Behavioural Help for Dogs

Has living with your dog become a chore rather than a pleasure?  Is your dog behaving in a way that makes you unhappy or even frightened?  Are you so busy that you never seem to find time to do anything about it?

Canine behaviour problems are more common than you might imagine.  Problem behaviour can take even the most diligent pet owners by surprise and is often the result of an unfortunate series of events, or a simple misunderstanding of dog behaviour and motivation.

I can help.

I provide a non-judgemental approach and up to date, bespoke behaviour treatment programmes, designed to achieve positive behaviour change.  Using proven, welfare friendly strategies, I will support you every step of the way, so that you feel empowered and begin to enjoy life with your dog again.

Help is here for:

  • Aggressive behaviour

  • Fears and phobias

  • Anxiety

  • Indoor soiling

  • Car travel problems

 
  • Separation related problems

  • Abnormal repetitive behaviours

  • Pica (eating non-food items)

  • Destructive behaviour

  • Excessive barking

Why Choose Me?

  • I am a fully qualified and accredited Clinical Animal Behaviourist (see the About Me page for more details)

  • Clinicians with my qualifications are recommended by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons

  • Most clients can claim for my fees on their pet insurance (please check with your insurer before booking)

  • I work with a limited number of clients at any one time, ensuring focussed and bespoke support

  • My behaviour treatment packages are designed to give the best chance of success via intensive, targeted and supported coaching

 

How Does It Work?

Step 1 – Information Gathering

When you get in touch, we will ask you to provide a history of the problems you are having and information about your dog’s history and current lifestyle.  We will also provide a referral form for your vet to complete.  Once we have the information, we will book a time for your initial consultation and will ask for payment to hold the date.  One important step nearer to getting help.

Step 2 – Initial Consultation

I will visit you at your home, or if this is not possible, we will meet online. I will assess your dog’s behaviour and explain why the specific behaviours of concern have developed.  We will decide upon our aims and goals for treatment and agree upon a Behaviour Change Package most likely to achieve the best outcome.  The type and length of package will be dictated by the behaviour problem itself, your own learning style, other life commitments etc – I will recommend the package most likely to be successful (see examples below).

I will provide you with any essential management strategies to implement straight away.  The fees for the Behaviour Change Package will be payable before we start work, by cash, cheque or BACS.  You will receive a written behaviour assessment and initial action plan for your dog within the next 7 days. I will also send the referring vet a summary of my assessment, and liaise with them to discuss any medical issues, medication, supplements or diet change.

Step 3 – Behaviour Change Package

We will work together for the duration of your package using one or more of;

  • Face to face, practical skills coaching sessions

  • Progress tracking via your own online training diary, or weekly phone calls - ensuring that you and your dog are making progress in the right direction, and that you feel confident and supported

  • Supporting materials in the form of videos or written handouts as needed, in a private online resource area

  • Liaison with the referring vet as needed for dogs requiring medication or with pre-existing medical conditions

I make sure that no matter what your training experience, we are working towards the right goals, at the best speed, with as much technical and moral support as you need. Other demands on your time and energies are taken into account, to ensure that training is always achievable. The overall aim is to equip you with both the skills and the knowledge to become pretty much self-sufficient at problem solving and supporting your dog, enabling you to maintain their new improved behaviour choices going forwards.

At the end of the package, progress will be reviewed and you can either continue to work with your dog using the tools you have learnt, or further support can be arranged where beneficial. If we have unused sessions in hand, these can either be refunded, or used to work on other useful skills and behaviours.

Step 4 – Behaviour Change

When problem behaviour begins to change, it is a huge relief!  My aim is to work with you to improve your dog’s behaviour as efficiently as possible, using intensive, supported coaching, but considering your dog’s welfare every step of the way.  There are no magic wands and no quick fixes - reward based, ethologically appropriate behaviour treatment is proven to give long term positive change, without hurting or frightening your dog.

What Does it Cost?

We will always try to be clear about our prices, nobody likes unexpected costs. The initial consult will cost £296 if I attend in person, or £250 if we meet online. We will let you know before you book, if there will be any additional charges for travel outside our area. The initial consult includes;

  • Case preparation

  • Liaising with the referring vet

  • Travel within my standard service area for in-person consults

  • The consult lasting about 2 hours

  • Management strategies to help straight away

  • Preparing and sending your behaviour assessment and initial action plan

  • Preparing and sending a summary report to the referring vet

  • Completing and returning paperwork for pet insurance claims

ABOUT BESPOKE BEHAVIOUR CHANGE PACKAGES

For some, written diary keeping is useful, whilst others might prefer a telephone catch up weekly.

Some of us learn best when able to watch a practical demonstration and then be coached during in-person sessions.

Pandemics, family and work commitments, internet connection, geography and the dog’s behaviour may also impact how we work together.

Where new skills need to be trained, early training sessions at your home will be needed to develop these skills. After this, we practice what you have learnt in carefully set up scenarios away from home, before I accompany you in using those new skills in the real world. Some work will also require the hiring of secure spaces, and the help of stooge dogs, stooge ‘strangers’, stooge cyclists etc.

Financial considerations are also part of the decision making, however my fees are covered by most insurance companies, so do check with your insurance provider.

For all of these reasons, a bespoke package of elements best suited to each individual case will be put together by discussion at the initial consult. I have provided some example packages below to give you some idea of the range of costs and timescales involved.

Please note that behaviour change is affected by variables other than the training that we do. The suggestion of a package does not therefore imply or guarantee a specific outcome during that time period.

The best results are achieved when owners;

  • Commit to consistent application of the recommended strategies

  • Consider their dog’s emotional and physical welfare at every step

  • Keep in regular contact with me throughout

I have helped hundreds of owners and their pets to work through a variety of issues, and will be committed to helping you too.

EXAMPLE BEHAVIOUR CHANGE PACKAGES

We recognise, that a package of behavioural treatment is a significant financial commitment, and this is reflected in a reduced rate for the pre-paid behaviour packages. Some example package prices are given below.

Example - 4 Week Behaviour Change Package - all sessions provided online

£180 (save £20)

Suitable for some mild or recent onset behavioural issues requiring management and minimal training, this package includes;

  • 2 x 1 hour Skills Coaching sessions (live online)

  • Progress tracking via twice weekly online diary check-ins for 4 weeks to ensure progress

  • Access to useful handouts and videos in your own online resource area

Example - 4 Week Behaviour Change Package - sessions provided in-person and by phone

£220 (save £26)

Suitable for some mild or recent onset behavioural issues requiring management and basic training in the environment the behaviour occurs in. This combination of sessions also works well if you would rather avoid the computer, or for those with a poor internet connection, and it includes;

  • 2 x 1 hour Skills Coaching sessions (in-person)

  • Progress Tracking via weekly 20 minute phone calls for 4 weeks to ensure progress

  • Relevant training handouts in printed form

Example - 8 Week Behaviour Change Package - all sessions provided online

£360 (save £40)

This package provides extra coaching sessions for more established issues.  For example, problems with car travel, unwanted barking, chasing or destructive behaviour (subject to my assessment of your dog at the consult).  It is also useful for clients too far away to travel to, and during pandemics. This package includes;

  • 4 x 1 hour Skills Coaching sessions (live online)

  • Progress Tracking via twice weekly online diary check-ins for 8 weeks to ensure progress

  • Access to useful handouts and videos in your own online resource area

Example 8 Week Behaviour Change Package - sessions in-person and stooge sessions

£460 (save £52)

This package provides two months of intensive support for longer standing or more severe behaviour issues (in some cases, 3 or more months may be recommended). This package may also suit cases involving multi-dog households or dogs with multiple concurrent behavioural issues (subject to my assessment of your dog at the consult).  This package includes;

  • 2 x 1 hour Skills Coaching sessions (in-person)

  • 2 x 1 hour Skills Coaching sessions using stooges (in-person)

  • Progress Tracking via twice weekly online diary check-ins for 8 weeks to ensure progress

  • Access to useful handouts and videos in your own online resource area

 
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