The Heeling Shepherd

08/22/2025

Tigo and I are very excited to tune into new video series!

Dog training is about learning to master the basics again and again and again.

08/22/2025

How wonderful to be nominated for the best pet trainer category!
Please cast a vote if you’d like to show your support ❤️

Official 2025 Community Voting Awards Platform for Grand Rapids, MI. Where the community votes for their favorites every year.

08/13/2025

And it’s not just about your dog!

Whenever I hear from a client regarding behavioral problems (more than just recall or obedience), these key questions are typically floating in my head, as they heavily influence how we’ll go about helping you and your dog.

THIS is why I don’t copy and paste my training plans. Because each situation is so unique, and what works for you may not work for your neighbor. That’s the benefit of having a variety of tools in the tool box: it means meeting dogs and their people where they’re at.

Have you thought about how these concepts are influencing your success with your own dog? I’d love to hear about it!

08/08/2025

In light of that recent post about dogs and their nicknames, I thought this would be a fun challenge for our Friday!

Comment down below and share with me just how far you’ve taken the nicknames 😆

07/31/2025

Really, all of these insights lead back to relationship.

And everyone is talking about relationship with dogs. But how do you actually get that?

Well, it’s a lot like relationships with humans, except dogs DEPEND on us for a heck of a lot more.

Still, though, we should expect a team player, someone who is willing to compromise, maybe someone who will step in when we need extra support, and a person that doesn’t come down too hard on us for our faults.

That’s across species.

Before you’re working on the obedience stuff, which many people think is priority NUMBER ONE with dogs, you should have some relationship.

Has your dog ever seen you advocate for them before? Do you leave your dog alone and let them eat in peace? Do you provide quiet places for them to take breaks during busy times, or cut an event short that your dog just isn’t thriving in?

That is how to build relationship; and it can’t really be synthesized through obedience.

Now, we also have to teach our dogs how to regulate.

Dear dog, not everything is the end of the world. This takes guidance and skill to achieve for our dogs.

As much obedience as you want to slap on, your dog will still be vibrating in place as that dog passes because they 👏🏻 can’t 👏🏻 cope 👏🏻

And finally, also related to relationship, is clarity. The best relationships are those that are predictable, and easy to be successful in. Even in the hard times, there is a path forward in how we should respond to one another.

And that’s clarity. Our dogs should generally know what to expect, and we should have a way to communicate to them things that we like and things they should fix.

But we all start somewhere. You may not have all of these pieces yet, and it doesn’t mean you’re failing your dog.

But it does mean that you could maybe use some help being the partner that your dog would be happy to follow.

07/23/2025

Has a trainer ever told you that your dog is misbehaving because they need more clear expectations?

Here’s how to build clear expectations for your dog’s behavior… leash walking edition!

These are just rough percentages to illustrate how most pet parents I work with successfully break down their dog’s walks.

Just like when you’re teaching your dog sit, shake, and roll over, you should also be using CUES on walks with your dog!

If not, your dog will make their own cues.

That fire hydrant? A cue for your dog to pull as hard as he can to sniff the p*e mail.

The house with the big great tree in front? A cue for your dog to pull like crazy in hopes of catching that squirrel that always hangs out there.

You can use as many treats or training tools as you want, but if your dog doesn’t have a consistent concept of what is the *expected* behavior, well, expect chaos.

While I don’t really need my dogs to heel every walk, I do try to practice it as least weekly to keep their brains fresh. That way, it’s no surprise when I ask them to heel in high traffic areas.

Another note: you can use a release word instead of “go sniff.” I use go sniff because a certain Rottweiler mix would stay in a heel full time if he knows there is opportunity for reward.
Go sniff specifically cues my dogs to engage in their environment, which is very beneficial for my dogs and my client dogs.

So, tell me, do you think your dog knows what you want from them during leash walking?

07/08/2024

Blue algae kills! Great info in the post below ⬇️

💧💚 Blue green algae, also known as cyanobacteria, is a type of bacteria that can be found in both fresh and saltwater. Unfortunately, it poses a significant risk to human and animal health, making it crucial to know where and when it is found and how to spot it.

🌊 Blue green algae is most commonly found in bodies of water with high levels of nutrients, such as lakes and ponds. In BC, it is most prevalent during the summer months, between June and October. It can also be found in slow-moving rivers and streams.

🚫 The risk posed by blue green algae comes from the toxins it produces, which can cause serious health issues in humans and animals. In dogs, for example, it can lead to seizures, vomiting, and liver damage. It can even be fatal in some cases.

👀 So, how do you spot blue green algae? It can look like green, blue-green, or brown scum on the surface of the water. It can also manifest as individual clumps or as a greenish-brown or greenish-blue discolouration of the water. If you see any of these signs, it is important to stay away from the water and to keep your pets away as well.

🤔 What can you do to reduce the risk of exposure to blue green algae? One of the best things you can do is to be aware of the areas where it is commonly found. The ASPCA recommends avoiding swimming in or drinking from bodies of water that have visible algal blooms. If you do come into contact with blue green algae, it is important to rinse off with clean water as soon as possible.

👩‍⚕️ If you suspect that you or your pet have been exposed to blue green algae, it is important to seek medical attention immediately. As mentioned earlier, the toxins produced by blue green algae can be very dangerous and can even be fatal.
Check out my blog for more tips: https://www.biancasdogtraining.com/post/the-ultimate-summer-survival-guide-for-your-dog

06/24/2024

I know this isn’t how you thought dog ownership would go. And I’m not just saying that. I know you wonder sometimes whether your dog would be better off with someone else.

Almost a year ago, 2 puppies were dropped off to stray in a neighborhood. They were 5 months old. One of them seemed more well “adjusted” than the other. Sunny paced so much in the area that she wore parts of her paw pads off.

I don’t know what their lives were like before. But she’s had a hard time coping with it.

I have been training dogs and people since the pandemic and I’ve easily worked with hundreds of dogs at this point.

But I wasn’t ready to raise this sketchy shepherd puppy.

And everyone that trains dogs, but only works with the most stable, well-bred of the species won’t even scrape the surface of the adaptability, quick thinking, and willingness to make things happen that you have to have to love and teach a dog like this.

You might call them rescue dogs, stray dogs, shelter dogs, etc.;
but they’re just dogs. And no matter where they come from, they aren’t ever what we expect.

Sunny has changed every part of my life, down to the structure in my home, the type of equipment I use, and even how I apply training concepts in my business and personal life.

The reality is, she was able to have such an effect on me because I have the tools (or I’m determined to find them!) to make each change, little by little, in an intentional effort to make this dog great.

Now remember, this isn’t my first train-wreck of a dog and I’m sure she won’t be the last. If this is your first, or your second or your third, it’s NORMAL to not have all of the tools already. It’s NORMAL to be jaded by the approach that worked for your last, albeit completely different, dog.

But here I am, offering the honest reality that Sunny has made me radically question and alter so many aspects of my already well informed day-to-day. And when you have relationships with other living beings, they SHOULD change you.

And I’ll offer you another reality: there is not a better home for your “problem” dog out there.

Cont. in comments ⬇️

06/19/2024

These gals graduated recently 🥹

I initially met Cameron (right) at my drop-in classes, but her parents decided to pursue some private lessons to work on some loose leash walking, arousal management, and to learn more about Miller (left).

Not only are the walks a joy now, but they’re going to be able to harness all these skills so the girls can be a part of their parents wedding this summer!

And as for Miller… boy did we learn about Miller. We learned that Miller is SO much braver than she knows, and training really helped her confidence just blossom.

The dogs I met a few months ago at our consultation are not the same dogs I left this week. And there’s just something beautiful about teaching a dog to believe in themselves 😭❤️

Big round of appaws for these sassy doodle girls and their amazing parents 👏🏻👏🏻

06/18/2024

These things right here ⬇️

At the end of the day, all the fancy stuff aside, THESE are the skills your dogs needs.

I spend so much time working with people and their reactive or aggressive dogs, learning how to help them and work with them, but I also try to show people with NON reactive dogs learn how they can help them too. I have both kinds, dogs who take things too personally (like eye contact from 100 yards away - ahem, Aslan) and dogs who think everyone needs a hug and a slobber (ahem, Andy). I truly believe if we work together as a collaborative society of dog lovers we can help every dog live their best life. Here are some things I try to teach every human and dog team, and I’ve actually found these are good preventative tools too.

1. Stop letting your dog have on leash greetings with other dogs. Even if they are friendly. Teach your dog when they are on leash you are the best thing they can focus on! This will minimize their conditioned excitement every time they see another dog and help them not pull, lunge or move towards a reactive dog who doesn’t want an interaction. Also, the more you do let your dog meet dogs on leash, the more frustrated and aroused your dog can get when they see them and then reactivity can develop. NO leash greetings all around is a much healthier way to teach your dog(s) that the world out there is great but you’re even better to focus on!

2. Silence your dogs tags. I started doing this a few years ago when we started camping. I realized that the jingling of my dogs tags walking was a huge trigger for many of the dogs in their campsite, and as a result, they would bark and scream profanity at my dogs walking. This made their walk stressful too. By minimizing the noise, I’ve greatly improved my dogs walks and I know I’ve also helped a lot of reactive dogs not get triggered for the umpteenth time that day.

3. Work on a bombproof recall. And then work on it some more. And then some more.

4. Only let your dog off leash in places that are allowed. Even if you think no one is there. Even if it’s just for a second. Just. Don’t. Do it. It’s not fair and it sets so many dogs and humans up to fail. Want a place to let your dog run? Look at Sniffspot.com

5. Respect muzzles, give me space vests, and people saying “no” It is super hard to take a reactive dog out in public and have confidence. The more we give space and respect the better these teams will do! Don’t make judgements or stare or insist on saying hello because you hope to be the exception. Just tell them they are doing a great job and keep going.

6. Don’t let your dog stare. This is a BIG one we work on in all our classes. We teach humans how to position their dogs so they don’t stare at other dogs. I work hard on teaching my dogs to not stare at other dogs on leash and you can too. This is more subtle than not leash greeting but it can be just as helpful. Teach your dog to acknowledge there’s a dog there, but then move on, or turn around and not face them. For many reactive dogs there is nothing more triggering than a goofy adolescent dog staring at them across the road. I swear they scream back “WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT?!”

7. Confine and safely manage your dog in the car. Dogs hanging out of windows, barking and lunging in the backseat, or moving back and forth in the car are problematic because 1. It’s not safe and 2. It’s teaching THEM terrible behavior and 3. It’s very stressful for reactive dogs trying to walk down the road. My dogs are crated in the car; or tethered or use a calming cap to reduce their own stress and the stress of dogs that may walk past.

8. Offer to help. Ask the person what you can do to make it easier or help them? More space? Or moving back and forth? Or just continuing on your way. Some people struggle to find others with NON reactive dogs to practice with, so having help makes a big difference. Speak up if you see someone putting them down. Warn someone with an off leash dog that there’s a dog there that needs space. Help them the same at YOU would like it if it was you and your dog.

Reactive dogs are not broken: and they aren’t abnormal either. Reactivity honestly is now becoming more normal than NON reactive dogs, so we have to all work through this together. And it boils down to respect, understanding, courtesy and lots of reward based training.

We can do it gang.

-Helen St. Pierre

06/18/2024

SO PROUD of Miss Willow and her loose leash walking progress!

We tackled several goals in our short training package, including the esteemed loose leash walking. Willow is a cattle dog cross, which means everything is game to be either chased, or barked at.

Her world is gonna open up SO MUCH now that she knows the expectations for walking on leash with her person.