Shelmar Kennels

I was in a desperate state when I called Martin and Shelly Bell. I read their website thoroughly and knew Shelmar would be my only hope. \r If they could help me be a strong leader and teach my 1yr. old English Bulldog, King how to behave properly maybe I would not have so much anxiety when it came to him. \r You see, I would only walk him in the dark very early in the morning, because he wanted to fight every dog that came his way. And we had to walk, he has so much energy he needed to get out for a good 45 min to an hour everyday with a big pinch collar. \r They kept him for a month. I emailed once a week and Shelly replied back with his progress. Martin and Shelly really got to know him and understand what he needs in a leader. When it was time to go back to get him, I felt such anxiety. \r Martin worked with me, we met three different times. I needed training too. He showed me how to walk him, how to be relaxed with him, how to enjoy him and let him just be a dog. Martin told me to name him something else. King was not a name for him. He needed a new start with a new name. \r I call him Ray-ray, like the ray of hope I longed for in a companion animal. It is so wonderful to see him playing with all the dogs and running and playing in the water. And it is so wonderful walking him in a relaxed state in the cool of the early morning. He comes when I call him and he is lovable and affectionate and totally different when we meet other dogs along the way. I can actually stop and visit for a minute now and he lays down to make himself smaller so he might be approachable to a smaller dog. I will always be grateful to Martin and Shelly Bell and their little slice of heaven Shelmar Kennels and for my peace and happiness with my little Ray-ray. I will continue to board my little guy with Martin and Shelly. They run a very professional business that feels like family. I consider them my friends. more

Shelmar has been our home for our 2 dogs for the last 3 years. We started taking our Weimaraner and Choc. Lab to Shelly and Martin as puppies and continue that relationship today. \r \r We started out as boarders (for as long as 2 weeks) and then turned to them for all our training needs, both hunting and obedience. The training stint is significantly longer and both my girls not only benefitted from the training experience, they were taken care of with regular treatments, medicines and vet visits. It can be a lot to keep up with but Shelly is an organizational machine and everyone gets 5 star treatment. This is a one stop-full service-Kennel and Burney and Rylee love to go out to Shelmar!! \r \r The facilities are clean and spacious and the care given to my babies is unmatched. They take great interest in your pet and make sure they are put with other dogs they get along with as well as a consistent schedule that benefits both you and your beloved pet. The expectations are clearly laid out up front so there is no confusion and it is wonderful to not play the guessing game. Also, I absolutely love being able to set an appointment because I know that when we show up we will get undivided, one on one attention with my girls to ask any questions, hear all the ""stories"" about who was doing what, and keep the ongoing relationship between Shelly and Martin strong. It is obvious to both my husband and I that Shelmar cares about my girls about as much as we do and they sure can be knuckleheads! \r \r Trusting others to care for my kiddos is hard, but I have 100% faith and would not be comfortable boarding or training with any other facility. If you are looking for care, service, training, facility, price, and professionalism then look no further...Shelmar is the place for you and your precious pets!!\r \r Thank you for everything Shelly and Martin, we love you!\r \r John, Ash, Hannah, Burney, Rylee and Arwen :) more

We live in the Copper Village area and found Shelmar about 3 years ago. Traveling with our sweet boxer is not possible all the time and I wanted to find a place our High Energy Pup would be happy.\r \r We hit the jackpot when we found Shelmar. Out in the country with a completely fenced in area, I immediately felt that my pet would be safe. I have sent her for just a few days as well as for nearly a week. I have sent her with meds that needed to be administered and all was perfect when we picked her up. \r \r My boxer is always paired with another dog to have play time with during daily exercise. It is all very well thought out and organized! \r \r I would recommend Shelmar to anyone who adores there pets as much as we do! more

Four and a half years ago my family got a Golden Doodle. Ranger needed a trainer. I researched and called several training facilities and none of them gave me a feeling that they could solve our problem. Then I spoke with Martin Bell at Shelmar Kennels and we instantly knew this was the place for Ranger. We discussed his training and boarding program and I felt so good about him that we drove from Sugar Land to Shelmar Kennels. When Martin and Shelly greeted us we knew this was the best decision we could make for all of us. After the 6 week program Ranger was trained beyond our expatiations. He was a well cared for and a happy puppy. We have since boarded Ranger there 3 to 4 times a year with never having a problem. As soon as we are nearing Shelmar, Ranger is wagging his tail and is so excited about getting there. Every time we leave Ranger for in house boarding , we know he is in good hands. There are many other places closer then the hour's drive but we wouldn't think of leaving Ranger with anyone other than Martin and Shelly Bell. We love them. Hillary and Ira G more

Dear Shelly and Martin, Well, we truly have not been able to lift our chins off of the ground from our mouths hanging open all day today in amazement at Aero's transformation! He is a CHANGED DOG!! His expression is so relaxed and calm and HAPPY!! He is obedient and responds to his commands willingly...(okay, he is not always bringing the ball back to us when it was tossed out to him, but you did say to just do that a couple of times a week!) He has passed so many ""challenges"" today already! On the way home, we stopped to get Shane a burger at Whataburger. The smell filled the car and Aero never begged, even one bit. (He was a relentless beggar before!) When we got home, we put leashes on the two dogs and walked them around the front and side of the house, and then into the house. We took off the leashes, and...NOTHING!!! Total peace and calm! Then we opened the door to the patio (made both sit before going out of the door) and out they went, peaceful as could be imagined. Aero really showed some play stances, trying to get Gracie to play with him. She ran around with him some, but is acting a bit leary of him. He keeps trying!!! She has growled at him a couple of times when she seemed to feel crowded (the guys say she is being a territorial ""brat""!) and we did correct her. Aero cut a circle around her the next time he passed by her!!! We are stunned!!! He moved his little bed mat over closer to her bed, laid down and just gazed at her a bit, then went to sleep. When we went on a walk, he was not totally perfect, but took correction quickly and then settled down after passing other dogs. And the ""Big Girls"" (the big lab/golden mixes) came to the fence, and barked. Aero did start to wind into it, not nearly at the past volume/energy, but was quieted quickly and then just sat/laid down. (We did slip the training lead on him, but it seemed that his tail was also wagging!) Someone passed our yard with a dog and a boy bouncing a basketball..Aero did not bark until they were almost at the end of the yard, and then quieted down instantly when I corrected him, verbally!!! We are so amazed and appreciative of your hard work, dedication and knowledge in helping to bring out the best in Aero! He is happy, and of course, we are so happy with his new behavior!!! A couple of questions, but, I will send those on tomorrow. It has been an exciting day, and, I am ready to call it a day...a very PEACEFUL day!!! With gratitude, Kay more

Shelmar Kennels To The Rescue\r We were at our wits end.\r We had an aggressive “rescue dog” that nobody could (or wanted to) handle, nobody except Martin and Shelly. After a few weeks of training at Shelmar,\r my wife and I had our own training session. \r Martin taught us how to work with our dog and give him the opportunity to be a “solid citizen.” \r We now have a happy and well adjusted dog. When we go on vacation or out of town, we sleep well knowing he is in good hands at Shelmar. I also want to mention that every time we drive through the gate, my wife and I comment to each other about how clean and fresh the place is. Thank you Shelly and Martin. \r I am a true fan.\r Bruce Bryant\r more

I fell in love with my dog when she was a week old, but knew that I had no qualifications to train her. I googled training facilities, was impressed with Shelmar, and called. Shelly told me about their setup, training and philosophy and I knew this was the right place. When my dog was six months old, I left her with Shelly and Martin for three weeks and returned to find that my dog was perfectfully trained - and that I could finally take her for a walk without being dragged through the neighborhood. Since then, I have left my ""doggie love of my life"" with Shelly and Martin for boarding on many occasions over the past several years. I know that she is well cared for and that she loves being with them. Simply put, I trust Shelly and Martin. I would not leave her with anyone else! I highly recommend Shelmar to anyone who wants their dog to receive top-notch training, and to be safe, respected and well cared for. They are the best. more

We have dedicated our lives to taking care of dogs and making them better companions for their owners. The review dated 12/31/10 involves a labrador belonging to the Riersgard family who has boarded with us for 3+ years. Each time Marshall has boarded with Shelmar his family has brought his own crate with thick, heavy bedding, his own food and bowls and always plenty of instructions. \r This dog always arrived a nervous wreck until we incorporated him with a group of buddies to relieve the tension and help him relax. He seemed happy each time he was collected by his family. We have had very little issue with this family until this past summer when the mother made an appointment for a follow up lesson, 3 years later than her initial instruction but not an issue, for 10am one weekday morning. 10am came, no show, no communication, then finally she arrives at 11am wanting her instruction. I told her she missed her appointment as she was meant to be here for 10am. She did not think it was a big deal that she was not here when expected. Marshall boarded with us twice more in the fall. The last time he did pee in his kennel for some reason. He did not let either Martin or me know he had to go. I removed the bedding, but did not have time to wash it, so I put replacement bedding in his kennel and put the others off to the side. This is the filthy crate that is mentioned in the review. Marshall may have left Shelmar with a bit of dirt on his coat but they make it sound as if he was covered in feces. For Christmas boarding Marshall was to be dropped off in the morning 8-11am window. I waited to leave the kennel at 11:05am to run errands, no communication from the Riersgard family to say they were still coming.I returned to the kennel to find 3 phone messages from the mother demanding that I open the gate for her teenage daughter who was running late to drop Marshall. I emailed the mother to let her know that they would have to drop Marshall between 4:30-6pm. At 5 pm Marshall arrives with the daughter, Mariel, who is sporting an attitude. She immediately begins to grill me concerning Marshall's schedule, demanding to see where he is housed, etc. In all my dealings with this family I have never been treated with such disrespect and attitude. She even argued with me over the receipt of an email that her mother had sent at 10:52am that morning to let me know that she would be running late. We are in the country, do not have high speed internet, so the receipt of emails is delayed by a good 15 minutes, but she said that did not make a difference. We went into our office where she continued to ask questions and I did suggest that there may be another boarding facility that would make them happier. She assured me that we were the experts, whatever that meant, and left the office with a flippant attitude. She drove off only to return minutes later to collect Marshall. I emailed her mother to let her know that Marshall would no longer be welcome at Shelmar. I was threatened with spreading unkind words about our facility and services through a private email from her mother. Add to it the drama of the aggressive handling skills and you have greater impact from an angry child who is attempting to ruin a business. I am quite shocked that it took the Riersgard family 3+ years to come to the conclusion that we are unsuitable to care for their dog or anyone else's for that matter. Very sad to think that I have spent any amount of time responding to the ranting of a teenager when in the past I have only ever dealt with her mother with issues concerning Marshall. Shelly Bell more

I first became introduced to Shelmar Kennels in Dec 2007 when I suffered from a house fire. Thankfully my dog survived and while my house was being rebuilt I wanted Shelby to be in a setting that she was used to, with plenty of playing room. I randomly googled kennels and came across Shelmar Kennels. When I spoke with Shelly she was very friendly and when I dropped sShelby off Shelly and Martin welcomed us into their fold and they have been our family and home away from home ever since. I recommend anyone to take their pet to them; not only will you get the training but also tender loving care and friendliness that is rare to find, they are definitely a blessing. more

My fiance and I first brought our 1.5 year old Boston Terrier to Shelmar in July of 2010. We had rescued our pup from a neglectful owner and at around 8 months he had started showing signs of aggression towards strangers. In December of 2009 it had reached its breaking point when he attacked his vet. At the vet's suggestion we took Rudy to an overpriced unhelpful behavioralist in Sugar Land. By the summer of 2010, after seeing little progress, we took Rudy to Shelmar where he stayed for four weeks to work with Shelly.\r \r It was a tough four weeks, Rudy had never been away from us for more than week and I didn't know if I had done the right thing. When we came to pick up Rudy in August, I almost cried when I saw Shelly take Rudy right up to a stranger who leaned down and pet Rudy. It was amazing.\r \r Since then it has been a lot of hard work on our end. Shelly will always be upfront with us, and the reality was that we needed to change some of our habits to be better dog owners for Rudy. We are still working with Rudy, but now we can take him to our friends' houses, to PetSmart and other places that were off limits in the best. The biggest thing was that last week we took him to the vet and we left without a single growl or incident. It was amazing to see all this hardwork pay off. \r \r My only regret is that I did not find Shelmar earlier. Rudy is 100% better and living an amazing and calm life because of the work Shelly and Martin have done. We are so happy with Shelmar, that anytime we have to board him we drive the 45 minutes so he can board there. This summer when we leave for a month to get married and go on our honeymoon, he will be at Shelmar. I used to be that owner that worried about my pet when he boarded at a kennel, I don't ever worrry about him at Shelmar. I'm totally confused about the last review because I have never seen Rudy treated with anything but the utmost care, he loves Shelly and Martin and loves their house because he gets to run, play and swim all day long. He also gets to board with them in their home, so I know he is getting cared for around the clock! more

The care offered at Shelmar is substandard, and you can find much better, and cheaper, care elsewhere. If you ask to see the facility your dog will be kept in, they will refuse. What professional kennel does this? I wish we had picked up on the signs earlier, but the first positive feeling we got from them eased our minds. Big mistake. Our dog came back from the kennel in a cage which the condition was not suited for any living thing. Upon a few general questions, I was met with a brash, aggressive attitude, and told if my prissy dog needed individualised care (He does not, and is very low maintenance and obedient) this was not the kennel for him, and Shelley couldn't care less. Dogs were expected to adapt to their harsh and unyielding schedule. Our dogs attitude changed too. He was withdrawn, and head shy. After seeing the trainer Martin at work, this was understandable. He has an aggressive attitude that sure, works. But not due to respect. Slapping dogs across their faces and aggressive use of choke collars were witnessed by more than just me. Read beyond the stellar reviews posted, and you will see this review backed up. Do your dog a big favor and find a better, cheaper kennel to train and board at. more

Shelmar kennels takes great care of the dogs in their care, they are excellent trainers and are able to teach you the owner how to do it too!\r Located in Katy Texas, on a stunning 20 acre Ranch with a huge lake the property is all eight foot high fenced for peace of mind and dog safety.\r Martin and Shelly will amaze you, they effortlessly control their dogs, create confidence in the owner and easily explain how to control and handle your dog. My dog is a graduate of Shelmar Kennels and I get comments all the time in Memorial Park about how well he behaves and everyone I speak to wants a dog like him that does not pull on the leash and sits quietly and calmly when Im chatting - belive me when I say he didnt start like that. We rescued Max from a shelter, within 2 weeks we were going to give him up but my wife convinced me to visit Martin and Shelly Bell at Shelmar Kennels. We now have the dog our family has always wanted. Now if I can just convince my wife that our children should spend 4 weeks at Shelmar!\r Great job guys - Thank you so much...\r \r Robert Block. Pros: Clean, spacious, pet safe and friendly more

Martin and Shelly Bell trained my Dog Sammi, wow! what a difference. I dont know how they do it but Sammi even listens to me. She has been having such a great time playing with the dogs in our neighborhood, coming when she is called and has really become a family member instead of a loner like she used to be. We liked so much about Sammi, a 3 year old lab mix rescue, that we decided to invest the money into training her. What Martin and Shelly gave us back is a dog with a zest for life and the manners to back it up so much so that now - we dont leave home without her! Last night was Sammi's first soccer game, watching our son Miles. She had a blast, made friends with everyone and sat for over and hour without complaint or whining. We love Sammi - and we love Martin and Shelly Bell of Shelmar Kennels. Michelle ;-))) Pros: Professional dog trainers - the best! more

In early 2009, my wife and I decided to buy a dog for our kids, all 6 years of age and under. We decided to buy a German Shorthaired Pointer, mainly because I knew that the dog would become mine after the newness ran out for the kids. After getting our new pup, my wife and I were somewhat surprised with the amount of energy the dog had. Like all pups he chewed on anything he could get his mouth on, including our kids. We (especially my wife) were ready to get rid of the dog. After some thought, we decided that the pup needed a more suitable outlet for his breed that would require professional training. After a long search, I emailed Shelmar to get more information on their programs. They promptly responded to my email and I made an appointment to see their operation that same weekend. During my visit, Martin spent over 45 minutes with me talking about his program and demonstrating the results he has achieved with two of his students. I was impressed not only with his dog behavior knowledge, but also with his results. Equally as impressive was the facility, built for dog training in my opinion. I stopped searching after that first visit. Happily, we enrolled our GSP in Shelmar's 4 month gun dog program and WOW...what results! Our dog is not only a great hunter but also a great family dog. My wife could not believe the transformation...he left our home an unruly pup and returned a well behaved softie that our kids are no longer afraid to play with. We cannot say enough good things about the Bells. They did great with our dog and would recommend them in a heartbeat not only for training, but for boarding as well. Shelmar is the first place we think of when we have to travel and will certainly return for further training. Pros: Great dog trainers, responsive to owners concerns more

My experience with Shelmar Kennels was extremely positive! My dog, Cody, was 11 months when I first got him and he had already been in 2 other homes. He had separation anxiety when I got him, he was extremely anxious, would cry (scream) if I put him in his kennel or if I would leave the house. He would not listen to us at ALL! He would run away from me, get in the trash and jump/nip at people. He would also have accidents in the house regularly. I was getting very frustrated with the little guy to say the least!!! \r \r He is SOOOO great now!!! He comes when we call him, sits when we ask him to, stays still so we can put his leash on him, goes into his kennel as soon as we say, ?kennel.? Honestly, every issue we had with him has been cured. He has not had a single accident in the house. And he doesn?t CRY when we put him in his kennel or if we leave the house!! That is the best part. He just seems like a happier dog! It was definitely a good investment! I don?t know HOW they did it?but it worked!!! more

Martin and Shelly - thank you so much!\r Dede is a different dog to live with, she has no seperation anxiety issues anymore, she responds well to me when I give her commands and she will even stay and sleep on her bed now. The difference is truly amazing - and you were exactly right when you told me its easier and much more fun to live with a well beahved dog! \r Best of all - she is still my baby girl! The training affected none of her personality and the things we always loved about her. Dede is so happy, we are so happy.\r Love Linda and Dede more

After spending thousands of dollars on having our dog trained at another training facility - with little success - we were lucky to find Martin and Shelly Bell of Shelmar Kennels. Martin tells it the way it is, I'm sure he offends some people as he is direct and to the point, and wont let owners make excuses - but the end result is a very well behaved dog one that my wife and I thought we were going to have to give up for adoption. It sure beats spending thousands at another facility who were very nice but had no idea how to fix Gyro's problems. These guys are committed to the dogs full time, its all they do and all they think about. Martin amazed us with the progress Gyro made in 4 weeks. Martin has a way of connecting with dogs and educating owners. Our owner training session was intense, the information Martin shares and the techniques to keep your dog trained are freely given, Martin asks only that you pay attention and work hard. After all the effort Martin and Shelly put into our dog we just wanted to say Thanks Guys - Great Job! Ronnie, Sandra and Gyro Pros: Hard working dog trainers - very skilled - great teachers - beautiful facility more

Our rotty pup started displaying agression issues, so we contacted Shelmar kennels. Bo has been home for 2 months now and we have not had another issue. His obedience training is top of the class! He plays well with our family and Martin taught us how to think like him, how to correct unwanted behaviour and even how to pet and talk to him properly!\r I can't praise them highly enough or thank them too much for saving our dog from a short life and giving us the knowledge to keep it going. Pros: Martin and Shelly really love what they do - training dogs. more

The training that Shelmar Kennels did with our Brittany Sara is excellent. Sara used to run away, jump up on everyone, dig up the back yard and walking her on the lead was impossible. In six weeks Martin turned her life around. She now comes when she is called, walks to heel on and off the lead, no longer jumps on our kids or guests coming to our house and is turning into a great member of our household. Not only did they train the dog but also my wife and I. Martin also spent time teaching our ten year old how to walk Sara, something that Zach enjoyed very much. Martin put us in control of our dog, making her pleasant to live with. Martin and Shelly - A HUGE THANKS - from Bobby, Rebecca, Zach and Sara. more

Martin Bell and his wife Shelly are very talented dog trainers. I took them my 10 month old Golden Retriever ""Rigby"" as he was becoming aggressive with both dogs and small children. Martin has a great knack for teaching dogs and people, I have been able to continue training with Rigby and have recieved tremendous support from Martin anytime I needed it. \r \r I read the other post and I want to say in all my time spent at Shelmar, I heard nothing but great reports from all his clients that I met there. Martin will not BS you. He tells it the way he sees it and explains why dogs behave the way they do. Im sure that offends certain types of people, but for me - he saved Rigbys life. He would not let me make excuses (as at the time I was pretty much in denial about Rigbys problems) as making excuses stopped me from working on the issues I was having - together we accomplished what I only dreamed was possible with Rigby. \r Martin and Shelly have a great facility, 20 acres inside of an 8 foot high fence, a beautiful training pavillion and big excercise areas for the dogs. When it comes to dogs they are dedicated, working long hours every day, 7 days a week. Rigby loves going back to Shelmar, going down their road he is so excited as he cannot wait to see Martin and Shelly and play with the other dogs. Without doubt 5 stars for Training and boarding. Pros: First class facility, very safe and secure 24/7 for your pet, the owners Martin and Shelly Bell live on site. more