Welcome to The Yappy Hour, powered by Yappily! 🎉
In this episode of The Yappy Hour, powered by Yappily, host Nathan Dunleavy sits down with canine behaviourist Helen Motteram, founder of the Pet Professional Network (PPN), to talk about living with and supporting anxious and nervous dogs.
Helen opens up about the dog who changed everything for her – her rescue terrier, Sall – and how that experience shaped her career in behaviour work.
Together, Nathan and Helen unpack the subtle signs of anxiety most guardians miss, why “push through it” culture harms dogs, how to rethink dog walks for sensitive pups, and why giving dogs choice and agency helps them feel safer.
This is a warm, deeply human conversation full of hope, empathy and practical behavioural advice for anyone living with an anxious dog.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✅ The story of Sally, the rescue dog who inspired Helen’s behaviour career
✅ Early, subtle signs of anxiety that guardians often overlook
✅ Common triggers for nervous, sensitive and environmentally reactive dogs
✅ Why long daily walks aren’t always appropriate for anxious dogs
✅ How enrichment, sniffing and cone-work reduce stress on walks
✅ The importance of choice, agency and consent in behaviour support
✅ How to support yourself emotionally when you have an anxious dog
✅ What to do when you bring home a nervous or anxious rescue dog
Key Takeaways:
- Anxious and nervous dogs aren’t being “difficult”, they’re overwhelmed and trying their best to cope.
- Anxiety often shows up quietly first: freezing, staring, sniffing, lip-licking or slow avoidance.
- Walks should be tailored to the dog’s emotional needs, less pressure, more sniffing.
- Choice and agency build trust; forcing dogs into situations increases fear.
- Guardians of anxious dogs are not failing. This journey is hard and you are not alone.
- Investing in early welfare-led behaviour support can change everything for both dog and human.
🎙️ Thanks for tuning in! Let’s celebrate the joy and challenges of dog parenting together, because we’re all here for the dogs. 🐾
Connect with Helen
Pet Professional Network Website
Pet Professional Network Facebook Page
Helen Motteram Distinctive Pet Business Coach
Social Paws Cheltenham Website
Social Paws Cheltenham Facebook Page
Connect with Nathan and Yappily
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