Stop Searching For Quick Fixes: Why You Need a Pet Behaviour Consultation
If you are reading this, you are likely exhausted or overwhelmed.
Maybe you’ve brought home a new rescue pet, and the settling in period is proving much harder than you expected. Or perhaps you’re at your wit’s end with a dog that pulls, barks or hides, and you’ve tried every tip you’ve found online with no success.
One of the most common mistakes pet owners make when they are struggling, is looking for a quick fix. We are inherently impatient, we’re not used to having to wait for things, instant messaging and Amazon Prime are to thank for that. But instant isn’t an option with training, much like us, our pets take time to learn new skills or to stop doing things that they get some sort of reward from.
Think of pulling on the lead as that piece of chocolate cake or takeaway that you know you shouldn’t eat for your diet but you do anyway. The pleasure of that food outweighs the guilt of breaking your diet.
The joy your dog gets from their destination, outweighs the discomfort of pulling on the lead. It takes time for us to break habits and build new, better, more socially acceptable habits.
Think how hard that is. Now think how much harder that would be if you also have a load of trauma that inhibits your ability to learn. Because the truth is,
Training is not the same as behaviour modification.
Even a relatively simple task such as teaching a “sit” to a dog that is too anxious or fearful to even focus on you, is going to be so much more of challenge. It's like trying to build a house on a shaky foundation. First you need to address your pets underlying emotional state, sure up their foundations. And then you can work on training them.
Why a Science-Based Pet Behaviourist Looks for the "Why"
In my many years of both hands-on experience and theoretical learning, I’ve learnt one thing more than anything else -
There is no one size fits all in training.
Before we can change your pets behaviour, we first need to understand the why.
Are they barking because they are bored, or because they are terrified?
Is the unwanted behaviour actually a symptom of pain?
Note: Many behavioural issues are linked to underlying medical conditions, which is why I often recommend a vet check-up as our very first step.
This is why I require an initial consultation for every new client. Think of this as the investigation phase of your journey.
What to Expect from Your Initial Dog or Cat Behaviour Consultation
If you book an in person session, I’ll come to your home - if you book an online session we’ll have this conversation over the phone or via video chat - and we look at the whole picture:
Your pets history - something in their past might link back to the problem you are having.
Your lifestyle - has something changed in their care, or routine that might have triggered the unwanted behaviour.
The environment - a house move or new member of the household can be big triggers for unwanted behaviour, but also, new neighbours (human or animal) or other factors can also have an effect on your pet’s behaviour.
The behaviour itself - what triggers it, the level of arousal and how long it takes for your pet to return to baseline. - This can be done using videos taken ahead of time for online sessions or if only triggered at very specific times.
Looking at all these factors allows us to stop guessing at what might be the problem and start building a plan that can help return calm to your home.
After our first session together, you won't just have a list of things to “try”. You will have:
Clarity - we will identify the potential root causes you are seeing.
A bespoke roadmap - this is a clear plan, tailored specifically to your family and your pet - remember we don’t do “one size fits all” here. These plans take into consideration everything discussed in the consultation, no two plans are the same.
Peace of mind - You’ll stop feeling like you are failing, start feeling like you have a partner who understands the science and the soul behind your pets actions.
Ready to find the root cause?
You don’t need more “hacks” or conflicting advice from the internet. You need a professional assessment and a tailored plan that actually works for your specific pets.
Stop searching for the next quick fix. Let's start the real work of building a kinder, calmer life for you and your pet.
Initial Consultations are the first step, whilst you are under no obligation to book follow up coaching sessions with me it is recommended in order to give you the best chance of success. Continuing follow up session with me means we can assess your progress and adapt the training plan when needed.
Still unsure and want some peace of mind before you book, send me a message and we can have chat first.
