Testimonials

Clare and Winnie The Lab

"Taking on a new puppy, especially with a couple of oldies already living in the house, felt overwhelming at times. We wanted the best for Winnie but we didn't want to upset Duke and Nala either.

Then along came Helen, already recommended to us by another Wainwright's Canine Academy graduate. From the get-go, Helen was superb. She has an abundance of love for dogs. She speaks their language, she communicates their thoughts and she is instrumental in developing a rewarding relationship between dog and owner. The Platinum Puppy Package was fantastic. We loved the private sessions and we appreciated the email support throughout.

Thank you Helen. We know we can confidently go forward and continue to give Winnie the best start in life."

Jo and Beaudi the german sheperd

"Life with Beaudi became increasingly stressful after Covid, and a bad experience on a walk left her feeling nervous around other dogs and unsettled when people came into our home. Walks were no longer enjoyable, and it was clear she wasn’t comfortable in her world.

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I already knew Helen and trusted her completely, so asking for her help felt like the right step. From the very start, Helen was calm, kind and incredibly reassuring. Her one-to-one sessions, especially the clicker training and structured walks, helped Bodie feel safe and confident again.

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The biggest difference now is Bodie herself. She’s more relaxed, more settled and far happier. Working with Helen was a genuinely positive experience, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her to anyone needing support with their dog." Read more of Beaudi's story here.

Mike and Murphy the rescue

"My pal Murphy is a rescued dog from Romania and from day one has been terribly nervous. He reacts very badly to dogs he doesn't know, barking and lunging.

Helen from WCA has helped us over a few sessions. I feel much more confident of what to do in different circumstances when out walking with Murphy as a result of the training Helen has given me.

Murphy, though still not perfect has improved a lot and I am hopeful that as he matures and with our help he will become a calmer dog. I have really enjoyed the lessons, Helen is very patient and understanding, I would strongly recommend WCA to other dog owners who have a few problems with their canine pal."

Jeni and Ru the lockdown pup

"Ru is a lockdown pup and had very little socialisation when she was young. Along with a couple of scary experiences, meant she was quite nervous around new things, some people and large dogs.

Helen worked with Ru in the most loving and kind way, which helped her grow her confidence in new situations. Helen also helped me recognise when she’s feeling anxious or scared and find ways to help her deal with those in a more positive way. For example, Ru was really scared of bikes and would bark at all cyclists. Now, when she sees a cyclist ahead, she turns to look at me, moves in close, and walks calmly by.

This has made our walks so much more enjoyable and we are both much more relaxed. Thanks Helen, I don’t think this review sums up the difference you’ve made, but I know we both enjoy the difference, every single day."

Craig and Ragnar the German Shepherd

"We (my wife, our four-year-old male German Shepherd, Ragnar, and I) met Helen at exactly the right time. We had reached a point where walking Ragnar was a source of constant stress, he reacted to everything, and I felt like I was doing the same. It had stopped being enjoyable and started feeling like we were the neighbourhood menace, constantly avoiding people and dogs. From the very first session, Helen took the time to truly understand our situation. She provided clear, practical advice and developed a structured plan tailored to Ragnar and our needs. The goal wasn’t just about controlling behaviour - it was about building our confidence and creating an environment where Ragnar could succeed. The sessions were thoughtfully planned around our schedule and delivered in a calm, supportive way. With simple, effective techniques and her patient guidance, we learned how to manage situations proactively and stop problems before they started. By the end of our sessions, we felt confident, hopeful, and most importantly, connected with our dog again. We can now enjoy walks without dread, and Ragnar is thriving."

Janice and Jonny the Mixed Breed

"I have been doing Scent work with Helen for a couple of years now, first with my hyper cocker & then Jonny passed his course in November.

Helen is super to work with, has endless patience with both the owners & the dogs. She understands the difficulties some dogs face and tweaks things to suit the dog working at the time. Scent work is good for overactive dogs or dogs that see the world as a scary place.

Jonny is scared of most things, but the way Helen helped him through his scent course gave him confidence that not all is bad. He even gave her a good sniff, which is a huge step forward.

I recommend scent work with Helen to any dog at all, with or without issues."

Pam and Cara the Beagle

Cara’s true enthusiasm for this sport (and for seeing Helen) surfaces as soon as I get our gear together for a trailing session; she becomes excited, rushes to the door and is eager to get into the car. 

Trailing has helped Cara to maintain focus when she is ‘working’; quite a challenge for an easily distracted beagle. She loves receiving her ‘treats’; but is always giddy with joy at receiving praise from the person she has ‘found’, me and of course Helen. Trailing has helped build on my and Cara’s 1:1 relationship; it has helped us both gain in confidence as we work together as Team Cara.

Trailing ‘ticks’ all the boxes for Cara, and for me…. It is THE best of fun… I can wholeheartedly recommend Helen as a Trainer, and Mantrailing as a sport for anyone who enjoys spending time with their dog, whatever the breed, in the outdoors.