A behaviour consultation is a session with your animal behaviour consultant involving you, your pet(s) and any other people in your household.

Behaviour consultations usually take around 3 hours. This is because I will take time to fully explore the problem, explain the diagnosis and design a treatment plan individual to you and your pet. There are 3 stages to a behaviour consultation:

1. History - we will explore the problem you're experiencing in detail and I will ask lots of questions. This is because there can be different causes for behaviour problems and it's really important to find which one applies to your pet in order for treatment to be successful. For example if your dog was toileting in the house it could be because she's worried about being left alone, she's afraid of something, she's seeking attention or she's just not fully house trained ~ each has different treatments. 

2. Diagnosis - I will fully explain the diagnosis, including any predisposing factors (like genetics), initiating factors (how and why the problem started) and maintenance factors (why the problem continues).

3. Treatment plan - We will formulate a treatment plan for you to implement with your pet. We do this together because it is important to be realistic about what is feasible for you and your family. We will break it down into small, achievable steps.

Consultations normally take place in your home / yard but if you live further away and want to have a consultation via Skype this can be arranged. I may ask you to send a video diary showing your pet's behaviour in various situations. 

After the consultation you will get a detailed written report (copied to your vet with your permission) so you don't need to worry about remembering everything!

Absolutely, this is really important part of the service. Implementing the treatment plan will take time and alot of hard work and as with all new techniques you're bound to have questions along the way. It will be rewarding, but it can also be frustrating at times so I'll be there to support you. Our pets are also individuals, so they will sometimes react in unexpected ways but we will talk any issues through and adapt the treatment plan accordingly.

All follow-up is included in the initial cost of the consultation, there will never be any follow-up charges. Support is via fortnightly video calls, in which we will review and adapt the treatment plan, discuss any issues or questions and ensure your dog is progressing as expected. 

Practical sessions are 1:1 sessions with me and your pet in whatever setting is relevant to you (e.g. out on a walk) where I will demonstrate techniques and you will have the chance to practice them and gain confidence. This might be useful, for example, a few months after a full consultation when you're moving on to another stage in the treatment plan and want to check-in. 

1:1 tutorials are sessions with me and your pet in whatever setting you choose when you have a specific training need (e.g. recall) that doesn't require a full behaviour consultation. 

I offer preventative programmes for horses and for dogs. These might be useful if you have recently got a new horse or dog or have a youngster or puppy, but you may simply be interested in building a new relationship based on trust and love. 

Preventative programmes involve 4 hour-long sessions over 4 weeks but can be tailored to your individual needs. You're very welcome to contact me to discuss if you're looking for something longer. 

Behaviour consultations require a referral from your vet. This is because some behaviour problems and changes in behaviour can be caused by a medical condition. Your vet will know your pet and be able to rule out any underlying disease or physical problem. It will be important for me to liaise with your vet after the consultation and during treatment so that they are aware of what's happening with your pet when they see you for any reason. Only vets can prescribe medication so if any medication is necessary to supplement the treatment plan this will be done jointly with your vet. 

To book a behaviour consultation, simply fill out the contact form and I will contact you the next working day using your preferred method of communication, or you can call or email directly using the information at the bottom of this page. I will ask your permission to speak to your vet and I can liaise with them directly about completing the referral form. Some vets may make a small charge for this. Once I have the referral form from your vet I will contact you again to arrange an appointment for the consultation that suits you. I will also email or send you a questionnaire to be completed before the consultation. 

For preventative programmes, practical sessions and 1:1 tutorials you can contact me via the website and I will contact you the next working day using your preferred method of communication or you can phone or email to arrange an appointment. 

Behaviour consultations are an all-inclusive package which costs £350. This includes the initial assessment, treatment plan and fortnightly support sessions via video call. There is no time-limit on these, we will work together until you're happy that the issue is resolved.