Meet Helen

Hi, I’m Helen Taylor — founder of Guns and Noses and LABRAlife, based in East Yorkshire. I’ve been helping dogs and their humans thrive for over 27 years.

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I began my career as a kennel maid at 16, where I helped the owner with training, I went to Bishop Burton College and studied Animal Care, where I was able to take dog training as a module and just fell in Love with it. I then set up my own business Helen's Obedience Training for Dogs (HOT Dogs), this kept me ticking over for a while until I went travelling to New Zealand and then I got my job at Dogs for Good in 2008.

 

As an assistance dog trainer, working with dogs who supported people through some of life’s biggest challenges. That experience shaped everything I do today: teaching with empathy, building trust, and using positive reinforcement to unlock each dog’s full potential.

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Now, through Guns and Noses, I specialise in training pet gundogs and other companion breeds using kind, science-backed methods that get real results — without shouting, punishment, or outdated techniques.

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I work with clients from Hull to Howden, and the wider East Yorkshire area, offering gundog foundations, Assistance Dog work, one-to-one coaching, and positive behaviour support for working and pet dogs alike.

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I’m a proud member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT UK), a registered trainer with The Gundog Club, and an approved professional with Kids Around Dogs, supporting safe, positive relationships between children and dogs, as well as being a Kennel Club Accredited Instructor, in companion dogs and assistance dogs.

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I also gained a FdSc degree in Rehabilitation and Therapy at Bishop Burton College in 2013 and then trained as a small animal Hydrotherapist back in 2018, which means that I understand about the whole dog, not just behaviour!

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At home, I’m surrounded by animals and my lovely human family - including my three loyal Labradors, three horses, two cheeky goats, two ferrets, and a tank full of fish. (Let’s just say I don’t do “quiet” very well!)

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Above all, I believe dog training should feel good - for both ends of the lead. Whether you’re training for the field or for a calmer, happier home life, I’m here to help you bring out the best in your dog - kindly, confidently, and with clarity.