Meika's Helping Paws

Meika's Helping Paws Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Meika's Helping Paws, Dog trainer, Savannah, GA.

Professional Dog Trainer Specializing in Behavior Solutions & Service Dog Training

Book a FREE consultation today through https://meikashelpingpaws.com/contact-us/

🚨🐾 Schedule Update — No Group Class Tomorrow! 🐾🚨🎉Hey Pawsome Fam! Just a friendly reminder — there will be no group clas...
12/08/2025

🚨🐾 Schedule Update — No Group Class Tomorrow! 🐾🚨

🎉Hey Pawsome Fam! Just a friendly reminder — there will be no group class tomorrow 🐕. Group class will resume this Saturday at 10 AM!✨

Thanks so much for rolling with the schedule update — we can’t wait to see you and your pups this weekend! 💚🐾

📍 Savannah, GA (and nearby areas)
📧 [email protected]
💬 PM us on Facebook or Instagram
🌐 meikashelpingpaws.com/contact-us

Let’s talk about the real emotional drivers behind reactivity — because it’s not about a “bad dog” 🚫 or a dog “being dra...
12/05/2025

Let’s talk about the real emotional drivers behind reactivity — because it’s not about a “bad dog” 🚫 or a dog “being dramatic.”

💥🤬 Reactivity is almost always rooted in one of three core emotions: anxiety, fear, or frustration. And when we understand the why, we can finally make progress on the how.

😟 Anxiety can look like hypervigilance, scanning the environment, being unable to settle, or overreacting to every sound or movement.

😨Fear often shows up as barking, backing up, lunging, or trying to create space in the only way the dog knows how.

😤 Frustration is your dog wanting something they can’t reach — another dog, a person, a smell — and their emotions spill over into big behaviors.

None of these emotions are “naughty.” They’re communication. 🗣️They’re survival instincts. They’re your dog saying, “I don’t know how to handle this situation.” 🤷‍♂️

This is why my training approach will never be just about “stopping the barking” or “fixing the lunge.”

Instead, it’s about understanding the emotional state driving the behavior, then building a relationship 🤝 where your dog feels safe, supported, and capable of choosing better options.

In practice, that looks like:
• creating structure and predictability
• teaching emotional regulation and coping skills
• advocating for your dog in tough situations
• helping them feel safe before we ever ask them to be brave
• and shaping behavior through trust, not intimidation

When we train through the lens of relationship, every behavior makes more sense.

When the emotional needs are addressed, the reactivity starts to fade.

And when a dog finally feels understood? That’s when the real transformation begins. 🐾

Send us a message to find a solution to your dogs reactivity.

📍Savannah, GA
📞 (912)-663-9699
📧 [email protected]
🗨️ PM us on Facebook or Instagram
🌐 meikashelpingpaws.com/contact-us

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✨ Honored Beyond Words — Best of Georgia 2025 ✨Today, Meika’s Helping Paws was named Best of Georgia 2025 – Pet Training...
12/04/2025

✨ Honored Beyond Words — Best of Georgia 2025 ✨

Today, Meika’s Helping Paws was named Best of Georgia 2025 – Pet Training Services, and it’s one of those moments that makes you pause, breathe, and really take in how far a dream can go when people believe in it.

This recognition means more than an award. It represents every client who trusted me with their dog’s growth, every family who opened their home and their hearts to the process, and every partnership that helped shape this business into what it is today.

To my clients—thank you for allowing me to be part of your dog’s story. Your dedication, your vulnerability, and your willingness to show up for your dogs is what makes this work meaningful. I don’t take that trust lightly.

To my partners and supporters—your encouragement and collaboration have been the backbone of this journey. I am deeply grateful for every opportunity, referral, and shared belief in the mission behind Meika’s Helping Paws.

And to the dogs—the timid, the determined, the challenging, the goofy, the resilient—thank you for reminding me every day why this work matters. You are the reason this business exists, and the reason I continue to grow with purpose.

This award belongs to all of us.💚

Thank you for helping this dream become something real, impactful, and deeply fulfilling. The best chapters are still ahead. 🐾✨

Meet Ja’Barcus — a 4-year-old Pit/Frenchie mix who is equal parts muscle, mischief, and misunderstood charm. 🐾Ja’Barcus ...
12/02/2025

Meet Ja’Barcus — a 4-year-old Pit/Frenchie mix who is equal parts muscle, mischief, and misunderstood charm. 🐾

Ja’Barcus has a big personality, but lately it’s been showing up in some not-so-fun ways: reacting to other dogs (including his own housemates), launching himself at guests like a squatty little missile, and stress-chewing his way through the house (hi, separation anxiety 👀).

Inside the home, he’s also been claiming his favorite people a bit too strongly, which tells us he’s feeling overwhelmed, unsure, and trying way too hard to manage things on his own.

So what’s the game plan?

✨ Respect for other dogs — helping him feel safe and neutral around both other dogs in the neighborhood and his housemates
✨ Real boundaries — so he’s not stuck in “24/7 security guard” mode
✨ Addressing guarding behaviors — by reducing stress, giving structure, and teaching healthier coping skills
✨ The art of relaxation — helping this little firecracker learn to decompress instead of explode
✨ Appropriate bully outlets — giving him productive ways to channel that bulldozer energy instead of turning it into chaos

Ja’Barcus is smart, sensitive, and absolutely wants structure — even when he acts like the class clown with no off switch.

We’re excited to help him realize he doesn’t need to control the world to feel secure… he just needs guidance, consistency, and a job that doesn’t involve body-checking houseguests.

Welcome to the program, big man. 💪🐶 Let’s get to work.

Happy Thanksgiving from Meika’s Helping Paws! 💚🐾We are grateful for our pawsome fam, your wonderful pups, and the trust ...
11/27/2025

Happy Thanksgiving from Meika’s Helping Paws! 💚🐾

We are grateful for our pawsome fam, your wonderful pups, and the trust you place in us every day.

Wishing everyone a holiday filled with warmth, gratitude, and joy. 💛🦃

📍 Savannah, GA (and nearby areas)
📧 [email protected]
💬 PM us on Facebook or Instagram
🌐 meikashelpingpaws.com/contact-us

🥧Holiday foods can be confusing — even for experienced dog owners!🍗👉🏻Here’s your Thanksgiving cheat sheet📝: which foods ...
11/26/2025

🥧Holiday foods can be confusing — even for experienced dog owners!🍗

👉🏻Here’s your Thanksgiving cheat sheet📝: which foods are SAFE and which ones your dog should AVOID⚠️

Share to help another fur parent! 💚🐾

📍 Savannah, GA (and nearby areas)
📧 [email protected]
💬 PM us on Facebook or Instagram
🌐 meikashelpingpaws.com/contact-us

Introducing the new couple - "Allis"Together, Avalon and Ellis, are plotting to cause as much chaos, destruction, sheer ...
11/23/2025

Introducing the new couple - "Allis"

Together, Avalon and Ellis, are plotting to cause as much chaos, destruction, sheer pandemonium, and unhinged chattering energy as they prepare to bring a new meaning to the term "power couple."


If there’s one thing boxers are known for, it’s their big personalities packed inside those square, expressive faces and...
11/19/2025

If there’s one thing boxers are known for, it’s their big personalities packed inside those square, expressive faces and wiggly, wiggly bodies.

Historically bred in Germany as working and guardian dogs, boxers were developed to be powerful, athletic, and incredibly loyal. But what truly sets them apart is their temperament: goofy, affectionate, endlessly playful, and fiercely devoted to their people.

Boxers are the type of dogs who feel everything in full volume—joy, excitement, curiosity, love—and they show it with full-body wiggles that look like their entire spine is celebrating life. They’re energetic, bright, mischievous, and sensitive all at once. They thrive on connection, structure, and a job to do… even if the job is simply “look adorable and follow Mom everywhere.”

Which brings me to my newest puppy client: Henley

A young boxer pup with a heart of gold 💛 and a butt that never stops dancing, Henley greets every moment like it’s her best day ever. She’s bouncy, brilliant, eager to learn, and already showing those classic boxer traits—huge expressions, quick bonding, and a wiggle that could power a small village.

I’m so excited to help channel all that boxer enthusiasm into confidence, manners, impulse control, and solid foundations that will set her up for a lifetime of success.

If you’ve got a high-energy pup like Henley (boxer or otherwise) and want to build better communication, reduce chaos, and start your training journey on the right foot, my programs are open for new clients.

📩 Send a message to learn which program is the best fit for you and your dog! 🐾✨

📍Savannah, GA and the surrounding low country area
📞 (912) - 663 - 9699
📧 [email protected]
🌐Visit: www.meikashelpingpaws.com/contact-us

Training Tip Tuesday: Leash Walking 🐾If your dog treats the leash like it’s a tow rope and you’re just along for the rid...
11/18/2025

Training Tip Tuesday: Leash Walking 🐾

If your dog treats the leash like it’s a tow rope and you’re just along for the ride, you’re not alone—and you’re definitely not doomed. Leash walking is one of the most common struggles owners face, but it’s also one of the most transformative skills once your dog truly understands it.

Here’s today’s tip:

Start before the chaos begins.

That means practicing in a low-distraction environment where your dog can actually succeed. Reinforce the moments they check in with you, walk beside you, or keep that beautiful slack in the leash. Every time they make the right choice, pay them like they just did something spectacular—because to them, they did.

Then slowly, gradually, increase the challenge. New smells. New environments. New temptations. The goal isn’t perfection—it’s building a dog who sees you as the most important part of the walk, not the squirrel, the smell, or the invisible monster only they can see.

Remember: leash walking isn’t about control.

It’s about communication, partnership, and helping your dog feel guided rather than restrained.

Your shoulder will thank you. Your dog will thank you. And your neighbors will thank you when they no longer see you waterskiing down the sidewalk 🚶‍♀️🐕💨

Happy Training Tip Tuesday! Let me know below: what’s your dog’s biggest distraction on walks?

.heyraerae

🚨🐾 Schedule Update — No Group Class Tomorrow! 🐾🚨Hey Pawsome Fam! Just a quick heads-up — there will be no group class to...
11/14/2025

🚨🐾 Schedule Update — No Group Class Tomorrow! 🐾🚨

Hey Pawsome Fam! Just a quick heads-up — there will be no group class tomorrow, November 15th due to the Savannah Marathon affecting Daffin Park and the majority of the Savannah area, causing road closures and traffic delays. 🏃‍♀️🚧

To ensure everyone’s safety and avoid travel difficulties, we’ll be pausing group training for the day.

Group class will resume on Tuesday, November 18th at 4:30 PM! 🐕💚

Thank you all for your understanding and flexibility — stay safe, enjoy your weekend, and cheer on the marathon runners if you’re nearby! 🎉🐾

📍 Savannah, GA (and nearby areas)
📧 [email protected]
💬 PM us on Facebook or Instagram
🌐 meikashelpingpaws.com/contact-us

Opie is a striking mix of Australian Shepherd, German Shepherd, Rottweiler, Husky, and American Pit Bull Terrier — and h...
11/13/2025

Opie is a striking mix of Australian Shepherd, German Shepherd, Rottweiler, Husky, and American Pit Bull Terrier — and he’s the perfect example of how genetics shape behavior. From the moment we met, Opie’s instincts were on full display. He wanted to constantly circle me, keeping a close eye on my movements — a clear nod to the herding drive from both the Australian Shepherd and German Shepherd. That herding instinct, without an appropriate outlet, often shows up as nipping or trying to control movement — not aggression, but a deeply rooted behavior once necessary for keeping livestock in line.

His body language told another story, too: tense, rigid, and uncertain. Those traits can be traced to his Rottweiler lineage — a powerful guardian breed bred for confidence and protection. When a Rottweiler’s confidence collides with fear or insecurity, it can turn into stranger danger, where their default is to act first to create space and safety. Add in a dash of Pit Bull Terrier — loyal, determined, and sometimes pushy when frustrated or under-stimulated — and you’ve got a dog who feels everything deeply but hasn’t yet learned what to do with those big feelings.

When I turned my back and took a step forward during our first session, Opie began to charge toward me — not out of dominance, but out of instinct and insecurity. As a professional trainer, this told me he was torn between curiosity and fear. His behavior wasn’t about being “aggressive”; it was his way of saying, “I don’t feel safe, and I don’t know how to handle this situation.”

Our work with Opie will focus on helping him build emotional stability and confidence in a world that doesn’t make sense to him right now. We’ll create structured routines, teach him how to regulate his impulses, and give him safe, fulfilling outlets for those natural herding, guarding, and working instincts. Dogs like Opie remind us that behavior is communication — and when we listen with understanding, not judgment, we can help them find peace in a world not built for them.

Keeping your dog engaged during training isn’t about demanding their attention—it’s about earning it. 🐾 Dogs stay focuse...
11/12/2025

Keeping your dog engaged during training isn’t about demanding their attention—it’s about earning it. 🐾 Dogs stay focused when training feels fun, rewarding, and clear. Mix things up: keep sessions short, sprinkle in games, change locations, and celebrate those little wins. 🎯 The more your dog sees you as the source of good things—treats, toys, praise, play—the more they’ll tune in and stay motivated.

And remember, engagement starts before obedience. If your dog’s mind is wandering, pause and reconnect instead of repeating cues. Get silly, move around, make eye contact, and remind them that working with you is the best game in town. 💪

For future service dogs like Hemlock, though, all it took was a giant stick we found at the park. 😂🌲

Address

Savannah, GA

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 6pm
Tuesday 10am - 6pm
Wednesday 10am - 6pm
Thursday 10am - 6pm
Friday 10am - 6pm
Saturday 10am - 6pm

Telephone

+19126639699

Website

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