No Monkey Business Dog Training (NMBDT) Does not fall into the crippling affects of society, where instant gratification is the norm. Helen St. Pierre not only puts in the time and energy to help everyone she sees whether in a class or private setting, but she also trained her "helpers" to be just as educated as she is. She helps them become Nationally certified trainers so her clients not only have access to her but also have several other people ready to help and offer advice. I have two "Pit Bulls" a three year old and a one year old. To say I've spend a lot of hours with the NMBDT team is an understatement, but every second was necessary in the process with both of my dogs. My oldest has fear aggression with other dogs due to being attacked at 12 weeks old by a DEMO dog at another training faculty. This is what brought me to NMBDT. Helen and her team didn't shy away from the words "pit bull" or "aggression", they treated my dog like every other dog in the class. They told me that the progress that my dog could make would be all on how much effort I put in to training him. We did two level 1, three level 2, and several privates. Helen never gave false hopes to how my pup would turn out to be. She never guaranteed the outcome, but gave me all the tools and knowledge I needed to give my dog positive outings. In two years we learned and sit, down, stay, go to your mat, wait, leave it, here, public greeting with adults and children, loose leash walking, how to react when he saw another dog and to do all the commands in any situation. None of these task were easy to accomplish with a dog who didn't want to be around other dogs, but together we worked alone then in a class where he could see other dogs and know that he wasn't going to be charged or harmed in any way. Today (remember this dog is three years old now) I have a very well trained dog who impresses people but make no mistake we still train together everyday. My youngest who is one years old, I adopted. She is a spit fire and once she was comfortable in my house her true colors started to show. She is in every way a loving, independent, queen BEE. And for a second I was unsure if having her was the best thing for not only her but also for my oldest dog. Now of course I had her in classes ( puppy kindergarten, and Level 1) at NMBDT taught Brandi and Katie (both are nationally certified trainers) who are incredible. In the puppy kindergarten Brandi quickly saw that I have been working with my dog before classes started and gave us more challenging things to do such as puppy push ups, and sit, down, stays from a distance. We use these skills to help her know what actions are the correct and incorrect ways to interact with my older dog. Now today I have two dogs who stumbled through training with me, who learned how to be a positive member of society with me ( trust me I needed it too), they taught me life skills and I did the same for them. But this story wouldn't have a happy ending without the team at NMBDT. They make dreams become reality. And I couldn't be happier with them! They have a client for LIFE!! read more

In the hands of any other trainer, Isis would have failed, bitten, and been euthanized. At 5 months old, Isis was diagnosed with Global fear, generalized anxiety, conflict aggression, and zero coping skills. She learned early on the best offense is a good defense. Her behavioral report was 8 pages of "good luck with that." Other dogs, people, even putting on a leash would elicit a fearful reaction from Isis that often involved growling, snapping, or crying in fear. Enter Helen. She knew the old, outdated, and completely useless adage of "treat to train, correct to proof" would have been an epic fail for Isis. That first correction would have set Isis up to never trust me, and always question her ability to make her own choices, and possibly retaliate. We did positive reinforcement, practice practice practice, and at the first sign of Isis being overwhelmed, we ended on a win, and stopped there instead of "pushing through" forcing Isis to get through a hard situation and reinforcing her belief the world is a scary place. Helen also didn't sugar coat the truth, Isis would be a full time job raising her and getting her comfortable in her own skin. She even said I would be within my province to send Isis back to the breeder as Isis was NOT the dog I wanted. But if i was up to it, Helen would be there, holding her paws and cheering us on with every accomplishment and supporting us if there was a setback. Fast forward 5 years. True to her word, Helen continues to be there for us. When Isis broke through two doors and fled the house when a hale storm went through while we were gone, Helen helped us find Isis. When Isis was a teenager, Helen was there with the tools for mental stimulation and reminder she's a working breed, it's up to us as humans to give her that purpose for which she was bred. Today, Isis has the confidence to work through hard situations, ignore other dogs that are beneath her (that's all other dogs, she is in fact the princess) and best of all, she trusts us. Nothing bad will happen to her as long as she has her humans to guide her. Helen teaches you to work with your dog, communicate with your dog, partner WITH your dog. Are treats involved? Absolutely. But do you work for free? No! Why should your dog? Helen teaches the invaluable lesson of trust. Your dog will trust you with the lessons Helen will teach you. A dog taught to obey for fear of punishment will never trust you, and you never know, in that crucial moment when your dog needs you the most, if she will make the wrong choice because she fears your reaction of a correction. read more

For over 10 years, I have suffered from PTSD and all that it comes with. As the years have gone on, my symptoms grow and change, mostly getting worse. I find social settings to be very difficult and overwhelming. I have a very difficult time navigating basic things like my daily commute, trips to the grocery store (or any other store), and I even struggle to enjoy places and events such as movie theaters, concerts, fairs, etc. While I have found many ways that help me cope (temporarily) with these issues, none have been as successful as having my emotional support dog, Molly, with me wherever I go, and I have no one to thank except Helen for that. From the first day that I mentioned to Helen that I wanted to explore getting Molly certified, she has been nothing but phenomenal. She explained everything that needed to be done, how I needed to go about getting Molly trained and how she needed to act/respond to all different types of situations, and also what was required of me. While it was a lot of hard work, Helen was still there with us every step of the way, even if it was just to answer a quick question that I had, or if I needed even bigger advice. I have known and worked with Helen for over three years now, and I cannot emphasize enough, how knowledgeable, kind, compassionate, caring, and personable Helen is. The passion she has for helping dogs (actually all animals) is very evident the moment you step through the NMBDT doors, and regardless of what training you may be there for, Helen never gives up and always strives to find the best solution possible for both dog and owner. Now that I have Molly by my side every day, I feel such a sense of relief that I haven't felt in over a decade. While I still have my symptoms, my life is so much more manageable than it has ever been, and I have even started to enjoy some places/things/events that I haven't been able to for quite some time, and Molly and I owe this all to Helen. So if you were thinking of possibly going to visit Helen because you're curious about getting training for your dog, whether you just want your dog to sit on command, or you are in need of more serious training, please don't think about it. Just go to Helen. read more

My puppy just turned 10 months old this week. In honor of surviving 8 months of puppy-hood together, I wanted to take a moment to thank Helen, and her amazing team at NMBDT, for their time, patience and unending laughter as I navigate learning to live with an alien... I mean an adolescent puppy! A few lessons I have learned from Helen: 1. Good humans yield good dogs. 2. Sometimes the good humans and their dogs need coaching and that's ok! 3. Everyone needs to get paid for doing a good job. 4. Paying is all about timing....make sure you pay on time! 5. Love the dog your with... stop dreaming of the perfect dog...he will get there! 6. It's not a competition and good things will happen to those who wait, and grow and mature....don't be in rush. 7. When all else fails, take a step back and say out loud what your dog is thinking! For example,"But Mom, I just really want to eat the cat...right this very minute!" Helen does this better than anyone...it's hilarious and always spot on! 8. If you talk to your puppy in a stern voice all the time...when you really NEED a stern voice...he won't know the difference. (ok, ok, I'm working on it!!) 9. Practice, practice, practice...but remember...practice makes permanent....so, be careful what you practice. 10. There is always something to celebrate....so celebrate often and do it with gusto! Helen is an absolute ray of sunshine. Anyone can study animal behavior and call themselves a trainer. Her true gift, and what separates Helen from all other trainers, is combining her extensive education (I mean ...EXTENSIVE!) along with her keen, natural intuition regarding people AND animals, and how to connect them. The icing on top.....she does it kindly, gently, and with a fantastic sense of humor! Just meet her and you will know instantly what I am talking about. Thanks, Helen. read more

I found NMB when I needed to enroll in puppy training with my french bulldog puppy. Having never taken formalized "dog training" classes, I was not sure to what to expect. What I found were really passionate, professional and patient people who want to help you and your dog. The staff have experience and knowledge, they look forward to working with you and your dog. It is very clear that they really do love what they do and their enthusiasm is infectious. I always leave class feeling that we are making progress and energized to work on our "homework" and practice what we have learned. The staff are encouraging and engaging and the classes are well organized in a safe environment. I had not planned on furthering our "education" or training after puppy class, but found my dog and I really enjoy training, so we have continued through additional levels. My goal has never been "perfection", it has been to have a deeper understanding of my dog, help him with his growth and fit into our family and home. We have progressed and he has obtained his Canine Good Citizen certification, with a goal to volunteer in the community together. I now have another young dog enrolled in class, with a completely different personality, requiring different techniques. The staff observes and makes suggestions/helps/advises in a thoughtful and kind manner. I wholeheartedly can recommend NMB for your dog training needs. NMB answers communication in a timely manner and is available to answer any and all questions. I will always be grateful to Helen and her staff for providing me with the tools for effectively working with my dogs in a fun and supportive environment, XOXOXO read more

If you need a dog trainer, this is a great place to go! When we first got our German Shepherd we put him in Helen's puppy class. It was a great way to socialize him and teach him the basics. I had never had a dog before and puppies can be overwhelming, but Helen made classes fun and she always had an answer for all of our questions. We continued with level 1 and 2 and loved both of the classes. The other trainers that work with Helen are also great and have helped a lot. Our dog is now a little over a year old and we are expecting a baby in May. I was nervous because he's a good boy, but he is very high energy and doesn't really understand how big he is (88lbs). I have been having private sessions with Helen and she has helped me so much with ways to prepare him for when the baby comes. She suggested things from personal experiences with her animals and little ones and I also attended a class that she taught "dogs and storks". She has also helped us fix the problem with jumping up on people and chewing our furniture and walls. If I ever have questions between sessions or outside of classes she always makes herself available to reach by phone or email. I feel so much better now about our new little family member joining us soon. Helen really knows her stuff and is the best! I would recommend her to anyone with a new puppy/dog needing training or any expecting families with dogs. read more

Working with Helen from No Monkey Business has been a total game-changer for me and my 1-year-old reactive golden retriever, Charlie. I honestly wasn't sure how effective Zoom training would be for a dog with big emotions, but Helen blew me away with her calm, clear, and science-based approach that worked beautifully--even virtually. From our first session of Reactive Rover, Helen helped me understand what was driving Charlie's reactivity and gave me practical tools to set him up for success. She never rushed the process and always celebrated the small wins, which gave me confidence and helped Charlie make steady, positive progress. One of the biggest changes I've seen is that Charlie no longer explodes as quickly or as intensely when we see another dog or person on a walk. Even more amazing--he's now able to calm himself down and "shake it off" so much faster. That kind of emotional recovery used to take forever, and now it's happening in real time. Helen is incredibly knowledgeable, compassionate, and patient. She made me feel supported and empowered every step of the way. It's clear she truly understands reactive dogs--and their people--and cares deeply about helping both thrive. If you're feeling overwhelmed by reactivity and wondering if Zoom can really work, trust me: it can, especially with someone like Helen guiding you. I can't recommend No Monkey Business enough. read more

We were referred to No Monkey Business by a friend. Our Australian Cattle Dog was a rescue and had a few quirks as we are her 3rd owner and have no history. The biggest quirk was that she was dog aggressive. ACD's are known for being stubborn and also highly intelligent. When we first met with Helen she said we had a great loving dog that just needed a little re-direction and that our dog was not Aggressive, but anxious and defensive. We started by just focusing on basic commands with no contact with other dogs. A strong foundation. Our dog did well and Helen moved us on to the next steps of exposing her to dogs. Helen brought her own dog to class to help us train our dog. After several weeks we were able to help our dog with the anxiety towards other dogs. Part 2! We're having a baby and moving! We once again reached out to Helen about how best to train our dog and prepare her for our sons arrival. Helen was instrumental in helping us have a dog that knows her boundaries and respects our sons space. While helping us to teach our now 14 month old son to respect dogs and respect their space. For anyone that needs anything from just a puppy class to someone who thinks their dogs issues are "too big". We would highly recommend No Monkey Business Dog Training. Helen St. Pierre and her team can't be beat and will set you and your pups up for a long life of happiness! read more

Helen is a fantastic trainer- she knows the science behind dog training and she's able to clearly, and with wonderful humor, relay that knowledge to the people who come to her with their dogs. Not only does she make her classes fun, you forge a deep bond with your dog while you both train and learn. I first went to No Monkey Business with a dog-reactive, fear-aggressive deaf pit bull. Helen was just wonderful. She didn't suggest a shock collar or anything that would cause Rose more fear and pain. She took a full history, listened, and suggested management techniques and medication to help Rose calm and cope. That was my first experience with a trainer who really listened to me and helped me to help my dog. That was over 6 years ago- since then, I've taken my chocolate lab for Tricks classes. (What a flipp'n hoot that was! My cheeks hurt from laughing!) My Am-Staff mix has taken the Level I and II classes and then went on to earn her Canine Good Citizen. Helen has lifelines if you have a dog with severe issues; she's got fun and games if you have a goofy lab who wants to learn tricks, and she's got basic manners classes if you have a rescued fight bust dog who needs a safe, judgement-free place to learn. Give Helen a call, you won't be disappointed. You'll find it a pleasure to work with someone who is humane, kind, funny, professional and educated. read more

As a breeder of German shepherds it's important for me to have a knowledgeable trainer on hand In case any issues arise with my own dogs or dogs/puppies I sell. I did my research before deciding on a trainer and even went through a couple trainer with no great results. Helen has been an absolute life saver for me and families I have sold dogs to. My favorite thing about Helen and her style of training is (unlike other trainers) who use harsh methods for quick but short lived results she gets to know the dog, she gets to know their handler. She solves behavioral problems by knowledge, love, and positive reinforcement. The results are unbelievable. Helen is a one in a million type of trainer. She is passionate about what she does and it shows in her work. She is extremely knowledgeable and will not stop until she has achieved the results that are needed. I have learned so much from No Monkey Business dog training and I share my knowledge with others now too. Whether you have a new puppy, need advice on introducing a new baby to the family dog, or an aggressive/reactive chicken killer Helen is the one you want to see. You WILL NOT find a trainer with as much knowledge and love as Helen. Part of being successful is having a true passion for what you do. Helen's passion is helping people and dogs and she achieves that every time clients or myself need her help. read more

We love NMB!!! When we first signed our Great Dane puppy Hank up for puppy kindergarten I was so excited to get started!! The online registration told us that Brandi would be our trainer...I thought "What? I thought Helen did all the training?!". I read Brandi's bio and she sounded pretty good so I figured if Helen likes her she must be ok. Well, she was more than ok, she was and is great!! Not only is she friendly and patient, she is also professional, knowledgeable and incredibly passionate about what she does!! Her philosophies are in line with Helen's and her techniques are effective and (as importantly) humane. We finished puppy class and went on to Level 1 with Brandi again and were just as impressed. We signed up for Level 2 and will begin this weekend, again with Brandi and we are so excited!! I wanted to get this out there to anyone who was thinking like I was in the beginning because if you skip one of Brandi's classes because she isn't Helen, you will be doing a disservice to your dog and yourself. I can't say enough about NMB and Brandi...you have made training our BIG baby such a joy. Oh yeah, Helen is great too...lol!!! Sincerely, Jeff and Tammy Martel Webster, NH read more

I don't even know where to begin with what Helen has done for my two dogs. My boyfriend and I didn't know where to go or who to turn to when it was very clear after we adopted one of our dogs that he suffered from severe anxiety and what seemed to be the inability to trust any human. The slightest of movements or sounds would send him cowering back with his tail between his legs. Not being able to help him because we didn't know what was wrong led us to Helen. From the first day we met Helen we knew this was EXACTLY where we were suppose to be. She's real. She's honest. Helen is like no other animal lover I have ever met. She welcomes all breeds. All dogs with backgrounds that no one knows anything about, but when they meet Helen it's very clear that the look she has in her eye for them is real. All of these good humans and great dogs are better for having someone like Helen in their lives and for that we will forever be thankful. If you're looking for help, no matter how big or small, I promise you, you won't ever regret asking Helen for help Thank you Helen for helping us to give our best friends Comet and Copley the life they so deserve! read more

A few months ago we got a 9 month old, 80 lb shepherd puppy from a friend. Though just a pup, I realized very quickly we were in over our heads, despite studying many books and videos, and 11 years with another shepherd. He hadn't yet grown out of the mouthing, pawing, chewing, etc, and had very selective hearing. I didn't want to resort to shock or prong collars, as I worried it would create a foundation of pain, or fear of pain, in our relationship. I contacted Helen at No Monkey Business, and she assured me we could correct all of the behaviors without force. Within a few days of our first session, where she walked me through some small, easy changes in his training, feeding, and exercise routines, the difference in our monster puppy was HUGE. After the second session where she gave me simple training tips, and explained the logic behind them, I finally understood how tiny changes can add up to a huge improvement, but I never would have thought of those changes myself. I can't recommend No Monkey Business enough - her common sense approach to dog training transformed our monster puppy, and I can't wait to see the dog he'll mature into! read more

No Monkey Business definitely lives up to its name, but the name says nothing about the tremendous heart the company has. Helen and her trainers are no nonsense but for all the right reasons which is the care of the pet. Every training class is concise but explains and breaks down why it is essential to train your dog using the particular technique that is being taught that week. We had the fabulous experience of also working one on one with Helen to train my daughter's service dog Gracie. The instruction for us "humans" and the pace that Helen sets took the stress out of a very difficult situation. Helen's caring and openness with our daughter really put her at ease and gave her confidence as a handler for her service dog. We have done training classes with other businesses, but nothing compares to No Monkey Business. We will continue to go back for future training needs. We really can't thank Helen and her team enough for their help, caring and efficiency in preparing Gracie for her role as a service dog. Jenny and Chris Johnson Concord, NH read more

The first thing I want to do is say that that because of Helen, I have hope. My 10yr old son experienced a traumatic experience with a large breed dog and became fearful of ALL dogs. His fear and anxiety resulted with him having physical symptoms even being in the vicinity of any dog for any reason. He was turning down social invitations and isolating from family himself due to his fears. My son has been working with Helen weekly for a few months now and she has given him the skills he needs to interact with both dogs he 'knows' as well as new dogs he does not know. He even asked me on the way home from our last session if we could get a puppy. My heart melted. This is from a boy who less than a year ago handed me the blueprints he had constructed for his room so that he could live inside it forever so that he'd never have to leave it again. Because inside his room he knew he was safe and he'd never have to come into contact with a dog again. I'm so thankful to Helen for giving me my son back. Thank you Helen! read more

5 Stars. If you're looking for a business that provides support and solutions for all training and behavioral needs then don't walk, RUN to sign up for classes. The entire staff and facility is seamlessly run with a splash of humor. The down to earth and personable trainers will take the time before, during and AFTER (yes even once everyone has left) to answer questions or offer support. The website is user friendly for signing up and explains each class thoroughly to meet expectations. While completing level 2/3 classes throughout Concord you can see the relationship built with Helen and the community. Between clients of hers saying hello on the street or stores welcoming her in to respectfully allow her clients to work with their dogs, it's obvious you're getting the best instruction. I have only amazing things to say throughout the past almost 2 years consistently training with NMBDT and continue to spend many more years working with them and making many referrals . THANK YOU! Josie & Thule read more

No Monkey Business has been training my future service dog(a border collie mix) for a year and my fearful minpin for a little less than that and I cannot say enough good things! Helen is incredibly knowledgeable, very friendly and energetic, very helpful! We had a problem in class with another client touching my SDIT and I told one of the staff members. They took care of it right away, over the top service when it happened! They all made sure I was ok and Alea was ok! Katie was also wonderful for my fearful dog Ginger. Every time after class Katie would stay late to let Ginger get more confident! By the end of the class Ginger wasn't hiding under the chair anymore and she even liked Katie!!! I was so proud of her! Olivia is also an amazing person who works there. Always able to help me, very personable. She makes me feel very comfortable even though I have PTSD. If you're going to use any dog trainer in Concord, use No Monkey Business! read more

I have been to No Monkey Business with two dogs, one as a teenager and one as a puppy. Helen, as most people who have experienced any of her classes knows, is the best, and her staff is incredible. So everyone knows her as the best trainer in Concord. But what most people don't know is that she is there for the 'little things' also. Whether it be returning an email or message or reaching out to a former client's mother who has had a stroke and needs to retrain her dog to use an 'inside method' of doing it's duty in the house. Helen came through and not just in an 'ordinary' way...she had just had a premature baby, was dealing with family medical issues and still took the time to help my mom. You may think, this is a little thing. But to us it was as big as it gets and not to be forgotten. If you want a trainer who CARES, look no further than No Monkey Business Dog Training. Because it IS the little things that count. read more

I recently had a foster dog that was not socialized as a puppy (so she was not at all sure about how to interact with humans or other dogs). She was dumped, by the breeder, for being "defective" when it was determined she was deaf. Helen was instrumental in finding this baby love her "furever" home. This dog is a biter, so not a dog to bring to cookouts or other social gatherings and also a dog to be put safely in a crate when company comes. Helen did an evaluation, which determined that she was a very very smart little girl. And it turned out that I, the foster mom, was the one needing the training. :) She worked closely with me to find the perfect home for her and although it's only been a week, I feel like she FINALLY has the home she's always deserved. Thank you, Helen. You're the best! read more