In Kirsty's own words...

•  What made you decide to start working with me, and where were you at with your dog when we first began working together?

We decided to reach out to a behavioural therapist due to buzz our 1 year old German shepherd taking a turn, he’s always been a playful puppy and then he started growling at my husband. To the point it was getting us down, we were heartbroken and thinking at one point for the sack of our young children we would need to re home buzz. We were recommended a few behavioural therapists and Helena’s background made us choose her and we couldn’t have been more grateful. 

• What were some of the biggest hurdles during the process?

Having to accept that buzz, and some dogs do just suffer with different behavioural changes and that can and has been managed by medication. Buzz is still young and we didn’t want to feel like we did this to quick and doubted that a lot but spent a lot of time talking this through with Helena who reassured us that every dog is different - just like humans and this made us look at it differently. 

• How did you find the support and guidance during the mentorship?

Second to none - even to the point that I was so excited to share photos and videos of our boy doing amazing. Our most recent being of buzz out enjoying the sunshine and playing in the field with my husband and children. Helena also supported us through all vet consultations, animal hospital visits etc. on one occasion buzz required a CT scan under sedation and due to his anxious behaviours he also took medications prior to the visit, this was all set up and supported by Helena and we are very grateful as we were worried about how he would react. 

• Have you seen any changes in your dog’s behaviour since working together?

So many - buzz is playful and fun and so much calmer in a few short months. To now think we ever considered re homing him seems wild to us as he’s part of our family and he now sits and cuddles up to my husband like he used too, they walk and run together too. Buzz is also so excited to see my husband when he gets home which for a short period of time he wouldn’t greet him at the door. 

• ⁠What have you learned about your dog?

That he needs time alone to relax, we have young children which causes a loud busy household and due to me being on maternity leave I wouldn’t leave a lot and I now make sure even if it’s 30 minutes that we give buzz some time alone each day to get some time to relax.  We have also learned that he isn’t our old dog - he is different, like every dog, and that he just needed a bit of support and continued support through medication to help ease his anxiety’s. We have understood this so well with Helena and it’s now routine everyday and we have a much happier house hold. 

• ⁠What’s been your favourite part about working together?

So much, Helena made us feel like friends. Sharing stories of her own pets and also giving us the space to talk about our first dog which I think we held a lot of memories from and made it difficult to come to terms with at first that buzz was different. Helena always chased any questions from other animal professionals that we needed and would update us as soon as she heard. Helena from the get go was so approachable, calm, professional and was able to ask very open questions to help us dig deeper into what we needed help with. 

A message just from us - Helena thank you, Buzz is part of our family and the fact that you helped us in a time which we were struggling so much, we are forever grateful. Tom, Kirsty, Autumn, Tommy and Buzz x