Behaviour
Dog behaviour is a huge subject and not something that is easy to embrace fully on a single page. However, if you feel that you are having some issues with your dog, then you probably are. These can be minor issues that are just generally annoying for you (for example your dog jumps up on all your visitors or barks like mad when the doorbell rings) or they can be quite major, to the point where you are reluctant to walk your dog because it becomes a battle of wills between you.
Generally, people just need some guidance, a bit of confidence themselves and a clear picture of how to help their dog make progress. Some cases require more support than others, but in all cases, our aim is to turn you into your own “mini” behaviourist so that once it is just you and your dog, you are empowered to know how to help him or her best.
Some examples of issues that may be considered problem behaviours are:
- Pulling on the lead
- Jumping up
- Separation anxiety
- Problems with traveling and vet visits
- Poor socialisation
- Fearfulness
- Aggression/reactive behaviours of some kind
How does it work?
After an initial chat on the phone – please allow around an hour for this (we don’t charge for the initial chat), you will be given an idea of the best option for your and your dog(s). There are several available from video only, a combination of video support and in person one to one visits or all in person sessions, although this last is, interestingly, the least effective way for dogs and their humans to make the most progress. It is certainly not the most ethical or supportive way of helping stressed or anxious dogs or those that are human reactive.
In the majority of cases, the assessment, foundations and consults under each option are a flat rate with no additional charges. They include:
- Ongoing support via WhatsApp and/or email
- Video reminders
- Step by Step process
- Written report and individual behaviour modification programme with links, hints and tips
- Feedback on videos you are encouraged to send so that I can keep you on track.
Where in person visits are booked or needed as part of the process, travel is included wherever possible. Despite this, some locations may still be subject to travel charges. These are quoted in advance based on your full postcode.
For those that need in person visits at a weekend, there is no extra charge for this on Saturday mornings but they do tend to book up quite far in advance.
In most cases, things will change considerably over the next month of training and as long as you are consistent, compliant and committed in your approach. I can give you all the information and support you need, but only you can put in the work. Do this and you are usually well on the way to helping your dog become a good canine citizen.
There will be behaviours that might benefit from additional and more intensive programmes but it is usually only with the more challenging behaviours such as dog to dog or dog to human aggression. Even with these cases it is usually about building confidence and not about true aggression, which is in fact quite rare in dogs.
Other cases that may need more support over a longer period of time are those such as separation related distress (isolation issues). In fact, separation issues are better suited to support entirely by video.
I primarily deal with problem behaviour in young, adolescent and adult dogs; for puppies see our Puppy page