Emmet joined our family in September 2014. He originally was a foster, but we fell in love and it quickly became obvious he was meant to be a part of our family. Within a few weeks we began to see some behaviors that we were not expecting. All of a sudden Emmet began breaking out of his crate, then he went so far as to escape the house by breaking out of windows. Not really sure what to do, we stopped leaving him alone. This worked for awhile, however this was not something that we could always do. Next came issues on leash. Emmet pulled, and as a strong dog this made going for walks extremely difficult. Then he started getting extremely vocal and lunging whenever we came across dogs he didn’t know. Having people over to our house was difficult, and honestly embarrassing because Emmet had no idea how to handle this.

I began searching for a dog trainer and quickly followed the amazing reviews to No Monkey Business. One phone call with Helen and I knew this was the place to start with Emmet. I was extremely nervous to begin training as I was unsure of how Emmet would react, however as soon as we started training, this nervousness was gone. Our Level 1 class was just as much about me learning how to be a good dog mom as it was about training Emmet. I was taught how to work with Emmet to bring about the behaviors that we both wanted. We progressed on to Level 2 where we continued to grow as a team, even exploring downtown Concord and The Steeplegate Mall. My dog, the one who couldn’t go on a 5 minute walk without dragging me as no at someone or something, walked around the mall practicing his skills like it was no big deal at all.

I can honestly say that No Monkey Business has brought about so much change for my entire family! We’ve been able to bring Emmet camping, to a local farm, and just about anywhere else we want to go as a family. Family members and friends are amazed to see how far he has come, and Emmet happily greets all visitors to our home with just as much energy as before, only with the proper manners. Not only can Emmet walk on a leash now, but now I can also trust that he can be off leash and will stay with me in the right setting.

Thank you Helen and No Monkey Business for all you have done for Emmet and for my family as a whole!!! My highest praise and recommendations go out to you!

When we first adopted our mixed breed puppy, Otto, he was 10 weeks old and we were thrilled to have a new hiking buddy in the family. However, despite a few puppy socials at local pet stores and a puppy kindergarten course, Otto made it clear that hanging out around other dogs wasn’t exactly his thing. Entering the world of “owner of a reactive dog” was extremely difficult for us at first. Like many others, it was an issue we did not fully understand. Living in a busy area with other dogs around almost every time Otto went out for a potty break, his issues quickly pushed us all to the breaking point. After many tears and an awful experience with a trainer who used physical corrections, we were finally lucky enough to find Helen. Helen called me immediately after I sent my inquiry and assured me that she could help. Since that time the progress Otto has made is outstanding. Even though it has only been 6 months, sometimes I don’t think we fully remember the “old Otto” and just how much he has learned. Helen’s style of “training the human” is extremely refreshing and she always keeps training sessions fun and relaxed. Training a reactive dog is overwhelming, frustrating, and requires a lot of homework but with Helen’s guidance and responsiveness I always felt confident in the skills Otto and I were working on. Otto has learned coping skills and I have learned how to read him better and redirect him before his fear sets in. After having a very strained relationship in the early months of his life, it has been an extremely rewarding experience to work through this problem with Otto as a team and in doing so grow a bond of love and trust. Otto can now go outside and walk by other people without fear – something we never thought he would be able to achieve many months ago. Although he may never be able to go hiking as we originally imagined, Otto can pass by another dog successfully in many cases and in the times he feels scared he now has the skills to calm himself down quickly and continue on his way. Perhaps one of the most important lessons we learned from Helen was to accept Otto for who he is – both strengths and limitations included. We are so thankful to have found Helen. She is extremely dedicated to what she does and offers constant guidance, resources, and support. My husband recently said, “I wish I loved my job as much as Helen does!” I would never hesitate to refer anyone to NMBDT. Thank you so much Helen for helping our little family – we will be forever grateful!

Our success story with Helen couldn’t have turned out better. I adopted Brady (GSD) a 4 year old and Dalai 12 weeks Both within a month of each other. Brady had very little training and was aggressive to other dogs.  I went to a few different trainers who insisted choke collars. All were a disaster and they learned nothing. After being dragged on the ground several times because they were now both chasing after other dogs I found Helen. Using Helen’s techniques I was able to walk and pass other dogs without being dragged to the ground. To this day we hike off leash when safe and are enjoying life to its fullest.

Our puppy Belle was a lucky girl and attended 3 classes with Helen; puppy kindergarten, advanced puppy and level 2. Belle was initially very timid and would hide under our chairs and be frightened by the other puppies. She very quickly came out of her shell and then began engaging in some not so nice puppy behavior 😉 including not wanting to come in the house and some biting with her sharp puppy teeth. Helen’s advice worked every time. She helped us learn simple techniques to help Belle succeed. Such as having her drag the leash outside so we could actually get her in the house, and stepping on the leash in public so she doesn’t leap up on everyone walking by. Belle’s big issue at level 2 was laying down on the ground whenever she had felt she had enough and was not going to move. Helen said don’t give in to her because she’s a little manipulator and yes she is!  She even laid down at Gibson’s bookstore during training and wouldn’t move and although all the customers thought she was adorable and silly, it really isn’t silly when it’s your dog!! Thank you Helen for all your help teaching us how to help Belle have better manners!

Tucker and I are so thankful to have met Helen at No Monkey Business Training. As an adolescent male, Tucker was reacting to people and dogs while on leash. After one visit with Helen, she knew exactly how to correct these behaviors and bring out more positive behaviors. Her continued guidance and advice has not only reduced his reactivity but has strengthened our bond. The training classes were a great way to reinforce positive behaviors and basic commands. In addition, the BTS treats go a long way!!!

A year ago we adopted Bernie, a mixed Terrier one-year-old rescue dog. He came from South Carolina, and we have no idea of his history. Bernie was very timid when we got him, but with a sweet and gentle heart. He has done well getting used to people, is loving and smart, and we adore him.
The problem came when we realized that Bernie was terrified of other dogs. He would have a panic attack and be out of control, spinning around and barking whenever he saw another dog.
We brought Bernie to see Helen. After appraising his demeanor in a private session with her amazing Collie Paddington, she told us that Bernie is not aggressive but afraid.
We started with a private session with Helen and Paddington, then entered Level 1 class. Bernie was the “bubble dog” in class – kept behind a little fence covered with sheets. He loved learning the lessons but our main objective was to alleviate his fear. Gradually, the sheets were moved to expose him little by little to other dogs. There were 3-4 trainers in the room making sure that all went well.
Since that first class we have taken Level 2 twice. The first time he was still the little bubble dog behind the curtain, and the second time, Bernie was in the middle of the room surrounded by other dogs. His progress has been incredible, though he is still a work in progress.
Bernie recently had another private session with Paddington and was running with him and even sniffed his butt (sounds funny, but a big step in his progress!).
We are now taking Tricks class. Bernie is in a room with other dogs learning cool tricks! He practically runs to get into class. He still has his moments, but they are fewer and less intense. As Helen tells us, “It’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon.”
We can’t say enough about Helen and the way she cares about the dogs and their humans. Her approach is positive, and she makes it fun. We don’t know what we would have done without Helen and highly recommend her and No Monkey Business Dog Training.
– John, Jean & Bernie

About a year ago, after following Helen on Facebook, I decided to sign up my Maltese Chloe for private classes. Chloe had been in many classes at other training facilities and was very good at basic commands and tricks but due to a not so strong foundation and socialization when she was a 8-12wk puppy, she became a fearful dog. She would bark at any human and dog that crossed our way on the trails and many times when we were at stores. The behavior increased with time and got to a point that my relationship with her was compromised, in other words, we had no connection after so much yelling. After a few classes with Helen and training at home, I could see Chloe was getting better,she was reconnecting back to me but the barking persisted and whenever she was in that frenzy, it was impossible for me to train her. I just couldn’t take anymore. One day, after an almost breakdown at Helen’s office and at Helen’s suggestion, we decided to try to combine the behavior modification plan with working with the vet on some medication and also some supplements Helen recommended. That was IT!! Chloe finally was at a stage that could be trainable. The combination recommended by Helen calmed her down and I was able to control her when she started the barking attacks. Slowly we got back the bond that we had before and I was amazed with her progress on the following weeks and months. It’s being a long road, but today, I can bring my dog to many stores, run on the trails and go to all public spaces without being ashamed of my dog making a scene. I don’t have to worry when kids come closer to pet her and my husband and I can enjoy our weekends taking the dogs to the beach knowing that Chloe will enjoy the day without having a nervous/barking attack. Chloe became calmer and closer to me and I can’t thank you enough “No Monkey Business” and Helen for all the training, encouragement and guidance in this process.

When my husband and I rescued our dog Henry, he was severely malnourished and covered in urine burns. Although sweet, lovable and smart, Henry was scared of everything.

After a traumatic incident with another dog, Henry’s anxiety got much worse. It came to the point where he couldn’t even see another dog with out barking, growling, and lunging. He also began lunging at runners and bikers. I dreaded taking Henry for walks in fear of how he would react to other dogs and people.

I remember coming to Helen’s office last August desperate to see how I could help this dog I loved so much. Helen was able to show us things to implement with Henry and build his confidence. I could tell right away we were in good hands. Helen never treated Henry like a “bad dog” and her love for dogs was evident. It was comforting to know she was always just a phone call away.

We have been working with Helen and Paddington now for almost a year, and the changes we have seen in Henry are tremendous. There was a time when Henry couldn’t even be in the parking lot with out shaking and crying. Now he walks into training with his tail wagging! Henry recently completed a 5k along other runners and dogs. A situation Henry once would have found terrifying, was now fun and enjoyable for him.

Although Henry will probably always be a “bubble dog”, the strategies and techniques Helen taught us have improved the quality of Henry’s life. We are so thankful for Helen’s knowledge, respect, and sense of humor!

Helen, Adam and I wanted to thank you so much. Brady has become a different dog since our privates and since we have started using all the tips you gave us. He no longer lunges at us or bites us!! Also, when other people come over our house he barks at first but then goes right over to say hello! Thank you for not letting me give up on him and helping us all learn together. We are all so much happier!! You are helen wonderful with the animals you work with and I appreciate all you have done for us. Bringing Brady to No Monkey Business and your classes was one of the best decisions we made!

Thanks again!!

– Cassie and Adam and Brady

LOOK NO FURTHER- Helen is the best!!

“Thank goodness for Helen. Harry graduated from Level 1 and is heading for Level 2!!  The improvement is remarkable. Harry, being a French bulldog, can be a little stubborn.  The presentation of strategies, and techniques was clearly explained and demonstrated by Helen. I really appreciated her ability to modify a technique according to Harry’s needs. Harry was so timid his first class but now runs into the class as if he owns the place. He shows so much more confidence. He really had a terrific time in class and so did I! It was fun. I have become much more confident in my own ability to train Harry. Helen was there to support and guide me in my approach in training Harry because honestly, it looks so simple but it can be difficult. With her simple instructions, it made all the difference in how I handled Harry and got him to do what I wanted him to do. I was surprised how much Harry really could do. In learning these new approaches, I have to say that I have a much better relationship with Harry. I am not at a loss as to what to do or the need to question myself if I am doing something wrong. I have effective tools that have made for a much more positive interaction with Harry.”

– Betty

“Before I repeat many of the positive statements made by current and past customers of NMBDT I would like to establish my ‘street cred’. I started going to dog class’ in 1970 and in doing so encountered many self described dog trainers. Most of which were ‘old school’, jerk and release, compulsion based training, taught with a certain arrogance. And even though I titled dogs in agility, almost in …tracking and almost in obedience, It never felt right to me or the dogs I was trying to help. So I started to read about dogs and training and soon discovered, Ian Dunbar, Suzanne Clothier, Pam Reid, Sheila Booth and others who believed that there was a better way to train dogs and people. So when I moved back to NH, I started looking for someone who believed in a type of dog training that was based on a positive relationship with our dogs, taught in low stress environment. To do this I started to ‘observe’ training sessions at the various dog training centers ( 5 to be exact) around Concord. Needless to say, I found that all but one of them still relied on ‘old school’, jerk and release methods and/or were arrogant in that ‘ I know more than you so be quiet’ way. The one exception was Helen Nicholls of NMBDT.

Helen is a rare treasure of a dog trainer. More than just knowledgeable about the subject, she understands how dog and people need to interact to produce a respectful and ‘loving’ relationship. She has enthusiasm for the process and works hard to pass that knowledge along to her customers. If you have a new puppy or a ‘problem child’, you owe it to yourself, your family and your dog, to work with Helen.

My friends: Alex, Sam, Whisper, Zoom, Bella are all deceased and did not have the pleasure of knowing Helen. Qball and Ted who are alive and kicking and have had the pleasure of working with Helen and having me trained to be a better handler.”

“After a terrifying experience with my six month old puppy, Gretl, I immediately contacted Helen Nicholls for help with the resulting phobia. With Helen’s guidance I completely turned Gretl’s behavior around and we are well on our way to the desired end result. What impressed me the most about Helen was how clearly and logically she explained my puppy’s behavior and perspective, as well as the practicality and common sense approach of tools and techniques. Most importantly, I work with dogs myself and she never once made me feel as if I should know better. Professionally, I began to refer clients to Helen, who have had equally positive results.”
-Amanda and Gretl

“My vet referred me to Helen after I expressed concern that my new dog, Benny, whom I had adopted three months earlier, had been growling frequently at my three year old son. I am a new dog owner and didn’t appreciate how serious a situation this was. Thankfully, Helen responded immediately to my call and helped me to understand that, in fact, growling wasn’t at all acceptable and if I didn’t do something, growling could easily escalate to biting, and biting could be very serious indeed.  We met less than a week later.  After only three weeks, I have already seen remarkable improvement in both Benny and me. Benny is becoming the sweet, stable dog that I know he can be.  He no longer growls at my son, even when provoked.  He is even learning to like his crate, after having been quite fearful of it. And, more importantly, I am becoming the confident, self-assured leader that he (and my son) need.  I’m so impressed by Helen’s breadth of knowledge, which she imparts with passion and enthusiasm.  I am especially impressed by her uncanny ability to read dogs.  She is amazing and I am so grateful for her help!”
– Anne, Gabriel and Benny

“Helen, I wanted to thank you for all your help. Brady is doing so well with his leash walking, not barking at every person or dog we meet. I thought I would never be able to walk by bigger dogs and people with Brady without it being a big ordeal. However, now he is watching me instead of barking his head off and being aggressive. Baxter is doing great too, and we’ve learned a lot taking your small dog class. All of us have really benefited from your help, we and our dogs are truly happier…THANK YOU!!”
-Bonnie, Matt, Baxter and Brady

“Helen has been working with our 15-month old German Shepherd Dog, Locksley, and us for almost a year. We first went to her with early puppy issues—pulling on leash, barking, and jumping. With Helen’s help we quickly made progress on all of these issues. More recently we worked with Helen again to get help with Locksley’s out-of-control excitement when seeing other dogs. Locksley recently spent a few days “boarding & training” at Helen’s; when we went to pick him up she had designed a new strategy to deal with his behavior that helped us reach a point where we can walk past other dogs with barely a reaction from Locksley. We have really enjoyed working with Helen; she always explains the rationale behind what she does and we particularly appreciate the behavioral component of her training. Also, Helen’s help doesn’t end when she leaves; she has always followed up on our meetings, checking in to see how we are doing and answering any questions we may have. Helen’s training has made Locksley a better, happier dog and us, better owners.”
-Samara, Andres and Locksley

“Hi Helen, Mike and I just wanted to thank you for all the work you’ve done with Little Bear. He really did great with Merlin and Sweet Pea.
We have signed up for your classes, which Mike will be doing in a few weeks. I recently taught Little Bear “roll over” and I’m working on “speak” to get to “quiet”. Thanks again for your inspiration and expertise.”
-Cleo, Mike and Little Bear

“Watching Helen teach a puppy class is an amazing experience. After a short amount of time, the owners had their puppies responding to commands and the puppies having a good time doing it. With six puppies trying to go six different ways, Helen shows her gift of teaching by showing owners how to take control in a loving manner. Seeing owner’s faces light up when their puppies responded positively was well worth the experience.”
– Kathleen, Russell Animal Hospital

“Mojo came to us from a pet store with potty training problems due to being kept in a kennel for most of his life. With Helen’s instruction and patient guidance Mojo has had only 3 accidents in the first week alone and housetraining has been so much easier. We are all well on our way to a potty free home!
Helen also helped us to curtail Mojo’s late night/early morning crying. I recommend her for any of your dog training issues. Thanks again Helen for all your help and for making our home a healthy and happy one for all!”
– Amber, Kese, Mojo, and Puella

“Lula and Buster, poodle-border collie crosses, were great at playing with each other but frantic about socializing with other dogs when we started with Helen. We’ve just completed level one classes and started level two classes and now they are doing terrifically. At the dog park yesterday another owner commented on how well mannered they are. Thanks, Helen!”
– Robert, Buster and Lula

“We are so grateful for the guidance and help that Helen has provided to us and our 7-month-old labradoodle, Kermit (dressed up here for his first Halloween!).  Helen has done an amazing job of understanding Kermit– his sweetness and his quirks — and helping us learn how best to train and play with him.  She is insightful, creative, and always available for any and all questions.  Working with Helen is a pure pleasure; she knows her stuff through and through.  All three of us are always thrilled when she comes through the door!”
– Leah, Mike and Kermit

“I called Helen several weeks after I got my two month old Belgian Tervuren puppy, Thika. I had a lot of questions and wanted to avoid problems I’d experienced with my previous dog. Helen pointed out normal puppy behavior that Thika would outgrow and areas I needed to address while she was still young. Thika was shy with strangers, so Helen suggested activities to help overcome this. Helen also recommended puppy play group and dog day care to socialize Thika with other dogs.  At seven months, Thika is happy, friendly, confident, much better with strangers and good other dogs. She has her moments so it is reassuring to know Helen is there to help, if needed.
Working with Helen  – her patience, knowledge and positive training methods – has made a big difference in Thika, for which I am grateful.
Equally important, Thika adores her.”
-Nancy and Thika

“Calling Helen was one of the best decisions we have ever made. When Chuckie started biting people that came over the house we thought for sure we would have to find him a new home or worse yet euthanize him. With Helen’s help, guidance, and incredible patience, we have helped Chuckie stop biting and he has become a much better dog to have around. Helen was there for us whenever we needed her and helped us to see that this was not a quick fix like on T.V. Thanks to her, Chuckie will not be going anywhere anytime soon. Thanks Helen!”
-Mark and Chuckie

“Hello Helen; This is a note of appreciation for your help in training my two female Siberian Huskies, Nikki and Sammy.  They both arrived at my home on the same day Nikki 3, Sammy 1, and both totally untrained. Your coaching on the quickest method to get them to behave on a leash was great.  After only weeks of repeated practice, they both no longer lunged, pulled, or tugged on the leash; making walks much more enjoyable; and they behaved just as well on the leash for our 3 mile runs. After six months or so, Nikki started displaying some aggression towards other dogs. I never knew how she would act around other dogs in public places like in town or at the beach.  As you pointed out, my aggressive response of yanking her back, was just making it worse.  Your method really surprised me, and worked perfectly.  I was very happy when Nikki passed your doggie day care test and now loves to play with other dogs. Lastly, after only a year and a half with the dogs, your training techniques brought the biggest surprise.  I always thought Northern breeds are supposed to be independent, runners, and never to be let off leash.  But by following your direction on bonding and the simple system for the “come” command, I now never use a leash on my two acre property. I’m amazed at how well they respond, and how loyal and obedient they have become. I don’t know what the next training opportunity will be; but I’ll be sure to call you.Thanks for your great work,
– John, Nikki, and Sammy

“This is Echo Love Arabella, our little ballerina.  She can run like a gazelle, dance high on her toes, dig holes big enough to hide in, and steal your second sock before you’ve even pulled on your first.  She has a wonderful sense of humor, a joyful personality, and a brilliant little mind that plans and plots ways to torment the cats (who are bigger than she is) and occasionally loses a wrestling or boxing match with one of them—but she’s a good loser and always snuggles up to the winner for a hug.  She loves to show off her bag of tricks, and will run through 5 or 6 really cool activities on command to get the treat and praise that’s always waiting.  Now 7 months, she’s well trained, well socialized, well adjusted, and absolutely adored, and we owe this to Helen’s instruction and guidance.
When we brought Echo home, we hadn’t had a puppy in our life for over 16 years.  Though we brushed up on care and training, we were struggling.  She had some behaviors we had never dealt with, and had no idea how to handle.  I was to have a three month old infant in my care starting when Echo was six months old, so it was crucial for Echo to have confidence, self control, be well bonded with us, and have a 100% success rate following commands.  Within minutes of meeting with us and Echo, Helen determined the issues and gave us the tools we needed that enabled us to have a loving, satisfying, successful puppy experience.  It was amazing to us how quickly Helen was able to spot problem areas in our training program and correct us.  Before she left our home that evening we were already enjoying a great deal of success — within a couple of hours.  She kept in touch with us over the next several weeks to ensure our success continued, and gave us the confidence boost we needed.  We have a wonderful companion, protector, and friend in Echo, and so does baby Emma, thanks to Helen’s program!”
– Echo, Cynthia, and Jon

“Dear Helen,
We want to thank you so much for helping us with Lulu.  Lulu is one of 44 dogs rescued from a horrible hoarding situation in Mont Vernon, NH back in April of this year.  When we brought Lulu home, we knew little about her history other than that she was kept in a small cage with several other dogs for all 3 ½ years of her life.  With absolutely no human socialization, Lulu was an absolute “mess”.  She was considered a “dirty” dog since she didn’t know any better than to go potty where she ate, slept, and played.  We worked consistently with Lulu on housebreaking and easing her into a normal life in a home where pets are loved and cherished.  EVERYTHING was new to Lulu including: grass, vacuum cleaners, cozy beds, toys, and of all things…LOVE!  We never expected that due to her lack of human interaction, our intentions to show her how much we loved her, would scare her silly!  Overwhelmed by the new experiences, Lulu slipped through the door and ran away from home several times.  Once she stayed lost overnight in the woods where coyotes and bears are very real threats.  Another time, she ran off into a busy town center.  Each time, a miracle brought her back to us.  Thanks to your help and expertise, we were able to work together with our Vet to assimilate Lulu into a healthy environment where she now knows she is loved and cared for and happily plays with our two other dogs!!  With a lot of hard work and great tips from you, Lulu is now completely housebroken, and has some basic obedience training under her belt.  We’ve all worked so very hard and we owe it all to you!! Thank you so much for helping us make Lulu a loving “normal” dog.  She’s really come out of her shell and we love her  to pieces!!”
– Kelly, Adam, Lulu, Harley, and Monty

“Buddy started puppy class at 12 weeks of age. It is such an enjoyable experience for us all. Helen’s strong commitment to teaching dog training and modifying behavior problems in a positive fashion makes the class not only very informative but a lot of fun!  Buddy is learning great manners that will not only make him a great pet for his “people”, but for anyone he comes in contact with in the future.  We plan on continuing training with Helen through many of the different levels available!”

– Mark, Joyce and Buddy

“We first started working with Helen about a year ago with our American Pitbull Terrier, Sox. After trying to contact several other trainers, and never getting a call back, we found Helen online. She immediately returned our call and was interested in working with us. Sox had started to become unpredictable towards women and started to show signs of aggression. Given his breed’s reputation, we wanted to stop the problem early so that he could be the great dog we knew he was. After meeting with Helen the first time, we knew she was the trainer for us as she really understands the breed and thought highly of them. Not only that, but she wanted to only use positive training with him once she learned a bit more about what he’s motivated by and how he doesn’t react well to any sort of punishment. The improvements we’ve seen since we’ve started working with Helen are nothing short of amazing. He’s become best friends with one person that he used to be aggressive towards and we no longer worry about bringing people over or telling people what kind of dog he is. He’s even started to walk on leash appropriately, whereas before we’d come back wondering if our shoulders had been pulled out. Hopefully Sox will be earning his CGC Certification in the near future!”
– Ray, Brannigan, and Sox

Hi Helen,
I just wanted to say that there are few people in the world who possess both your kindness and insight. While the are a lot of dog trainers around, none have consistently demonstrated the type of deep knowledge (and the ability to deliver it) that we have experienced with you. Your consistent, seemingly unending kindness is a clear reflection of the commitment you have to the bond that humans and dogs share. The numerous phone calls, the ability to stick with us through our difficult times with our dog Calvin, and the unbridled joy that you have allowed us to experience with our dog Opal, has enriched us beyond what we could have imagined. We now possess new vision in understanding dogs, their communication, their stresses and their joy. The opening of that world has been a rare gift to us. For that we are extremely grateful. ”
– Dan, Janet and Opal

“Hi Helen, Just wanted to tell you that Puddin’ is doing AWESOME! As you know, walking her has been a challenge with the dogs in the neighborhood. But we have seen such a change in her. One night, I met 2 loose dogs and she didn’t react at all! I just give her the cue and she just moves along. We dont even need the treats now! We actually, almost walked with a beagle and his owner last week. She has known Dudley from when he was a puppy and we were within 2 or 3 ft and she was fine. Tonight she wanted to say hi to him!

Last night, a little dog down the road was loose. She is never loose but I think the little girl let her out. Puddin’ has known Gracie for a long time too, and she actually was excited to see her and no aggression, I just kept her moving forward and she was fine!

Tonight was the real test. We were walking in the park and all of a sudden out of nowhere, a white pitbull runs up to Puddin’, He had no collar or leash and he wasn’t aggressive but he ran up to Puddin’s face but she didn’t DO ANYTHING! No growl, no bark, no nothing. He just backed away and his owner called him and he left. He seemed like a nice dog. I actually screamed because he came out of nowhere! A BIG dog and no aggression. I just kept her moving forward. Telling her to “let’s go” seems to work. She almost instinctively knows her limits and will deliberately go in another direction if she sees a dog she can’t deal with. We have brought her to PetSmart and Petco and no issues. I never let her greet another dog but she seems comfortable with a short distance between them.

It is still stressful not knowing when an unleashed dog will come running up to her but at least I think she can handle it better and so can we. Thanks to you, we have tools to work with and confidence to handle most situations.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!”

– Valerie, Owen and Puddin’

“We first consulted with Helen of No Monkey Business in July of 2011 after returning from a vacation from hell for our Boxer. Frasier is timid and nervous when outside of his comfort zone. He had had a bad experience with a boarding/daycare facility, which only intensified his condition. With Helen’s assistance we were able to work with Frasier to minimize his reactions. She did this through teaching us ways to help him avoid stressful situations, keeping him in his comfort zone and by teaching us ways to help him work though some of his fears. Frasier will never have a carefree attitude but by reducing his stress, we have made him much happier and he enjoyed more of his latest vacation to Myrtle Beach.

Then along comes Zimmer, a happy-go-lucky Boxer pup. Temperament, she is the exact opposite of Frasier. She is very friendly and outgoing; however, she is a bit of a wild child with a strong will. She was promptly enrolled into Puppy Kindergarten, then Level 1 and Level 2. She has passed her Puppy CGC and now, we are considering moving her towards becoming a therapy dog. Helen gave us the right set of tools to help her become the dog we knew she was. She still has some maturing to do (she is 14 months old) but she has come along way in one year. Helen is always available by phone or e-mail to provide assistance, give encouragement or act as a sounding board. I have recommended Helen and No Monkey Business and will continue to do so.”
– Julie, Frasier & Zimmer

“Ginger spent the first 7years of her life as a show dog then a mother dog. I adopted her from a breeder when she was too old to have any more puppies.  She had been well cared for, but when she came to live with me, she was very timid.  At White Park one afternoon, the clasp on Ginger’s leash broke. For a few minutes, she was having a grand time running about and exploring and was too distracted to come when called. Others noticed that she had become loose and tried to help. However, with all the commotion, Ginger became frightened.  Although little, she is very fast and she disappeared in the vicinity of Blossom Hill Cemetery. After three days, and with the help of the wonderful women at Granite State Dog Recovery, we were able to find her and bring her home. Naturally, I was fearful of something like this happening again. Fortunately, Helen came to the rescue.  With her help, Ginger was trained to come to a whistle.  I’ve “tested” her at the dog park and she comes running to me at top speed when she hears it. She’ll even respond when someone other than me whistles.  Though her leash now has a heavy clasp I am grateful to Helen for giving me peace of mind if she ever gets loose again.”

-Mary and Ginger

“Our family is raising our pup, Bo, to be a diabetic alert dog (D.A.D) for our 10-year-old son. Our D.A.D. trainer is focused on helping us train Bo to detect and alert on our son’s low and high blood sugars but that’s just one component of his service dog training. The other component, which is equally important, is his obedience and public access training. That’s where Helen is helping us. We meet with her for an hour each week to work on the skills Bo will need to carry out his job in public.

As our pup’s primary trainer, Helen is training me how to train Bo. My experience with her has exceeded all of my expectations. During a recent session with her, I learned the mechanics of how to train Bo to walk with me on a loose leash. Given her experience and skill, Helen’s demonstrations are incredibly graceful and fluid. It takes choreography to get the correct body posture, hand positioning, and marker and reward timing. It wasn’t easy for me. What was really nice however, is how Helen uses positive praise with her humans too! It’s helpful to hear when I’ve gotten it right!”

– Jen and Austin

“We met Helen at Ellie’s first vet appointment, and decided to bring her to puppy social on Sunday mornings to socialize her. I’d had dogs my whole life, and had trained them (mostly successfully) without taking classes. But after a few months on our own, it was clear we were in over our heads with our new puppy. She was sweet and goofy and loving and a holy terror.Every morning at 6, I would leave for work, and she would bark and whine and claw at the door and windows (while my husband, who goes to bed at 4am, was trying to sleep). During the day, while my husband was working, she would shred everything she could get her mouth on (clothes, wallets, throw rugs, ottomans, love seats…). Every night at 9, she would get a sudden burst of energy and start tearing through the house, jumping all over me and biting every part of my body she could reach. We were exhausted and frustrated.

When she was 5 months old, we realized that what we were doing wasn’t working, and we enrolled her into Helen’s Puppy Class. Helen understood everything we were going though. She talked me through tearful phone calls and frustrated emails. She gave us techniques to deal with the separation anxiety. She told us how we could burn up some of her energy during the day with interactive toys and food containers. She helped us teach Ellie to gradually reduce the pressure of her bites. She taught us how to train Ellie in a way that let her be her sweet, goofy, loving, spazzy self. She gave us back our sanity without breaking Ellie’s spirit.

We all loved Helen so much, we took the Level 1 and Level 2 classes, too. Ellie has learned things I didn’t even know I wanted her to do. We went from having a 5 month old puppy who could not even see the other dogs (or people) in the puppy class without losing all concentration, to a year old dog who would stay laying down surrounded by 4 other dogs in the middle of a busy park, and come right to me when I called her. We still have some challenges, and Helen continues to be there for us when we have trouble figuring out what to do. We could not have ask for a better trainer, and we cannot thank her enough.”

-Brandi, Nick & Ellie

“We first met Helen when she assisted us with a wild young Malamute named Rohn that we fostered. Helen helped us to turn him into a lovely gentleman and because of that, Rohn was able to find a forever home with a great young couple and is really happy. So, when we decided to get a pup, it was only natural to turn to Helen for guidance. Since we had not had a puppy for some time, we turned to Helen for advise on how to prepare our home before we even got our pup and then when our girl, Nukka, came home, we enrolled her in Helen’s Puppy Kindergarten class. What a blast that was! There is nothing more adorable than a roomful of puppies and we, and Nukka, thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Kindergarten started Nukka off on the right foot and at Helen’s suggestion we enrolled Nukka in doggy daycare to continue the socialization process. We have now taken Helen’s Level 1 and Level 2 training classes and, as a result of Helen’s guidance, Nukka has developed into a sweet and calm young dog who, despite being only 8 months old, is welcome everywhere we go because of her lovely manners. We wholeheartedly recommend Helen as a talented trainer, her enthusiasm and love for her work is very evident. She LOVES dogs and they love her right back! We will without a doubt return to take other fun classes with Helen.”

– Chris and Greg and Nukka

“Delilah, my German Shepherd and I came to No Monkey Business when Delilah was 6 months old. We started level one with a very reactive shepherd who needed to be behind a screen for the first 7 weeks of class. However, by the start of the next session, Delilah was able to be “part of the group”, with no screen at all. Now in level 2 we are able to move among other dogs and learn new skills with ver…y little reactivity. In my humble, honest opinion, this wouldn’t have been possible with out the gentle, non stressful approach to her training. We can even go to the vets calmly now and everyone comments what a change they see. Through positive reinforcement based training and Helen’s fun approach to learning, Delilah is learning to be a good canine citizen. In fact, we hope to test for her CGC soon. Please, if you have a larger breed dog, do not assume it means you need any other method of training other than a gentle, positive reinforcement, happy style of training for them. Any dog, I believe, will thrive with this style of training. Thank you Helen, for all that you do for dogs of all sizes and breeds and their humans. I know Delilah and I appreciate it. ”

– Elizabeth and Delilah

“My husband and I had waited a long time to adopt a dog. Well before Bear was in our home we had heard amazing things about No Monkey Business Dog Training and decided Helen needed to be part of our dog owning experience. The high praise we had heard fell short of what NMBDT helped us learn about our new furry family member. For example, in our Level 1 obedience class we learned that Bear has some sound aversion issues- cues I had been missing by not reading my dog’s body language correctly – and how to help remedy them. Through our entire process of working with Helen she has proven to have a heart of gold and a generous amount of patience. With her help we were able to integrate our adult adopted dog into our home successfully and are now preparing him for our newest arrival- our first child. Helen has opened my eyes as to what it means for a dog to be comfortable in their surroundings- even after having dogs in my family my whole life. I learn something from her every time we’re together and it only makes me a better dog owner. We are so grateful for her knowledge and availability when times get tough. I recommend NMBDT to every dog owner I meet. It is the best investment you can make in keeping your home safe, healthy and happy for all of your family members- especially the fuzzy ones.”

-Sarah and Bear

“I was living with a dog and if I’m being honest, I hated her. For almost two years straight I was cleaning up pee at least once a day. If I pet her, she peed, told her to sit she peed, asked her to lay down she peed, you get the picture. Her only saving grace was that my son loved her. I was at my wits end and finally called Helen. After her positive training we have been pee free for two months, which to some may not seem like long but to us it’s a miracle! A few weeks ago I realized I harbored no ill feelings towards her anymore. I was actually enjoying and loving my dog for the first time. There was a release of stress in my house I had no idea we were all holding onto. Khaleesi is a much happier dog after the training! The only regret I have is that we did not call Helen sooner. As my husband said to me whatever you are paying her she’s worth it!”

– Kristen, Peter and Grayson

I had the privilege of observing the Reactive Rover series and was very impressed. Helen is a gifted and knowledgeable trainer… not only of dogs but of people, too! She is able to take a very serious and stressful problem and make the solution simple and fun. The techniques that Helen teaches show her compassion and love for animals as well as the depth of her expertise. If you have a reactive dog and are looking for someone to help you help your beloved pet, don’t hesitate to call Helen!~Sara Hunter, Sandy’s Pet Food Center

“Helen, Thank you for making our Puppy class so much fun! We are so grateful for all the advice in helping our family transition from two to three dogs and helping us open our eyes to the great world of ‘small dogs’. It’s so wonderful knowing that if we have any problems, you are happy to help us out. We’re so proud of our newest addition and are incredibly pleased with what a well-rounded puppy Frodo is becoming. We were definitely sad to see the end of the puppy classes, but just look at how cute he is in his cap and gown! Thanks again,”

– Casey, Sara, Madison, Midge & Frodo