Behaviour problems
When getting a puppy or a dog we all wish for a companion that we can take on nice relaxing walks, that will happily play with our children and lie at our feet in the evenings in front of TV. However, in reality many dog owners have problems with their pets that vary from mildly annoying to those that seriously affect the quality of life of both the pet and the owner.
Some common problems that people have with their dogs that I can help with include
- aggression towards other dogs or people
- resource guarding
- fears and anxieties
- excessive behaviors such as excessive barking or digging
- problems with being left alone
- leash reactivity
Most problems that people have with their dogs can be resolved, or at least improved to a level that you find acceptable. I use methods based on positive reinforcement such as counter-conditioning and/or desensitization and will plan, together with you, a management and training program that is suitable for you, your family and your dog.
I will not use methods or tools designed to cause pain, fear or to otherwise 'squash' unwanted behaviour. Although you might have been led to believe otherwise, there are no quick fixes. However, you might be surprised just how quickly your dog will start to learn new ways of behaving without any need to resort to force or intimidation.
I will treat each case individually, because every dog and every owner are different, and help you to understand what is going on and how to manage and correct the problems you might have. Remember though, that I can only give you the tools needed to correct the problems. Sometimes correcting wanted behaviour can take a bit of time and energy, especially if the behaviour has been going on for a while.
How it works
After you contact me, I will send you a background information form that you can fill in at home. All the information you provide will be confidential and its only purpose is to help me understand what you are struggling with and what kind of help you need. We will then arrange a first consultation during which I can assess the dog myself and start to develop a plan to help you and your dog. This first consultation normally takes 1-2 hours and will result in a detailed training and management plan for you and your dog. Later meetings will be shorter and during those I will train your dog to behave better and also teach you how you can conduct the training program yourself, since in the end you are the one who lives with your dog. My role is only to help to get you started and give you tools to happily coexist with your dog in the future.
The pricing depends on the issue at hand, but generally the first consultation visit is £25 and later visits £15. All through the training I will also keep in close contact with you via email and phone to make sure you are coping with the training plan and to help you with any further issues that might arise during the course of the training.