Helping Pets Behave

We adopted a stray who had been injured for an extended period of time and who likely had very little socialization with people. He has a lot of fear aggression with people. We began working with Mary in early June 2026, 5 weeks after rear amputation. Mary has given us specific, bite-sized training homework in progressive stages. Changing our dog's feelings and associated behaviors is a slow process; however, we've seen progress and believe we are on a productive path toward a more confident dog. We are the ones getting trained, and we'll carry this knowledge forward to future dogs. I feel more knowledgeable and empowered to help my dog.

Mary is truly a God-send for me and my sweet, anxious pup! Before Mary we tried training and anxiety meds which helped a little, but I knew there was more to Belle's life than just staying home and playing in the backyard. She feared the outside world! Mary developed a plan to help Belle trust me, come to me when afraid, and little by little realize the outside world can be okay. With Mary's help we are still working on it, but the changes in Belle after a week, and now going on three months have been life changing for her. I have every confidence that Belle will be able to take a walk outside without so much fear very soon. I couldn't speak more highly of Mary. Besides her obvious love of animals, her expertise in knowing and changing animal behavior is amazing. She also is very compassionate about the owner too, knowing we go through it as well. Also, so importantly are the regular follow-up calls where we talk about how Belle is doing, things that have come up, changes in Belle's behavior and how to keep encouraging Belle and also pushing her past her comfort zone. Priceless. :)

I have taken some time before writing this review, as I did not want to leave a bad review, but I really believe that people should be aware before coming to this person for help. I have a large dog (85 lbs) who is fearful and reactive with nail trimmings, at the vet, and on walks. I had already worked with him at length on the leash before I had taken him to Mary, but I still was hoping to get him less reactive on his leash, but more importantly, be able to put a muzzle on him and reduce his stress with the vet. In my paperwork and over the phone I informed Mary that he has bit a vet tech and my boyfriend, when we have tried to trim nails or do vaccines at the vet and that he gets very VERY upset. Her first suggestion was to put a snoot loop on him, to which I explained that he won't like that because he will believe that it is a muzzle, because he is a dog and he doesn't understand the difference. She then insisted that it is necessary because he needs equipment for training, despite the fact that I showed up with a pinch collar that he is familiar with and it clearly does not stress him out. The next 40 minutes were spent with her insisting on forcing different pieces of equipment on him, as he continued to become more upset and eventually bite me. While this was happening she continued to tell me that I should not flinch, as my dog turns to snap at me and try to bite me. Eventually she suggested restraining my dog against the wall with his leash and his ID collar by putting the leash through a D ring and pulling his head against the wall. Then using a piece of furniture for her to hide behind while I press into him and try to force his original prong collar back on him. This did not work and he eventually was so worked up that I could not even put his prong collar on (this has never been an issue in the entire history of owning this dog). The next step was to work with him without any equipment which he did very well (walking back and forth in the room and sitting in front of Mary.) Once he finally calmed down, I was able to put the collar back on and we worked a little with a fake dog in the room. The session went over by at least 20 minutes and Mary said she gave me a discount because I am a nice person. At the end of the session she told me that my dog was not fit to go outside, which was obviously incredibly upsetting and apparently untrue, as I have been taking him on walks as well as leaving him home with my other dog and cat, a dog trainer to watch them, and her own personal dog for 5 nights, to which that trainer had very different feedback about my dog. (Such as; he is a sweet boy, total goofball, super loving, not terrifying, and is absolutely allowed outside). I reached out to Mary after the appointment to explain why I was disappointed in how the session went and also ask for my money back. I had to take a day off of work for this appointment and also had to pay $467. Losing a full day of work (I actually missed two days because after this traumatic experience I stayed home the next day) in addition to this charge ended up costing more like $1,200. She did not seem to understand where she went wrong and defended her actions. She insisted that I had asked for information to get reimbursement from my insurance, and that she is willing to pay me back what the won't cover. I did not ask for this information, as I did not think it would be covered. It is evident that she is not willing to hear her clients when they are upset, or when the give feedback. I would not suggest seeing Mary for help if you have a large dog, whose background is unknown and can become fearful and try to bite when scared. If you are looking for fear free training, you will not receive that here.

Mary has been an incredible guide for both Riku and me on our training journey. As a newer dog owner, I was looking for someone who could meet us where we were, and Mary has done exactly that with warmth, kindness, and genuine care. From day one, she took the time to understand both my dog’s needs and my own, helping us build a strong foundation based on trust, confidence, and clear communication. Her force-free training methods have given me peace of mind, knowing that I am making choices that support Riku’s well-being while strengthening our bond. What stands out most about Mary is that she is more than just a trainer—she is a teacher, mentor, and guide. She celebrates progress, helps navigate challenges without judgment, and empowers both dog and owner to succeed. In just one month, I have seen remarkable growth in Riku’s confidence, ability to regulate himself, and overall happiness. I am incredibly grateful for Mary’s support and expertise, and I am excited to continue this journey with her. I can’t wait to see what more Riku can achieve under her guidance. I would wholeheartedly recommend Helping Pets Behave to anyone looking for compassionate, effective, and truly dog-centered training.