years of his life. His trauma runs deep. Several trainers evaluated him and recommended behavioral euthanasia, he was seen as a lost cause.

Since beginning work with him, I’ve already seen hope. He’s taking food, offering behaviors like sit when cued, and showing me that under all that fear, there is a dog trying so hard to connect. He just needs someone who knows how, and who will, listen to him.

But…his time is running out.

His current owner gave him a second chance when no one else would. She got him out of an abusive home and across the country to safety. But she’s now facing a forced move and Haven cannot go with her. If we can’t find a sustainable, safe option for him by July 10th, euthanasia will be the only remaining outcome.

Here’s what we’re trying to do:

I’ve offered to take Haven on — but we need your help. I’ve done this before with other high-risk dogs, like Jude, and I’m prepared to do the same for Haven. In order to do this ethically and safely, I need to build a protected-contact kennel system with indoor/outdoor access, dig-proof flooring, a guillotine door for transitions, and jump-proof roofing. I’m donating 100% of my training & time, but I cannot cover the build and long-term care costs alone.

We’re trying to raise $5,000 by July 10th to cover:
• 2 secure Retriever Kennels (indoor & outdoor)
• Guillotine transfer door for no-contact safety
• Roofs, dig-proof flooring, jump prevention
• Health insurance, food, and vet care for 1 year

👉 [https://gofund.me/d9e14d22]

This is Haven’s last chance — and his best one.

Please share this post, donate if you can, and help us give Haven the safety, structure, and love he never got to know. Every dollar, every share, every moment of compassion counts.

📅 Deadline: July 10, 2025

Help Build a Safe, Forever Home for Haven I’m fundraising to give my dog Haven the … J Xi needs your support for Support Haven's Journey to a Forever Home

06/24/2025

We’ve all seen videos of trying to convince huskies/malamutes to come inside during a snow storm… but have you ever tried to convince a solar powered pittie in a heat wave that it’s “too hot and sunny”?

☀️

06/20/2025

🐾 Calling Local Dog Daycares & Boarding Facilities!

I’m currently building a referral list for my training clients and would love to connect with reputable dog daycares and boarding options in Southern & Central NH:
-Salem/Derry/Manchester/Concord/Lakes Region-

If you own or manage a facility that prioritizes dog safety, structured play, and knowledgeable staff, please reach out! I’m especially looking for options that accommodate:

▪️Group play and structured care

▪️No-contact boarding

▪️Enrichment-based services

📩 Please DM me or email [email protected] to connect!

06/18/2025

A little Jude (formerly “Buddy”) Update:
“He was trying to eat any humans that tried to get near him.” - That description of Jude from the day he was found summarizes where he was at mentally when we first met. It took time to earn his trust, and then to expand that trust out into the world. When Brenden and I began dating back in 2023, I was unsure how Jude would receive him. A 6ft tall bearded man in a uniform isn’t exactly the ideal package when you’re a nervous meatwad… Of course, it helped that Brenden was excellent at following directions and also willing to put in the time, and Jude quickly began to recognize him as our “walking & adventure buddy”. Brenden also just radiates this calm and steady presence/energy, and so he very quickly earned himself a spot in Jude’s circle of trust. Their relationship developed and grew quickly from there, and Jude absolutely adores Brenden aka “his best buddy”. Watching their relationship unfold makes my heart so full. 🖤

06/13/2025

Your “enough” IS enough - Part III [Training Edition]

Training can feel overwhelming sometimes — especially when we’re told that consistency is everything, or that we need to work in multiple environments, or that “just five minutes a day” will change everything… but even that five minutes feels out of reach some days.

And when we can’t do it perfectly?
When we don’t have the time or energy to do a full session, or access to the “ideal” setup for that behavior?
It’s easy to default to… nothing.

We skip it. We feel behind. We wait until we have the “right” amount of time, the “right” space, the “right” conditions — and in the meantime, the progress we could be making never starts.

But here’s the thing: progress doesn’t require perfection.
Training doesn’t have to look the same every day.
And “something” is always better than nothing.

One rep is better than zero.
One minute of calm engagement is still a win.
A little creativity — doing some shaping from the couch, working threshold games in the driveway, reinforcing that one behavior your dog already does reliably — it counts.

You’re allowed to adapt.
You’re allowed to make it doable.
And your dog isn’t keeping score — they’re just living it with you.

I used to believe that if I couldn’t train “right,” it wasn’t worth doing at all. But that mindset only kept me stuck.
Part of my own growth — as a trainer, as a human — has been letting go of the all-or-nothing narrative and embracing small steps. Because small steps still move us forward.

So here’s your reminder:

Do what you can.
When you can.
With what you have.

And trust that your enough… is enough.

-Seren 🖤

06/11/2025

Your “enough” IS enough. Part two.

Yes, this meal is beautiful. Yes, it’s creative. But more importantly, meals like this are meaningful. Thoughtful presentation, variety in flavor, texture, and scent — they aren’t just aesthetically pleasing, they’re powerful tools for enrichment and health.

Unless you knew my dogs’ ages, you’d never guess two of them are in the double digits. Their energy, cognitive sharpness, coat quality, mobility, and athleticism still blow people away. I get comments all the time about how good they look — and I fully believe nutrition is a major reason why.

That said… do I feed like this every single day? Absolutely not.
I’m human. I live with chronic illness. And some days, this just isn’t sustainable.
Sometimes the budget doesn’t stretch as far as I wish it could, and I have to make choices about where to invest. So I focus on doing the best I can with what I have, in that moment.

And that is enough.

Social media often shows only a snapshot in time — a curated bowl, a “highlight reel.” I could be wrong, but I doubt even the influencers with the most jaw-dropping feeds maintain this level of effort 24/7 (and if they do, that’s great for them — but it doesn’t have to be your standard).

Some days I put together something detailed and enriching like this.
Other days, I toss food into a regular bowl with a few core supplements and call it good.

I used to live in an all-or-nothing mindset. If I couldn’t do something exactly the way I thought it should be done, I didn’t want to do it at all.
But I’ve been learning — and practicing — that the same grace I extend to the people and animals I work with? I owe that to myself, too.

So if you needed to hear this today:
Do the best you can.
When you can.
With what you have.

And trust that your enough is enough. 🖤

-Seren

Seren Maxwell NH 🐾
|| In-Person & Virtual Services Available ||

Offering Training & Behavior Services For ▪️Reactivity ▪️Fear ▪️Aggression ▪️& More

06/10/2025

Just a reminder: Your “enough” IS enough.

Last night I spent some time outside with each of the dogs — one-on-one, just being present. A mix of training, enrichment, and play. Nothing fancy. Nothing flashy. Just connection.

If I’m honest, there are times I feel guilty, like I’m not doing enough. Like I should be doing more reps, more outings, more “productive” sessions.

But the truth is… I live with health challenges that affect my energy, my body, and how I’m able to show up each day. Some days I have the capacity for a focused training session or a longer sniff walk. Other days, it’s a lickimat on the porch or some slow-paced sniff time in a small area while I sit and rest.

And the most beautiful part? They don’t care.
They’re not keeping score. They just want to be with me.

So I’ve stopped chasing perfection. I’ve stopped letting guilt convince me I’m falling short.
I do what I can, when I can, with intention, love, and presence.

And THAT is enough.

To anyone else who needs to hear it:

Your dog doesn’t need a perfect schedule or big outings every day.

They need time with you, however that looks right now.

Some days it’s a walk, some days it’s a lickimat or quiet sniff time. It all counts.

Do what you can, when you can. That’s more than enough.

************************************************
👀 Accessibility Video Description:
Video clip shows four dogs playing and training in their backyard.

#1. Mowgli - An all black male dog (dutch shepherd/koolie mix) runs uphill to chase after his ball, retrieves it and returns back to the handler - he shakes his head excitedly as he comes down the hill.

#2. Jude - A red brindle male dog with white on his chest (pitbull) goes over two agility jumps when cued by the handler and is rewarded after each jump.

#3 & #4. Brembo and Willow - Two red tri dogs, one smaller with white stripe on her face and one larger with no white on his face (miniature american shepherd - miniature australian shepherd) excitedly wait for the handler to throw the ball up the hill. Willow takes off after the ball and after retrieving it runs to her favorite resting spot to lay down. Brembo starts to go with Willow, but then decides to return to his handler and is given a biscuit to eat.

🐾 Seren Maxwell -Owner & Trainer
🐕: [Reactivity-Aggression-Fear]
📱: (603)361-5719
📧: [email protected]
🌎 www.apexcaninebehavior.com
🗺️: Northfield - Concord - Manchester - Derry

06/09/2025

Happy Monday from this silly boy enjoying his dig spot. 🐾

06/03/2025

🐾Seeking a New Home for a Special Little Dog🐾

I’m putting out a feeler to see if anyone in our community is looking to add a dog to their family. I know it’s a long shot, but I’m helping a client rehome their dog—through no fault of her own, it just isn’t the right fit.

This sweet girl is a small mixed breed (under 15 lbs), approximately 3 years old, with low to moderate energy needs. She’ll require regular grooming every 4–6 weeks, plus brushing at home to keep her coat healthy.

She would thrive in a quiet, adult-only home (older teens may be okay), with someone who can help her continue building confidence. This dog spent the first few years of her life confined to a crate in a garage and had never experienced the outside world until recently. She’s made incredible progress, but still needs patience, compassion, and a steady environment.

Her compatibility with other dogs or cats is currently unknown, but could be possible with proper introductions.

I’ll be offering training and behavior support to her future family to ensure a smooth, successful transition.

If you or someone you know may be a good fit and would like more information, please reach out directly:
📧 [email protected]

05/28/2025

Let them be dogs.

Let them sniff. Wander. Splash through streams. Take the scenic route.

Brembo turns 13 this November—but don’t tell him that. Yesterday while out on the trail he was full of energy and acting like a young lad. Along the way we passed a stream, his absolute favorite…

And instead of worrying about him getting dirty or the car getting messy (I chose a car that could handle a muddy dog), I let him have his moment - because his joy matters more.

As our dogs age, they deserve more freedom, not less. More time to explore. More chances to feel alive. Just because they’re seniors doesn’t mean they’re done adventuring.

Make the time. Let them be dogs. Honor who they are—at every age. 🐾

05/23/2025

🐾 Apex Canine Club Member Highlight 🐾

Check out this clip of Max working in an intense high-distraction environment—three different sports games happening around us, kids running and biking, other dogs in the area, and Brembo walking alongside him. Not long ago, Max really struggled with impulsivity, staying connected to his handler, and walking nicely on leash. In this clip he’s working on a long line (so he could leave), but he’s choosing to stay engaged and walk at his handler’s side. He checks out distractions briefly, but immediately checks back in. This is a huge win in handler focus, impulse control, and voluntary proximity in a very real-world setting. I’m so proud of this team and all of their hard work! 👏🏻