Dog Behaviour Support
Behavioural difficulties can affect every part of life with a dog. Walks may become stressful, visitors difficult to manage, leaving the house almost impossible, or relationships between dogs increasingly strained.
Effective behaviour work begins with understanding why the behaviour is happening. Rather than applying a standard training method, I look at the individual dog, their experiences, environment, physical and emotional needs, and the circumstances in which the behaviour occurs.
The aim is to create a practical, realistic plan that works for both you and your dog.
Behavioural difficulties I can help with
I provide support for a wide range of behavioural concerns, including:
Reactivity towards dogs, people, vehicles or other triggers
Fear, anxiety and noise sensitivity
Separation-related difficulties
Aggression or conflict between dogs living together
Lead pulling and difficulties encountered during walks
Fear of visitors, strangers or unfamiliar environments
Resource guarding
Handling sensitivity and muzzle training
Changes in behaviour that are difficult to understand
Problems affecting the relationship between a dog and their owner
Every case is considered individually. Similar-looking behaviours can have very different causes, so the first step is always to understand what is happening before deciding how best to respond.
The initial behaviour consultation
The initial behaviour consultation is a comprehensive service rather than simply an appointment.
It includes preparation before the session, a detailed assessment, practical guidance, a personalised written behaviour plan and continued support while you begin putting the plan into practice.
Before the consultation
You will be asked to complete a detailed questionnaire covering your dog’s history, daily routine, health, behaviour and the situations causing concern.
You may also be invited to provide photographs or short videos where they can be obtained safely. These can help me understand the behaviour before we meet and ensure that the consultation time is used effectively.
Where appropriate, I may recommend speaking to your veterinary surgeon before the consultation. Pain, illness and other physical factors can contribute to behavioural change and should not be overlooked.
During the consultation
The consultation lasts approximately 90 minutes.
We will discuss the behaviour in detail, explore the circumstances in which it occurs and consider the factors that may be maintaining or worsening it.
Depending on the nature of the problem, the session may include observation, practical exercises, changes to management and guidance on how to communicate more clearly with your dog.
Dogs are never deliberately pushed into situations simply to provoke or demonstrate unwanted behaviour. The priority is to gather useful information without causing unnecessary fear, stress or risk.
Your personalised behaviour plan
Following the consultation, you will receive a written plan based on your dog, your circumstances and the difficulties you are experiencing.
The plan may include:
Immediate management measures to reduce risk or prevent further rehearsal of the behaviour
Changes to the dog’s environment or daily routine
Exercises to develop new emotional responses and practical skills
Guidance on recognising body language and early signs of stress
Advice on equipment, enrichment and appropriate activity
Realistic short-term and longer-term goals
Behavioural change is rarely achieved through one exercise or a quick correction. The plan will focus on helping you understand what to do, why you are doing it and how to adapt as your dog progresses.
Continued support
The initial consultation includes up to 28 days of support relating to the agreed behaviour plan.
This allows you to ask questions, clarify instructions and provide brief updates as you begin working through the recommendations.
Support is intended to help you apply and understand the plan. It does not replace a further appointment where the behaviour has substantially changed, new concerns have developed or additional practical assessment is required.
Messages may not always receive an immediate response, particularly outside normal working hours, but I will respond as soon as reasonably possible.
Follow-up consultations
Behavioural change takes time, and some cases benefit from further observation, adjustment or practical work.
A follow-up consultation may be suitable when:
Your dog has progressed and is ready for the next stage
An exercise needs to be observed or adjusted
The original behaviour has changed
You are experiencing difficulties applying part of the plan
Further work is required in a particular location or situation
A follow-up is not automatically required in every case. I will advise you honestly where continued practice is more appropriate than another appointment.
Prices
Initial Behaviour Consultation — £120
A 90-minute consultation including:
Pre-consultation questionnaire
Review of relevant videos provided in advance
Individual behavioural assessment
Practical advice and guidance
Personalised written behaviour plan
Up to 28 days of support relating to the agreed plan
Follow-up Consultation — £75
A 60-minute session to review progress, adjust the plan and provide further practical support.
Online Follow-up — £45
A 30-minute video consultation for suitable existing clients who need guidance, clarification or a review of progress.
Continuing Behaviour Support — £20 per month
Ongoing support may be available after the support included with your consultation has ended.
This service is intended for clients continuing to work with an existing behaviour plan. It provides a way to ask occasional questions, share brief updates and receive continued guidance without arranging a full appointment each time.
The support package does not include a new behavioural assessment, extensive analysis of new problems, emergency support or replacement consultations.
In-person and online consultations
In-person consultations are available within my usual working area in Suffolk and Essex.
Some behavioural concerns can also be assessed or supported online. Online consultations may be particularly helpful where distance, mobility, anxiety or the nature of the behaviour makes an in-person session difficult.
Where an online consultation would not be appropriate, I will explain this before accepting the booking.
Travel charges may apply to appointments outside my normal working area and will always be agreed in advance.
Working alongside your veterinary surgeon
Behaviour and physical health are closely connected.
Where there has been a sudden behaviour change, signs of discomfort or reason to suspect an underlying medical issue, I may recommend that your dog is examined by a veterinary surgeon.
In more complex cases, it may also be appropriate for me to work alongside your veterinary practice or a veterinary behaviourist. Any communication with another professional will only take place with your permission.
My approach
My work is centred on understanding, communication and practical support.
I do not believe that dogs should be frightened, intimidated or punished for displaying behaviour that is rooted in fear, frustration, confusion or unmet needs.
This does not mean ignoring difficult or dangerous behaviour. Management, safety and clear boundaries are important, but they should be applied thoughtfully and without causing unnecessary distress.
The aim is not simply to suppress behaviour. It is to help create safer, calmer and more sustainable changes for the dog and the people living with them.
Before booking
Behaviour consultations require the owner’s active participation. I can provide assessment, guidance and support, but progress depends on the recommendations being applied consistently and realistically.
Some behavioural difficulties can be improved significantly, while others may need long-term management. No ethical behaviourist can guarantee a particular outcome, but I will always offer an honest assessment and recommendations based on the information available.
Please read the Terms of Business before booking.
Unsure whether a consultation is suitable?
You are welcome to contact me with a brief description of the problem before booking.
Please include your dog’s age, breed or type, how long the behaviour has been occurring and the main difficulty you would like help with