Glasgow Dog Trainer and Behaviour Consultant

Our wee one year old Staffie was becoming reactive with other dogs and we wanted to make sure we were doing the right thing for her. Helen called us back and right away I knew we had someone with great knowledge and experience. Before our session she sent us lots of information and preparation tasks. During our session we started outside as she demonstrated and explained techniques, then observed and guided us. We then moved indoors and she spent a long time demonstrating and guiding us to communicate more effectively with Mabel. It was clear right away that the methodology was kind, intuitive and very effective. Helen’s empathy extended to us and our pup, giving us the confidence to build a lovely relationship. Helen has continued to stay in touch, sending information and asking how we are doing. I would highly recommend the Glasgow Dog Trainers as professional, humane and empathetic people. There were no harsh words, no painful tools and lots of understanding.

We began working with Helen when Nelson was just 12 weeks old, as we felt it was important to start his training early given how big he would eventually grow. Helen helped us establish structure and set good habits right from the beginning, making sure we put the right work into his development. She taught us how to help Nelson relax, so he can now settle himself both at home and when we take him out to cafés or bars. Helen also supported us in teaching him to walk nicely on the lead, develop a reliable recall, and even perform an emergency stop for situations where he might otherwise put himself in danger. We are now feeling confident going into Nelson's adolescence phase, that we have built a good skillset to help navigate hiim through. We would definitely recommend Helen for anyone with a new puppy looking for support in training or for older dogs looking to learn new tricks! Helen is a natural with animals, Nelson was her biggest fan! Thanks again Helen X

We initially reached out as our dog had become really anxious at night time due to noise sensitivity, which was triggered by fireworks. Helen was great to work with and really took the time to understand our whippet. She provided us with the tools to help rebuild our dogs confidence which has made a massive difference already. We managed to make it through bonfire night without the usual panting and crying which felt like a massive milestone. Seeing the difference has really helped us to stick to our daily training. Highly recommend Helen to anyone who is struggling with an anxious dog or looking to rebuild their dogs confidence.

Helen has been working with us and our now 2 year old border collie for the past few months. We have had a few park sessions and a house session and the change in Frankie has been wonderful. Helen has been very patient with the 3 of us and is always at the end of a message with advice and feedback between sessions too. Her understanding of Frankie is unreal and her way of supporting us to get the best out of him has been great. At home frankie is much more relaxed. We even mamaged to watch a full football match with him asleep at our feet for the 1st time in 18 months as usually he would have been jumping at the tv. We managed a trip to arran and back with him on the ferry in the dog lounge where he managed to relax with all the other dogs about. Then the highlight was him settling to sleep under the table in the middle of a busy restaurant. Something that 6 months ago none of these ever felt possible. So its been lovely to see his and our world expanding. We have even had a stranger in the park say how well trained our dog is, is there a bigger compliment! We can't wait to see what all we can achieve with Helen by our side. And frankie at our feet.

I've had the pleasure to shadow Helen while she has been working with Koda over the past few weeks. Koda is an approximately 4 year old bulldog cross who was relinquished to Boxer Welfare Scotland for rehoming. He had to be placed in kennels as we at BWS had no suitable foster homes for him at that time. Koda has needed help to address a number of behavioural issues he acquired during his previous life. Although a very loving, bright and happy dog, when under stress, he displayed high arousal jumping and also grabbing and tugging on his lead, making him quite unmanageable when on walks. To assist his rehabilitation and increase his chances of rehoming, BWS engaged Helen to guide Koda towards changing his behaviour from being easily over-stimulated, to becoming better able to manage his feelings and his body and to be able to think and make decisions to engage in quieter, more settled and more predictable behaviours. His training has proven very successful and he is already a much calmer, happier and responsive dog. During weekly visits to Koda at his kennels, Helen has been working towards reducing Koda's more aroused feelings with kind, clear and effective food-based exercises which are showing Koda how to interact with his handler in a calm and attentive manner. Whilst shadowing these sessions, Helen has been very effective in explaining these techniques and showing how these work and what difference they make for the dog. We have also been out in public spaces with Koda, to teach him how to handle himself in the presence of people, other dogs, traffic and other distractions, all whilst focusing on his handler and managing his movement while on short (6ft) and long (15ft) leashes. As Koda acquires skills which will allow him to be successfully rehomed, we are planning to increase his exposure to the outside world and to distraction and situations which he is likely to encounter. I have been very impressed by Helen's understanding of Koda's issues, and by her ability to put in place opportunities for Koda to learn new skills, along with the appropriate loose lead handling and play techniques to help him progress. Helen has a very clear teaching manner and always provides clear instructions and explanations to the handler. What I have found very insightful is the concept that a good handler is not one who "makes" a dog do something, but in fact someone who has developed a relationship with their dog, allowing the dog to make the right behavioural decisions in life's many situations. I have certainly learnt a lot from shadowing Helen and Koda and have acquired skills which will allow me to be a better handler of my own dogs. Thank you so much for being there for Koda, Helen!