Helping Hounds Training

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Introduction: As the largest force-free training company in the St. Louis Metro area, Helping Hounds Training is proud to serve our community of dog owners. Our trainers are experienced and welcome all breeds of dog into our programs. Custom-tailored training plans - We will create a training plan based on your dog's needs, and your goals for you dog. In-home training - We will work with you to teach your dog the skills you want him to know. K9 Kabana and HHT are proud to offer the ONLY exclusively force-free Day Training and Board N Train programs in the St. Louis area! Day training - In Your Home or at K9 Kabana - Are you too busy working long hours or caring for young children to train your dog yourself? Let us train your dog for you! Once your dog's training plan is complete, we will teach you how to maintain your dog's new skills. At K9 Kabana your dog will play in Day Kamp while not practicing with the trainer. Let your dog learn and play with us! Board N Train - K9 Kabana - We invite your dog to be our guest at K9 Kabana for 3 weeks of training and Day Kamp. While you're on vacation or hard at work, we'll see to your dog's every need and teach him basic manners. Group classes and educational seminars available at K9 Kabana. Full class descriptions and fees can be found on our website.

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6 employees

14 years in business

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Reviews

5.0

3 reviews

100%

Sheila R.

Jun 28, 2014

My company produces large expos for pet lovers across the country. As a result, Ive met literally thousands of dog trainers, from Anchorage to Miami and Boston to San Francisco - and gotten more advice than Id like from many of them. I can confidently say that Erin Wigginton, owner and head trainer of Helping Hounds Training, is one of the very best and she quite literally changed our lives. I originally reached out to Erin because my canine soulmate, Enzo, had become fear reactive and I knew it was only a matter of time until someone was seriously injured by him; hed become a very dangerous dog and could no longer be trusted. Even though I had originally been working with another trainer, who talked a lot about rehabilitation and being balanced, dog psychology, being the pack leader and making sure I was the alpha, the original problems I had sought help for (Enzo behaving like a normal six-month teenage brat), ended up becoming much much worse. One of the first things that this trainer did was fit Enzo for a pinch collar and the second thing that he did was show me how to properly snap the lead to correct any undesirable behavior or even to prevent an anticipated unwanted behavior. I really hated how Enzo yelped with each correction. When I expressed concern, I was told that it was simply doggie drama" and that the collar didnt really hurt him; it was just like the correction that a mother dog gives her puppies and it was meant to get his attention - that if I didnt buck up and start acting like a pack leader, like the human alpha I should be, Enzo would turn into a monster. According to the trainer, the problem wasnt with Enzo at all - the problem was with me. In the meantime, Enzo started displaying some new and scary behaviors, like lunging and growling at strangers and anything human in shape, including sculptures and statues, and no longer enjoyed his daily walks. And he absolutely terrified of his trainer - like pee on himself when the trainer arrives scared. I decided that I didnt care about any theory or rehabilitation, I cared about Enzos well-being, so I fired our trainer and began searching for options that I hoped could help make Enzo whole again. The more I read, the more I learned, the more (legitimate) canine behavior experts I spoke to, I came to realize that Enzo wasnt being trained by his former trainer, he was being bullied, terrorized and abused. After a ton of research on Helping Hounds and their training methods, I thought that they might be the answer to our prayers. Erin was a very different type of trainer and proved to be everything that I had hoped for: patient, understanding, kind and respectful of Enzos needs. Enzo loved her immediately - and most importantly - Erin loved him right back. As a result of her patient work with building Enzos confidence and educating both of us on how to better understand one another, my boy is now a happy and healthy canine who no longer lives in constant fear of strangers. Erin believed in him and believed in us and I cant even tell you how much that means to me - and Enzo. I made some big mistakes - HUGE mistakes - with Enzos early training and may never get over the guilt; I can promise you that if you introduce Erin to your own best friend, youll be nothing but happy and your canine companion will thank you for it.

Debi K.

Jul 18, 2011

Erin is a wonderful trainer and LOVES animals! She is very instructive to myself, the adult caretaker of my dog and my mini dachshund just loves her! Definetly would recommend her for your animal needs. She will also give you general information on your breed of dog. I have known her over 15 years and can not say enough good things about her. Definetly give her a call for your Pet training needs!

Gale F.

Jul 18, 2011

Helping Hounds is awesome. Erin is a positive based trainer that anaylizes the situation and finds positive ways to correct behavior. She has a great ability to educate the humans so they can learn to reinforce positive behavior of the dogs. Most bad behaviors of dogs are created by humans. Erin is great with all dogs. I met Erin many years ago when she adopted an abused pit bull from Phoenix Pack. She has taken abused animals, gave them new confidence, and was able to obtain Good Canine Citizenship. I highly recommend Helping Hounds.

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What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a provider in your area of work?
Make sure that when you are looking for a private dog trainer that you get along well with him or her. If you don't feel you can trust the trainer your experience will suffer. Look for honesty, openness and experience. Also feel free to ask for references from past/current clients. Any trainer worth working with will happily provide them.

Helping Hounds Training

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