Shelby Helmerich - Companion Animal Training and Behavior

06/06/2026

One of the most common things clients seem to want from their dog is the ability to take them wherever the family may go! 🐾

Here is a photo of Beau and Birdie with myself and my son at the local farmer’s market.

From a training perspective, a farmer’s market can be quite the distracting environment… lots of people and children, other dogs, strong food smells, and dropped food on the ground.

While this is an enjoyable goal, it’s important to recognize that not every dog will ever be 100% comfortable in environments like this, and that’s okay!

Success doesn’t always mean perfect neutrality or laser focus in chaos. Sometimes success is simply a dog who can attend briefly, recover quickly, and remain safe and relaxed with appropriate support.

Getting to this level of reliability is not accidental. It’s built through intentional training and thoughtful socialization over time and consistency!

Skills like engagement with the handler, leash manners, impulse control, leave it, and confidence-building exercises all play a role.
Equally important is learning how to read the dog in front of you, recognizing stress signals early and knowing when to step in before overwhelm happens.

Temperament is also a major factor. Some dogs are naturally more environmentally resilient and people-oriented, even exuberant, while others are more sensitive or reserved. Neither is “better,” but they do require different expectations and handling in busy public settings.

Even well-trained dogs may have thresholds where a step back… creating distance, taking breaks, or choosing quieter environments is the most successful choice.

The goal isn’t to force every dog into every environment. The goal is to build skills, confidence, and communication so that when you do choose to include your dog in outings like this, it’s a positive experience for everyone involved.

Beau and Birdie handled this outing beautifully, but that outcome came from training, management, and knowing their individual limits, not luck!

05/06/2026

Behavioral problems are one of the leading reasons dogs are surrendered to animal shelters, contributing more to pet overpopulation than accidental or intentional breeding.

Because surrendered dogs face a higher risk of euthanasia, this study examined whether reward-based training could improve shelter dogs’ behavior assessment scores and, ultimately, their adoptability.

A researcher (Myself) taught a group of shelter dogs three basic cues—“sit,” “place,” and “leave it”—using reward-based training.

Although these cues were not directly tested in the shelter’s behavioral assessment, dogs showed significant improvement between their initial and final assessments. Average assessment scores improved from 13.66 to 10.33, and statistical analysis found the improvement to be significant (p = 0.04) with a large effect size.

The findings suggest that reward-based training can meaningfully improve dogs’ behavior assessment outcomes, which may increase adoption success, reduce relinquishment, and decrease the likelihood of euthanasia.

https://digitalcommons.murraystate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https%253A%252F%252Fdigitalcommons.murraystate.edu%252Fcgi%252Fviewcontent.cgi%253Freferer%253D%2526httpsredir%253D1%2526article%253D1083%2526context%253Detd&&httpsredir=1&&article=1083&&context=etd&&sei-redir=1 =%22https%3A%2F%2Fdigitalcommons.murraystate.edu%2Fcgi%2Fviewcontent.cgi%3Freferer%3D%22

03/06/2026

Did you know the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) recommends reward-based training methods for all dog training and behavior modification? 🐾

I am on the Executive Board for AVSAB serving as a Member-at-Large!

I’m passionate about helping dog owners understand what the science tells us about effective, humane training.

Current evidence shows that reward-based training supports animal welfare, strengthens the human-animal bond, and is effective for teaching new skills as well as addressing challenging behaviors.

Whether you’re raising a new puppy, working through anxiety, reactivity, or aggression, or simply looking to build a stronger relationship with your dog, choosing evidence-based training methods matters.

Training should be about teaching, building confidence, and creating lasting behavior change… not relying on fear, intimidation, or pain.

If you’re looking for professional guidance with your puppy or your dog’s behavior concerns, contact me today to learn how I can help you and your dog succeed!

https://avsab.org/about/executive-board/

Learn more by reading AVSAB’s Humane Dog Training Position Statement:
https://avsab.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/AVSAB-Humane-Dog-Training-Position-Statement-2021.pdf

29/05/2026

Recently, I had the opportunity to meet Milo, the Mini Aussie! 🐾

His owner reached out for help addressing aggression toward people, and we’ll also be working on not jumping when excited, loose leash walking, recall, and learning not to chase cars.

During our first session, we focused on foundational obedience skills that will later be incorporated into a structured behavior modification protocol and management plan.

Building a strong foundation is an important first step in helping dogs learn how to make better choices and navigate the world more confidently.

Looking forward to watching Milo’s progress as we continue working together!

24/05/2026

Does your dog have a solid “leave it?”

Today, the baby was enjoying some eggs, but I think most of them ended up on the floor! 😂

Beau and Birdie were very interested in the flying eggs, but they did a great job laying patiently!

22/05/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/1EXt2FDJXY/?mibextid=wwXIfr

🐕 Does your dog go absolutely feral the moment they spot a squirrel, a cat, or a skateboarder? That's prey drive — and it's completely natural! But when it takes over, it can become a real safety concern. 🚗⚠️
Prey drive isn't just about hunting. It's a hardwired sequence of behaviours — from orienting and stalking all the way through to the chase — and understanding it is the first step to managing it. 🧠

Here's what you need to know:
🔍 Prey drive follows a predictable 5-stage sequence
🐾 Different breeds express it differently
⚡ The more your dog practises chasing, the stronger the habit becomes
✅ There are science-based steps you can take to manage it safely
🎯 And you don't need to eliminate it — just redirect it!

I've put together a detailed infographic breaking all of this down clearly, and I also have a full video on YouTube walking you through everything 👇
🎬 Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/B0derJhIaxY

Want a high quality version of this infographic to keep, print, or share? Grab the digital download and support the channel at the same time 🙏
📥 Get it here: https://buymeacoffee.com/trainmeplease/e/540548s

Save this post for reference and share it with someone whose dog has a little too much wild in them! 🐶🌿

20/05/2026

This week I met Drago, an Australian Shepherd mix! 🐾
He’s an incredibly smart boy, but like many young, enthusiastic dogs, he gets distracted by everything around him. Once something exciting catches his attention, all those obedience cues seem to disappear!

That said, Drago and his owner made amazing progress during our very first session.
He’s eager to learn, and with some work on focus and impulse control, I think he’s going to do great things.
I’m excited to watch their growth together!

19/05/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/175oGGspcM/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Caveat, I did not create this and I don't know who did. I wish I did because I would give them credit. But it's a great graphic.

EDITED TO ADD: Graphic created by ABC Dogs NZ

15/05/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/1PfSBh37iF/?mibextid=wwXIfr

🐾 Does your dog react to other dogs, people, or distractions? The Engage / Disengage game might be exactly what you need! 🐶💙

This is one of our favourite protocols for helping reactive or easily distracted dogs learn to notice a trigger — and then calmly choose to check back in with YOU instead of reacting.

Here's how it works 👇

✅ STEP 1 — ENGAGE
Your dog spots the trigger at a distance. The moment they look at it, you mark with a "YES!" — and they turn back to you for a treat. You're building a positive association between the trigger and good things happening with you.

✅ STEP 2 — DISENGAGE
Now we wait for your dog to offer the check-in themselves. They look at the trigger… then choose to look back at you. Mark it, reward it, and repeat. That calm, voluntary check-in is exactly what we're building towards.

🔑 The key to all of this? Keeping your dog UNDER THRESHOLD — far enough away from the trigger that they can still think, take treats, and learn. If they're barking, lunging, stiff, or refusing food, you're too close. Increase the distance and set them up to succeed.

📄 We've put together a step-by-step visual guide covering both stages, threshold management, over-threshold signs, and troubleshooting tips for common sticking points. Check it out in the image below!

🎥 Want a more in-depth walkthrough? Watch our full video explanation here:
👉 https://youtu.be/4-IujdJyyI4

💙 Want to support our work AND get a high quality version of this infographic to print or save?
👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/trainmeplease/e/538085

Every calm choice gets stronger with practice. You've got this! 🐕💙

The game was created by Alice Tong (KPA CTP) of Choose Positive Dog Training, originally published on the Karen Pryor Clicker Training website back in 2014. It's become a staple of force-free reactivity training ever since! 🙌

14/05/2026

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🐾 What if the thing your dog is obsessed with is actually your biggest training asset?

That's the Premack Principle in a nutshell — and once it clicks, it changes how you see the whole environment around you.

Here's the concept: behaviour that your dog finds highly rewarding can be used to reinforce behaviour they find less rewarding. You're not fighting against what they want. You're using it.

Grandma's Rule puts it best:
🥦 Do the less fun thing first → earn the more fun thing.

In practice it looks like this:

📣 Dog rockets back to you on recall → gets released straight back into the game
🚪 Dog waits calmly at the door → the door opens
👁️ Dog checks in with eye contact on a walk → gets to go investigate that smell

No food needed. The real world becomes your treat pouch.

This is one of those concepts that sounds simple but has a huge ripple effect on your dog's impulse control and their relationship with you — so I made a full video breaking it all down:
📺 https://youtu.be/RNkT_oOhLYA