If your dog pants, paces, trembles, hides, drools or panics during storms, understanding why those behaviours occur is the first step toward helping them cope more effectively.
I Train the Dog’s Brain — Not Just the Behaviour
My approach comes from decades of training service dogs, where a dog can't simply be taught what to do — the dog needs to think, make appropriate decisions and understand what is happening around them.
I don't just fix behaviour problems after they happen. I work to prevent them by teaching dogs to think for themselves and respond appropriately to the world around them.
Over the years, I have also helped people change what they believed they were capable of doing. For example, I worked with a person with MS, using the dog and my Paw by Paw method to help her walk farther and for longer while training her service dog to work with her.
I've also taken on service-dog situations other trainers said wouldn't work. In one case, the dog's owner had four dogs in the home and wanted the most submissive one to become her service dog. I taught that dog to become confident, think independently and take the lead when necessary — including figuring out how to move the other dogs out of the way so it could complete its job.
I don't simply teach a dog what to do. I teach the dog to understand what is needed, think for itself and figure out how to respond. I guide the dog into the behaviour needed rather than relying on a rigid, one-size-fits-all training approach.
That's particularly important with service dogs, where the dog must be able to work with its person and respond appropriately when circumstances change.
And when there is a behaviour problem, I don't just correct what the dog is doing. I look at what is driving the behaviour and work with the dog's brain to change the response.
Behaviour problems don't happen without a reason.
Whether your dog is fearful of thunderstorms or fireworks, reacts to other dogs or people, barks excessively, jumps on visitors, struggles with grooming, or suddenly begins behaving differently, these behaviours are often driven by patterns that aren't immediately obvious.
At Howell's Canine Method, I begin by identifying what is influencing your dog's behaviour before recommending a course of action.
Rather than focusing only on the behaviour you can see, I assess factors including stress, environmental triggers, learning history, behavioural patterns and handler interactions.
Every assessment is tailored to the individual dog because no two behavioural cases are exactly alike.
My goal is to help you understand what is influencing your dog's behaviour so you can make informed decisions and move forward with a clear direction.
With over 40 years of hands-on canine experience, my approach focuses on behavioural understanding before behaviour change.
Clarity first. Understanding second. Behaviour change follows.
Every puppy and every family is different.
My Puppy Prevention program is tailored to your goals while building the foundations for a confident, well-adjusted dog.
Whether you want reliable household manners, obedience skills, tricks, or a future service dog prospect, the program is customized to you and your puppy.
I also help owners recognize and prevent common behaviour problems before they become established.
Whether you already have a dog or are looking for the right one, I can help.
I assess existing dogs for service-dog suitability, assist with selecting appropriate candidates when needed, and provide customized guidance throughout the training process to help develop a reliable working partnership.
Over 40 years of hands-on canine experience
🐾 Behaviour assessment before recommending solutions
🐾 Individual guidance tailored to your dog's behaviour
🐾 Focus on understanding the factors influencing behaviour, not simply the symptoms
🐾 Calm, structured, practical approach
🐾 Virtual behavioural assessments
🐾 Clear explanations without confusing jargon
🐾 Service dog suitability assessment and training guidance
🐾 Puppy and dog selection based on temperament, suitability and individual needs
Book your $250 Behavioural Assessment and take the first step toward understanding what is influencing your dog's behaviour and determining the appropriate next steps.
