POP UP TALK: What Your Dogs’ Struggles Might Be Telling You

ABOUT THE EVENT:
This live, interactive Pop Up Talk will be led by Helen St. Pierre, owner and founder of No Monkey Business Dog Training in Concord, NH, and a licensed Family Dog Mediator. Drawing directly from the research and writing of Kim Brophey, including her paper on dogs as modern “canaries in the coal mine,” this conversation explores the idea that when dogs struggle emotionally, behaviorally, or physically, they may be signaling deeper welfare issues in the environments we share with them. Because dogs live inside our homes, routines, stress levels, and lifestyles, they often reflect the impacts of modern life sooner than humans do—and those signals are worth paying attention to.

During this session, we will refer directly to the ideas and key takeaways from Brophey’s paper and use it as a guiding lens for discussion:

• What it means when a dog is “struggling” (behaviorally, emotionally, physically)
• Why many issues can’t be solved by training alone
• How dogs may reflect broader welfare problems in modern life—for dogs and people

From there, Helen will help translate those concepts into practical next steps using a welfare framework you can actually apply at home. This will be a conversation—not a lecture—with real examples and plenty of space for questions.

Important note on credit: Kim Brophey’s work will be clearly credited throughout this talk. Helen is presenting these concepts as an educator and practitioner who works closely with Brophey’s professional ecosystem, and we’ll make it easy for attendees to understand what ideas come from the paper and how to use them.

• N/C for members Your special pricing will be reflected in the CART.
• $15/person for Not-Yet Members
• This event will take place in our Zoom Room. You will receive the Zoom Room link upon registering.
• Can’t attend the live session? You will be emailed a link to the recording within 24 hours of the event.

ABOUT HELEN ST. PIERRE:
Helen St. Pierre is the owner and operator of No Monkey Business Dog Training in Concord, New Hampshire. With over 22 years of experience, she is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KSA), Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC), Operation Socialization Certified Trainer (OSCT), and a licensed Family Dog Mediator, where she also serves as head of the behavior division. Her work spans basic training through complex behavior cases, including aggression and service dog training.

Helen teaches classes locally, consults one-on-one with families, and presents workshops and seminars throughout New England and internationally. She is a professional member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, the Pet Professional Guild, and the Association of Animal Behavior Professionals. She is also a licensed Dogs & Storks and Dogs & Toddlers educator, an AKC evaluator, and a frequent contributor to radio, print, and television on canine behavior topics.

In addition to her training and consulting work, Helen is a co-author of Old Dog, New Dog: Supporting Your Aging Best Friend and Welcoming a New One. She volunteers extensively with shelter and rescue organizations and founded the senior and hospice dog rescue Old Dogs Go To Helen in 2018, which she runs from her home with her husband, Jake.

Helen is deeply committed to education, advocacy, and compassionate care—approaching every dog she works with as if they were her own.

For more information, visit NoMonkeyBusinessDogTraining.com.

QUESTIONS:
If you have questions, text/call (603) 815-2453 or email woof@goldendognh.com.