Animal Behaviour Consultations

Animal behaviour consultations address concerns including anxiety, fear, frustration, aggression, separation-related issues, house soiling and repetitive behaviour. Problem behaviours are assessed before a diagnosis is made and a treatment plan is devised. Treatment plans are kind, ethical and evidence-based. They are individually designed to be as manageable as possible for pet owners to implement. Ongoing support is provided by email, telephone or video-conferencing. Due to potential overlap between health and behaviour, veterinary referral is essential.

To arrange a consultation:

  • Email the office to discuss or book a consultation. 
  • If you book a consultation, you will be asked to pay a deposit and complete a questionnaire. I can email or post the questionnaire to you or alternatively you can download it here
    dog questionnaire / cat questionnaire / rabbit questionnaire
  • Once your consultation is confirmed with the deposit paid and  the questionnaire received, an optional first-aid telephone call is offered so that you can be given interim advice prior to the consultation if needed. This advice is on a 'can do no harm' and limited basis, as it is not possible to know what is underpinning behaviour and therefore how this should be treated until the full assessment has been conducted.
  • You will then need to ask your vet to refer your pet to me and provide me with your pets medical history. Vet referral forms can be downloaded here
  • Consultations last around 2 - 2.5 hours and take place in the owners home or online via video-conferencing. If an online consultation is booked, you will be asked to collect and share specific video-footage and sometimes a home layout diagram prior to the consultation. During the consultation I will explain what is underpinning your pets behaviour and recommend a treatment plan for you to implement. I then prepare a detailed report within two weeks and email this to you and your referring vet. Email or telephone support is provided for 12 weeks subject to terms (see the last page of the pet questionnaire). 
  • Generally, one consultation with further email or telephone support is sufficient.  Further support can be arranged if necessary. 

Pet Insurance

Clients with a pet insurance policy which covers behaviour can generally make a claim for my fees, subject to their policy terms, as I am an CCAB Certification Ltd-accredited Certificated Clinical Animal Behaviourist (CCAB), a Certificated Member of the Fellowship of Animal Behaviour Clinicians (FABC) and a full member of the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors (APBC). I am also registered as a Clinical Animal Behaviourist with the Animal Behaviour and Training Council (ABTC). Please contact your pet insurance company directly to clarify this. Where I am asked by clients to complete insurance claim documentation, there is no additional charge for this.

 

Banned Dog Breeds

I am insured to work with banned dog breeds under certain conditions. The dog must be registered with The Index of Exempted Dogs (IED) and must be covered by public liability insurance. The IED and Public Liability Insurance certificates must be sent to me at the enquiry or booking stage, so that I can share these with my insurer. If I am required to work directly with more than one dog and one or more of the dogs are of a banned breed, I must contact my insurer for authorisation to work directly with those dogs. The owners of banned breed dogs will need to strictly adhere to The Index of Exempted Dogs conditions at all times regarding ensuring that their dog is neutered and microchipped, and muzzled and kept on a lead not greater than one metre in length in public areas. In all other scenarios, such as if the dogs breed is disputed, I need to contact my insurer with individual case details for clarification.

 

Package prices

Dog consultation package:

Including a first-aid telephone call where needed, assessment, report, vet liaison, remote-based support & completion of insurance claim documentation where required.

£475 for a single dog or in cases of conflict between two household dogs if conflict is the only problem behaviour. Please contact me for a quote for other scenarios. 

Cat consultation package:

Including a first-aid telephone call where needed, assessment, report, vet liaison, remote-based support & completion of insurance claim documentation where required.

£400 for a single cat or in cases of conflict between two household cats if conflict is the only problem behaviour. Please contact me for a quote for other scenarios.

Rabbit consultation package:

Including a first-aid telephone call where needed, assessment, report, vet liaison, remote-based support & completion of insurance claim documentation where required.

£200 for a single rabbit or in cases of conflict between two household rabbits. Please contact me for a quote for other scenarios. 

 

Follow-up appointments - £175 (where applicable i.e. outside of the 12 week support period but within c.9 months of the original assessment).

Applicable to in-person consultations only: Travel is charged at £1.50 per mile for the return journey from GU51 3LY. This is to cover travel costs and time. 

Services

By combining extensive experience and sound scientific knowledge, I provide the following services.

Westie with ball

Animal behaviour consultations

Animal behaviour consultations address concerns including anxiety, fear, phobias, frustration, aggression, separation-related issues, house soiling and repetitive behaviour. I provide dog, cat and rabbit behaviour consultations.

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Tabby Cat

Behaviour referral service for Veterinary Surgeons

I offer a professional behavioural referral service for Veterinary Surgeons and their clients.

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Girl with dog

Animal behaviour assessments & reports for child adoption or fostering agencies / Social Services / School Dog Assessments

If animal owners are applying to adopt or foster a child, or on referral from social services or in cases of school dogs, I assess the behaviour and temperament of animals within the home or school.

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dog and cat image

Animal behaviour or welfare expert witness services

I provide criminal or civil act expert witness services, to include a report-based unbiased expert opinion concerning the behaviour or welfare of domesticated dogs, cats or rabbits. I also attend court where necessary.

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Rabbits together

Peer-reviewed published articles

I have written animal behaviour articles which have been peer-reviewed and published.

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Tabby Cat2

Teaching and supervision

For those with a level 6 or above academic qualification who have CCAB pre-certification and are therefore working towards their CCAB accreditation, I can provide teaching and supervision opportunities.

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