Shelmar Kennels

If you're looking for a knowledgeable, patient, and genuinely caring dog trainer, I can't recommend Martin highly enough. We came to him with a dog that struggled with leash walking and reactivity, and we honestly weren't sure how much progress was possible. From our very first session, it was clear that he had an incredible understanding of dog behavior and knew exactly how to tailor his approach to our dog's specific needs. What impressed me most was his calm, confident demeanor. He never made us feel judged or overwhelmed, and he took the time to explain not only what to do but why it worked. His ability to read our dog's body language and make small adjustments that led to big improvements was remarkable. Beyond his expertise, he's simply a pleasure to work with—professional, encouraging, patient, and clearly passionate about helping both dogs and their owners succeed. His training methods are effective, practical, and built on developing a trusting relationship with your dog. If you're dealing with leash pulling, reactivity, or any behavioral challenges, I wholeheartedly recommend him. The investment has been worth every penny, and we're incredibly grateful for everything he's done for us and our dog.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ We sent our golden retriever puppy to Martin for a board and train program, and the difference is night and day. She came home calmer, more focused, and genuinely respectful of the people in our home. Martin did a masterful job teaching her that humans aren't part of the litter — she now understands boundaries and looks to us for direction instead of treating everything like playtime. What sets Shelmar apart is that Martin doesn't just train the dog — he trains the owners too. On delivery day he spent almost two hours with us walking through everything, and his facilities are gorgeous. He also sent us home with a helpful book covering schedules, commands, and how to keep the training on track, and he offered to help us down the road if we ever run into any issues. We're already planning to use Shelmar for boarding the next time we need to get out of town. If you're in the Katy/Houston area and want real, lasting results, I can't recommend Martin and Shelmar Kennels enough.

We had such a wonderful experience with our dog’s 3-week behavioral training program! The difference in him from before training to when he came home is truly amazing.He came back like a new dog—with a completely new attitude, better behavior, and so much more responsiveness. The owners are incredibly kind, caring, and knowledgeable, and we felt comfortable knowing our dog was in good hands throughout his stay.You can tell they genuinely care about the dogs they work with and put a lot of time and effort into the training. We are so happy with the results and would highly recommend this facility to anyone looking for behavioral training for their dog. We are incredibly grateful for everything they did for our family and our pup!

Martin was absolutely amazing with our puppy! We all know Basset Hounds can be incredibly stubborn, so with only two weeks of training, I honestly didn’t have very high expectations. I couldn’t have been more wrong. When it was time for pickup, Martin asked us to bring the entire family—including our three children (ages 10, 4, and 2). Seeing the transformation in our puppy was so emotional. Even my 4- and 2-year-olds were able to walk her on a leash! She wasn’t jumping on us anymore, she was calm, attentive, and genuinely seemed so happy. Since bringing her home, the improvements have continued. She no longer barks in her crate, she actually enjoys her walks, listens to commands, and even goes to the door when she needs to go potty. I am beyond grateful for everything Martin did. He didn’t just train our puppy—he gave our family peace of mind. I no longer worry about my little ones getting accidentally knocked over or feeling scared because of the barking. We can finally relax and truly enjoy having our puppy as part of our family. Thank you so much, Martin. We couldn’t be happier, and I would recommend your training to anyone looking for real, lasting results.