Meet the Trainers
Meet Amanda
Founder & Lead Trainer
My name is Amanda, and I’m the founder of Helping Paws Dog Training—a sanctuary built not just on skill, but on survival, healing, and love.
This isn’t just a business. It’s the echo of a thousand quiet battles I’ve fought and the one extraordinary soul who helped me win them.
For years, I carried trauma like a second skin. The kind that doesn’t show up in photos but lives in the silence between breaths. I’ve known what it feels like to be unseen, unheard, and deeply wounded. I’ve walked through grief, betrayal, and the aching loneliness of wondering if I’d ever feel whole again. And just when I thought I couldn’t carry any more, Moose came into my life.
He was broken too—scared, reactive, misunderstood. Everyone saw a dog too far gone. But I saw myself in his eyes. I wasn’t just trying to save him. He was saving me. Every training session, every moment of trust we built, was a stitch in the fabric of my own healing. Moose didn’t just become my co-trainer. He became my compass, my mirror, my heartbeat.
Helping Paws was born from that bond. It’s a place where trauma isn’t a barrier—it’s a bridge. Where dogs with deep emotional wounds find safety, and where humans rediscover connection through empathy, patience, and love. I specialize in trauma-informed, relationship-centered training because I’ve lived it. I know what it means to fight for trust, to rebuild from the ground up, and to believe in second chances.
Moose and I walk this path together. Every dog we meet is a reminder that healing is possible. That love—real, messy, unconditional love—can transform even the darkest story into something sacred.
If you’re here, maybe you’re looking for more than obedience. Maybe you’re looking for understanding. For hope. For someone who sees the soul behind the struggle.
Welcome to Helping Paws. You’re not alone anymore.
Meet Moose
Co-Trainer. Survivor. Soul Dog.
Moose isn’t just part of Helping Paws—he’s the reason it exists.
When Moose came into my life, he was reactive, shut down, and labeled “too far gone.” But I saw something in him that no one else did: a spirit still fighting to be understood. What I didn’t know then was that Moose would become my greatest teacher, my emotional compass, and the heartbeat of everything I do.
Moose didn’t just survive trauma—he transformed it. And in doing so, he helped me do the same.Meet the Heart of Helping Paws, Moose.
Even when kindness was met with cruelty, he kept offering love. Quiet. Steady. Unshakable. He didn’t just survive—he softened the world around him.
And now, he helps others do the same.
Moose is more than our muse—he’s my co-trainer, my partner, my healer, and the reason Helping Paws is more than a business—it’s a sanctuary. He's my emotional compass. In every session, he shows up with the same grace he always has. He reads the room. He senses fear. He offers space when it’s needed, and closeness when it’s earned. Moose is proof that healing is possible. That love—real, messy, unconditional love—can transform even the darkest story into something sacred.
For dogs who’ve been hurt, he models trust. He teaches boundaries. He shows reactive pups that calm is safe, and anxious hearts that they’re not alone.
💬 How Moose Helps
Moose is more than a co-trainer. He’s a translator of emotion, a calming presence, and a living example of what healing looks like.
- In Basic & Advanced Obedience
Moose models focus, patience, and calm energy. Dogs learn by watching him, and humans learn by feeling the peace he brings into the room
- In Puppy Foundations
He’s the gentle elder—teaching boundaries with kindness, helping pups feel safe, and showing them how to trust the world one paw at a time.
- In Aggression & Reactivity Work
Moose is a mirror. He’s lived the fear, the shutdown, the fight-or-flight. Reactive dogs see themselves in him—and they see hope. His body language, his pacing, his ability to de-escalate tension is nothing short of magic.
- In Service Dog & Public Access Training
Moose demonstrates how to stay grounded in chaotic environments. He helps dogs-in-training learn to ignore distractions, stay focused, and respond to subtle emotional cues with grace
- In Trauma-Informed Sessions
This is where Moose’s soul shines. He senses emotional shifts in both dogs and humans. When a client breaks down, Moose is there—quietly offering comfort, connection, and the kind of presence that words can’t touch.
🐾 Moose’s Specific Contributions to Training Sessions
1. Modeling Calm and Confidence
- When a reactive dog enters the space, Moose remains grounded—his relaxed posture, soft gaze, and slow movements help regulate the energy in the room.
- His calm presence teaches dogs that safety is possible, even when their nervous systems are on high alert.
2. Offering Gentle Social Cues
- Moose intuitively knows when to approach and when to give space. He’ll often lie nearby, just close enough to be felt, but not intrusive.
- For dogs with social anxiety or fear-based reactivity, Moose’s respectful distance helps them learn boundaries without pressure.
3. Helping with Desensitization
- In sessions where a dog is working through fear of other dogs, Moose becomes a neutral presence. His non-reactive behavior allows the client dog to practice being near another dog without escalating.
- He’s often used in parallel walking exercises, threshold work, or calm co-existence drills.
4. Emotional Regulation for Humans
- Moose’s energy affects not just dogs, but people. Clients often comment on how his presence makes them feel safe, seen, and supported.
- He’s a living reminder that healing is possible—and that kindness can survive even the worst circumstances.
5. Teaching Through Contrast
- When a dog exhibits hyperarousal or pushy behavior, Moose responds with subtle corrections—turning away, removing himself, or calmly redirecting.
- These natural canine cues help the dog learn appropriate social behavior without human intervention.
6. Celebrating Breakthroughs
- Moose often joins in when a dog makes a big leap—whether it’s accepting touch, walking calmly, or engaging in play.
- His joyful energy reinforces the moment, helping the dog associate progress with connection and safety.
If you’ve ever felt broken, misunderstood, or afraid to hope, Moose and I are here to walk that path with you.