Behaviour Consultations
Dogs can develop extreme or abnormal emotional responses to different things in their environment. These responses can be triggered by sounds, people, other dogs, places, and situations.
The responses can manifest as fear, aggression, anxiety, and compulsive disorders. Over time the behaviour can affect your dogs quality of life, the relationship you have with them, and how others perceive them. A behaviour consultation can help with any of the following............................
Aggression towards other dogs or people
Phobias about places, items or situations
Separation Anxiety
Compulsive disorders such as tail chasing
A behaviour consultation is part of a process designed to help modify your dogs behaviour, and it is done in the following way:
We will always request you have your dog fully checked over by your veterinary surgeon in the first instance. This is to rule out any medical causes for the behaviour.
Following your veterinary appointment, we will arrange the initial behaviour consultation. The consultation involves the completion of a behaviour questionnaire. The information provided in the questionnaire is treated as confidential at all times.
We will discuss the behaviour problem and identify any triggers that are causing your dog to behave this way.
We will provide you with management advice, which reflects the safety and welfare of all concerned. The management advice will also equip you with skills to prevent the unwanted behaviour continuing while the long term behaviour modification programme is implemented.
Where necessary, you will have the opportunity to work with your dog around other carefully selected calm dogs, in a safe, controlled manner.
We will provide you with a full written report incorporating the Behaviour Modification Programme you must follow.
We will provide you with effective training strategies.
You will receive full support throughout the implementation of the Behaviour Modification Programme.
If necessary, we can arrange a follow up appointment to review the programme.
Some behaviour problems may be difficult to fix altogether, but we will offer guidance and support and give you a realistic and honest opinion of what you can achieve.
Success of behaviour modification is dependent on the amount of time and commitment you can put into your dogs rehabilitation and training, and of course, whether they are in the right environment for progress to be made (See FAQ). Depending on the problem you may be shown and required to implement one or more of the following:
You may be asked to increase the amount of mental exercise you are giving your dog.
Part of the behaviour modification programme may involve lots of different daily training tasks to be completed every day for several months.
You may be asked to change the way you interact with your dog.
You may be told not to let your dog off lead when exercising outdoors throughout the programme.
You may be shown how to introduce your dog to a muzzle and will be required to implement this as part of the programme.
You may be told that a complete change in your dog's current routine is necessary.
You may be asked to change your dogs feeding regime.
If you feel you cannot commit to a behaviour modification programme, then we will be unable to help you.
If appropriate, Behaviour Modification can be combined with pharmacological/holistic treatments. Your vet/alternative therapy professional can be consulted on this.
Vicky Welsh 00849
Contact us: Tel: 0191 4102325
E Mail: enquiries@haveagooddog.co.uk
Web: www.haveagooddog.co.uk