Shelby Helmerich - Companion Animal Training and Behavior

02/09/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1B5icoq5dt/?mibextid=wwXIfr

12/08/2025

VetFolio Human-Animal Bond Certified! ✅ 🐾

The certification deepens my understanding of the powerful connection between people and humans - from the neurological science behind the bond, to ways it improves health and well-being for both pets and their people!

Through this training, I learned strategies to strengthen that bond in veterinary practice and for canine training and behavior modification. It also promotes animal welfare and ensures every interaction supports the emotional and physical health of bonds ends of the leash!

Cannot wait to apply these principles to help foster happier, healthier relationships between pets and the humans who love them!

08/08/2025

I had someone reach out looking for help to rehome a dog!

Gunner is a Black Lab mix, 7 years old and a neutered male. He is a sweet, loyal dog who loves people. He struggles with anxiety and doesn’t do well with other animals, so he needs a calm, pet-free home. He’s on meds for anxiety and is heartworm positive, but is full of love and potential.

He just needs someone patient who can give him a second chance. ❤️

Message me if you're interested!

06/08/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16kcLg9Hoq/?mibextid=wwXIfr

They don’t need the whole house on day one.
In fact, too much "freedom" in your home can create challenges in those first few days.
➡️ Unfamiliar places can add more stress to an already anxious pup or dog.

They need time to adjust to their new environment.
Everything is different.....scents, sights, people, surfaces, and sounds.
Let them settle into one room before opening up the rest of the house.
Nervous or overstimulated dogs may toilet inside or even become destructive.

Chewing is natural... but you might not like what they find if they’re off exploring unsupervised rooms.

You’re adjusting to them as much as they are to you.
Limiting access to a couple of rooms really can help and it helps with that crucial early bonding.

➡️ Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
The adoption centre, breeder, or previous family often knows what your dog needs or prefers.
They want you to succeed and can help you through the early stages.

In the nicest way possible....use that support.
Reach out.
They’re there to help, not judge.

➡️ Don’t smother.
Children especially may want to show physical affection right away.
It’s tough to tell them no....but your new dog has been through a lot.
They don’t know or fully trust anyone yet.

Being hugged, kissed, or cuddled before trust has been built.....that’s too much.

They’ll let you know when they’re ready for more.

06/08/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1FeLGLpS5v/?mibextid=wwXIfr

When dogs display concerning behaviours such as growling, snapping, reluctance to be touched, or sudden changes in mood or sociability, pain is a critical factor to rule out. But one common point of confusion for guardians and even some professionals is this: why doesn't the behaviour immediately improve when pain relief is introduced?

Just like humans, dogs have the capacity to remember experiences associated with pain especially if the discomfort was chronic, unpredictable, or occurred during routine activities like being picked up, groomed, handled, or walked.

This phenomenon is often referred to as pain memory, and it explains why a dog may continue to avoid or react negatively to certain actions or environments even after the source of pain has been treated or resolved. It may take 6–8 weeks or more for behaviour to begin to shift.

Here's why:

Nervous system habituation: Once that pain is removed, it can take weeks for the dog’s nervous system to trust that an action (like walking, jumping, or being touched) won’t cause harm.

Behavioural conditioning: If pain was regularly triggered during routine activities, say, being lifted into the car or being petted along the back a dog may have developed conditioned fear responses.

Emotional recovery: Dogs who have felt consistently unsafe in their bodies may need time to rebuild their confidence, even after physical healing has begun.
Because dogs are so good at masking pain and often cope quietly it’s essential to look for small, subtle indicators of improvement rather than expecting dramatic overnight change.

This lag between removal of pain and change in behaviour can make diagnosis difficult. Owners may worry the medication “isn’t working” when in fact, it’s doing exactly what it should but the behavioural shift will take more time and possibly require additional behavioural support to help the dog unlearn old associations and rebuild trust.

In other cases, if pain is only one piece of the puzzle, behaviour may not improve until both pain and anxiety or trauma are also addressed in parallel.

03/08/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16nFXsyZ1k/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Small signals.
Big meanings.
These movements and behaviors aren’t random.
They've been carefully chosen and deliberately used by your dog and they're being used to avoid confrontation, deescalate or steer clear of something they feel uneasy about .
They might sense just a little pressure or conflict...so they offer a signal to say, “We’re all good here.”

Growling is a clear signal they can give...but it's risky.
Way before the growl are all these little signals they can give.
It's communication and it's natural....but we can be "offended" when we realise they are aiming them at us.

Instead of taking it personally, we can ask ourselves....
Why do they feel the need to use them?
That question is an opportunity to support our dogs better

Some signals serve a double duty.
A tail lowering, perhaps tucking? Often fear.....but it can also act as appeasement.
A lowered head? Maybe appeasement, maybe fear.
Context matters.

They can be incredibly subtle.
Tricky to spot....but we owe it to our dogs to look a little deeper at why they are behaving the way they are.

It is all communication.

22/07/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18Jqf9aRvu/?mibextid=wwXIfr

THE RECIPE TO CHANGE BEHAVIOUR

Wouldn’t it be great if there was a recipe or instruction manual that when followed would guarantee to solve the problems of each and every dog and every situation?

There might be a general template that we can use to begin with, but there cannot be a specific recipe or a cookie cutter approach to change behaviour effectively or ethically.

Each dog and each situation have different “ingredients” that need to be assessed and considered. There are just far too many variables involved to use the same recipe.

Genetics, history, life experiences, environment, the individual dog, as well as the guardian or family situation and commitment, will all be different and have to be taken into account.

This is why ethical, suitably qualified dog professionals will often answer a question someone asks about dog behaviour by saying “it depends”, because it really does depend on all the different variables.

There are no quick answers, no quick fixes and no specific, cookie cutter recipes to bring about successful, lasting behaviour change.

Stay well away from promises or guarantees that there are.

06/07/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16ub3Gu624/?mibextid=wwXIfr

This video takes a closer look at the Look at That (LAT) Game, exploring intermediate and advanced strategies to help dogs feel more comfortable and focused in challenging environments. 🐕 Whether your dog is reactive or overly excited by things like other dogs, people, or moving objects, the LAT Game offers practical solutions to build calmness and confidence.

You'll also discover tips to improve your LAT skills, a bonus suggestion to enhance your training sessions, and how LAT integrates with other useful techniques like mat work and the Superbowls Pattern Game. Stick around for guidance on the next steps if you live with a reactive dog!

Watch now to learn how to help your dog navigate the world with ease and focus.

https://youtu.be/cwKapA5ggP0

18/06/2025

Met sweet little Miley yesterday for her very first puppy training session! 🐾
At just 8 weeks old, this Golden Retriever pup is already on her way to becoming the perfect adventure buddy. Her family has plans of taking her everywhere - from strolls in town to relaxing days out on the lake.

We’re starting with the basics to build a confident, well-mannered companion who’s ready for all of life’s big (and little) moments! 💜 🐶

Stay tuned to watch this cutie grow into her role as the best lake dog around! 🚤☀️🌊

18/06/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CTNAxS2vU/?mibextid=wwXIfr

‼️ If an “aggression expert” isn’t advocating for thorough investigation into possible pain as part of their work with you… they are NOT ethical! ‼️

This is a sensitive story, and as such names have been changed to protect my clients’ privacy and identity. The dog pictured below is mine.

Over the last couple of months I’ve been working with a family and their dog (we’ll call him “Benny”). A year ago, Benny turned from a loving family pet to suddenly guarding the lounge; anytime that someone made an unexpected move in the room or entered it, Benny would begin posturing and barking at them, which eventually escalated into jumping and grabbing at their clothes, and then bites that punctured the skin.

A physical examination at the vet didn’t yield any results, and Benny was taking multiple types of anxiety medication that didn’t touch his behaviour.

We started working together, and I asked them to have some scans done to further investigate pain. Behaviour changes are one of the first indicators of pain, but otherwise dogs are REALLY good at hiding pain and it can be easily missed, even in a vet exam.

Because they had already been to see the vet, I was met with some resistance. We did implement safety measures and some training strategies to try to help Benny feel more at ease in the lounge, but his behaviour wasn’t improving.

Eventually, Benny did have an MRI, and it was revealed that he has a chiari malformation in his brain - that is, part of his brain was pushing down into the spinal canal. We could have done all the training in the world but it wouldn’t have mattered, because this wasn’t a behaviour issue.

How many trainers would have slapped a shock collar on this poor dog, who was already suffering? How many would have simply said that he needed to learn boundaries or hear the word “no” and not looked any further? How many would say that it’s all well and good to use positive reinforcement, until it “doesn’t work” and then you need punishment?

It’s estimated that up to 80% of aggression cases have some kind of underlying medical issue. You NEED a behaviour expert who can liaise with your vet and who will advocate for *thorough* examination, not just a quick check over to tick a box.

It’s an unregulated industry. Be careful who you trust with your dog, even if they call themselves an expert or have tons of followers. And if your dog’s behaviour suddenly changes, they’re probably in pain.

15/06/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/197CEgGR3d/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Understanding the Change: Puppyhood to Adolescence

Just like humans, dogs go through distinct developmental stages that significantly affect their behaviour. One of the most critical transitions is the shift from puppyhood to adolescence—a period marked by noticeable changes in attitude, energy levels, and responsiveness. Understanding what’s happening during this phase can help guardians navigate it with patience and confidence.

🐾Puppyhood vs. Adolescence

Puppyhood generally spans from birth up to around 5–6 months of age. During this time, puppies are typically eager to please, more manageable, and highly receptive to learning. They bond quickly with humans, and their behaviour is often more predictable.
Adolescence begins around 6 months of age and can last until a dog is 18 to 24 months old, depending on the breed and individual development. For some larger breeds, adolescence may stretch even longer. This stage can come as a surprise to many dog owners—it’s often when their sweet, obedient puppy starts testing boundaries, seemingly "forgetting" behaviour cues, and becoming more independent.

🚨Common Behavioural Changes During Adolescence

During this period, a dog’s brain and body are undergoing major changes. Hormones surge, leading to shifts in behaviour. You may notice:

• Selective listening or disobedience – Behaviour cues that were once followed are suddenly ignored.
• Increased energy and excitability – Adolescent dogs may become more hyperactive and impulsive.
• Testing boundaries – They may chew more, dig, jump up, or push limits they previously respected.
• Heightened reactivity – Adolescents may become more barky or anxious, especially around new people, dogs, or situations.
• Fear periods – Dogs may go through brief phases where they suddenly become fearful of familiar things.
• Sexual behaviours – Especially in intact dogs, behaviours like marking, hu***ng, and roaming may increase.

❓️Why Challenges During Adolescence Are Common

Adolescence is the canine equivalent of the teenage years. It’s a phase where dogs are growing rapidly, testing independence, and often struggling with impulse control. Their brains are still developing, especially the areas responsible for decision-making and emotional regulation.
Because of this, it’s common for adolescent dogs to seem difficult or frustrating. This is not a sign of a "bad dog" but a normal developmental phase. Consistent training, patience, and structured outlets for their energy can help them navigate this period successfully.

🏠Why Many Dogs Are Surrendered at This Age

Unfortunately, adolescence is also the most common time dogs are surrendered to rescues or rehomed. This typically happens between 6 months and 2 years of age. The reasons include:

• Guardians were anaware or feel unprepared for the sudden change in behaviour.
• Lack of training or consistency in early life, making adolescent behaviours harder to manage.
• Unrealistic expectations that dogs will remain as calm or easygoing as they were in puppyhood.
• Increased size and strength, making unwanted behaviours more difficult to control.
• Lifestyle mismatches, where the dog’s needs exceed what the family can realistically provide.

💡Moving Through It

It’s important to remember: adolescence is temporary. With continued training, socialisation, and clear boundaries, dogs mature into calmer, more predictable adults. Support from trainers, dog classes, or even professional behaviourists can make a big difference.

If you’re in the thick of adolescent dog chaos—you’re not alone. It’s a challenging but completely normal part of raising a dog, and with time and patience, most behavioural issues will improve as your dog matures.
If you’d like support navigating the challenges of adolescence, or want to set your puppy up for success to make this phase as smooth as possible, get in touch to learn more about my one-to-one training programmes. I’m here to help you and your dog build a calm, confident partnership that lasts a lifetime.

ℹ️ Email: [email protected]

Teach. Train. Thrive

11/06/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16egWRow5A/?mibextid=wwXIfr

We can spot a puppy quite far away who has been taken away from their mom at too young of an age. It is very important to make sure that when you get a puppy, they must be 8 weeks or older because this phase of their life can never be repeated.
If you find yourself in a situation with a puppy younger than 8 weeks old, you need to call us out ASAP so we can help you put things in place to try and reduce the risks and severity of these problem behaviours. The younger your puppy, the more urgent we need to see you.
If you stay far away, no problem, we also do virtual sessions, give us a call!