Hels4Dogs

19/04/2025

If our dogs are barking and lunging all the time then the stress is high. For us, for them, for people watching.

By taking control of our walks and implementing strategies and training to support you and your dogs we can make real progress.

We should care because it helps us but most importantly it helps them!

13/04/2025

You are enough!
Join our amazing group to learn and find a community of like minded people 🩵

09/04/2025

Who wants a freebie?

😓 Are you struggling on walks?
😓 Are you feeling like you can’t predict what’s going to happen?
😓 When you take your dog out are you winging it?
😓 Do you feel overwhelmed with no idea where to start?

Why not download this free resource so you can start to feel:

🤩 More prepared
🤩 More in control
🤩 Less like you’re winging it
🤩 More like you know what you’re doing!

This free workbook will help you start your journey to regaining control of your walk!

https://hels4dogs.myflodesk.com/ecnzy811sk

04/04/2025

If you have a barky dog….please start here!

These steps are a sure fire way to get started with helping your dog feel better about the things they struggle with. Whether they are scared, frustrated or if we are not sure, implementing these simple tips will help you get started!

🍗 Get our treats nailed and we will have dogs that are more likely to engage with us!

💭 Allowing our dogs time to rest or have time away from their triggers will help you in the long run. They need time to recover so we can focus on the things that we want to work on.

🛣️ Understanding how far away they will bark or lunge, then we have something we can work with! Training is hard but I’m always here to help and knowing this will help so much!

🍃 Sniffy and exploratory walks help to keep our dogs happy and in a good head space. We want a balance of these and walks where our dogs see things they are stressed by.

😴 Sleep is the most important thing. Making sure our dogs are well rested, not overtired and ready for anything is key! Overtired dogs are more likely to make bad choices, feel bad, and not be able to think clearly.

💜 Finally…don’t forget you’re not alone. You now have me in your corner. I will always support, help, advise and listen to you no matter what!

02/04/2025

Reactivity focusses on the general way that dogs respond to things in their environment. It’s a really all in one word for dogs that do:

💥 Barking
🦮Lunging
📣 Growling
🗯️Screaming

At things they have seen in their environment.

This is most often other dogs, but it can be anything! Dogs, people, bikes, cars, prams, children, cats. The list is endless.

These big feelings and outbursts are usually coming from a place of fear, or from a place of frustration.

❌ I don’t want to access the thing
Vs
✅ I do want to access the thing.

Sometimes you get other feelings involved but this is our base line.

We don’t always need to label our dogs but it is really useful to understand this as a way of describing your dogs behaviour to trainers so that they can help support you better.

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31/03/2025

Hey wonderful dog owners 👋

I’m Hels, I share my life with the 2 most incredible dogs: Bonnie, 5yo Slovakian rough haired pointer, and Toph 3yo rescue Weimaraner cross chocolate Labrador 🩷

In the past 5 years I have helped and guided hundreds of dog owners towards living their best life with their barky and lungy, or “reactive” dogs. It’s tough to reach out for help, but I try and make a journey that was once so isolating and tricky, feel easy and rewarding.

I LOVE helping my clients succeed! Watching them do things with their dogs that they never thought possible is the whole reason I’m here! 🥲

That’s a little about me - tell me something about you in the comments 👇

30/03/2025

Your weekly reminder that things can be different, you are not alone and you can make the changes you need to to enjoy your dog.

💫

25/03/2025

Hels4Dogs is on Substack. Follow for case stories, behaviour nuts and bolts, and more content on the science of dog behaviour.

Using food is key to success with our dogs. Not a training “opinion” just a fact. We need to have a way to tell them they have done the right thing. We need to know or we may as well stay home 😉 Do you know what your dog’s favourite thing to eat is?

23/03/2025

Your Sunday reminders that change can be good, doing the hard work now pays off for the future and that I’m always here in your corner!

Hopefully there is something here you need to hear today 🤗

23/03/2025

Nothing changes if nothing changes!

Getting the right help is crucial to getting behavioural issues resolved.

I’ve been in your shoes, a stressed owner with dogs that are struggling to cope with the world we live in.

That’s why I’ve developed the 90 day programme. 90 days to stress free walks will not only give you the ability to feel confident in your dogs training but also the opportunity to be supported and learn alongside others going through the same thing.

Doors are closing tonight! So get in touch and don’t be afraid to reach out.

Remember…Nothing changes if nothing changes!

19/03/2025

I had a really amazing weekend at the emotional wellbeing conference and I have a few thoughts.

Emotional resilience is something we are seeing less and less of in pets and specifically dogs in homes.

My brain asks me why this is and I can think of a few factors. Breeder set ups, early experiences of lack of, exposure to novelty, expectations of dogs in homes.

The list could be endless.

So how does this help and affect us as dog owners. What are the things we can implement easily to help our dogs develop resilience strategies? And btw this is super important for dogs with reactivity issues.

🌻 letting them experience things at their own pace.

Watching, learning and not being forced to do something in that moment can be so beneficial and preventative of problems.

A puppy watching something is learning. We can let them learn or help them our gently. No forced interaction or pressure.

🌻 Socialising puppies properly

This idea of varied social experiences, exposure to different environments, people, dogs with appropriate support (and if you need help with this then please get in touch. We don’t want it going wrong)

🌻 Owner capability & mental health

A really key part to creating emotional resilience is our ability to do all of the above. Even in small chunks. Small wins and small bits of exposure go so far!

🌻The dog’s preferences and ability to recover from negatives

This is a bit of an all in one but it’s key. Through early training and early learning our dogs learn to recover from the bad stuff but this is hugely impacted by temperament. If the dog is not inherently optimistic or if they are super scaredy and shy then we might be a bit of an uphill struggle to start with.

It’s actually one of the reasons I really do think that if you have a very fearful dog or puppy you should see a pro straight away. These things rarely sort themselves out 🤗

Do you feel your dog is emotionally resilient?

16/03/2025

Your weekly reminders!

Hopefully there is something here that resonates and speaks to you.

The only thing I really want you to know is that you’re not alone. My community and my help is always there if you need it.

💫

13/03/2025

The 90 day programme is an intensive online journey towards understanding, managing and training your dog.

You aren’t having to battle with reactions in a field.

You’re not wasting your time and money on sessions where there isn’t any progress.

You are taken on a thoughtful and progressive path to behaviour change.

Support from me is a given and if you’re someone who loves routine and structure - then I’ve included set ways you get this and proper ways to track and measure your progress.

Don’t forget your workbook that runs alongside!

What are you waiting for, let’s chat!

11/03/2025

I remember when I was in your shoes. Rewind 10 years and I got my first dog, Huxley. I was 19, young and overwhelmed. He was a barky and lungy dog that I was really struggling with. I didn’t know why he did what he did but I knew that I was struggling. 
I didn’t know what to do, I was really alone. I was doing everything I could but things weren’t really improving and I needed help. 

At that point, and I know this is still so much the case, I was so unsure who to ask, and where to look for help. 

That’s why I’ve created this is platform, course and community, to help people just like you and me.

I would love to support you through your reactive dog’s journey. Reach out for a chat, a cry, a refresh or reset and let’s just see what I can do for you!

💫

10/03/2025

Online training is an amazing way to get the results you need!

Learn without your dog stressing.

Learn without you stressing.

Learn in a way that’s not just someone talking at you in a field.

Learn in a way that is right for you.

Guidance and feedback, real coaching!

Online training is a no brainer!

Drop me a message if you think the 90 day programme could be for you 🤗

08/03/2025

Mid launch interlude to just celebrate International Women’s Day.

This is my first international women’s day as a strong independent business woman and I’m so proud of myself for taking the plunge and doing what I’m doing.

I believe so strongly that I can help people with my programme and I’m so proud of what I am creating for people.

My passion has always been in helping people and now I’m fulfilling that.

Anyone that talks to me or has spoken to me at crufts knows how absolutely excited and passionate I am about what I know I can do to help people!

Let’s chat if you want to feel that strong belief that there is a way forward from where you are and there is so much we can do.