Fetch the answers to all your questions regarding behaviour consultations - hours, bookings, cancellations, process and policies.

Dog Behaviour Consultation FAQs

 

What are your credentials?

  • Masters in Clinical Animal Behaviour (distinction), Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh

  • Canine Obedience & Training, Fetac Level 6 Distinction, Dog Training Ireland

  • Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Authority U.K.

  • Canine Behaviour and Training Technician, OCN Level 4, AniEd Ireland

  • Full Public Liability & Professional Indemnity Insurance

  • See Seminar & Workshop attendance here

How do I book a behaviour consultation?

  • If your dog is new to Clever Companions please contact me to outline the behaviours of concern. I can advise on the best programme for you and your dog and the referral process for your vet

  • When you are ready to book I will send you a questionnaire to complete and 3 simple videos to send me. You will receive a booking link to choose and pay for the appointment(s) that suits you best

  • You must complete the questionnaire and send on the requested videos for your appointment to go ahead - without exception

  • After your initial consultation you can make additional bookings by email or in person at the end of each session

Why do I need a referral from my vet?

  • My insurance provider and membership of professional organisations require that I only work with behaviour cases on veterinary referral

  • Your vet is the expert on your dog’s physical health. As a clinical animal behaviourist my role is to identify potential physical, genetic, learned, environmental and emotional factors that may be affecting your dog’s behavioural health and relay that information back to your vet. Working in collaboration on referral ensures that your dog gets the very best and most effective treatment because any physical contributors are diagnosed and treated ethically, swiftly and appropriately. Physical and behavioural health are inseparable - if your dog has undiagnosed or untreated health concerns this could be causing, maintaining or exacerbating a behaviour problem

  • You, your groomer, friend, dog trainer, rescue, kennel staff, walker are not qualified to establish whether your dog is healthy or not - your vet is the only person legally allowed to sign off on your dog’s health. You have to have a referral even if your dog ‘appears to be fine’

  • Your vet referral must be dated within the last 3 months

  • Veterinary referral sounds scary, but it is the cornerstone of ethical, welfare centred and evidence based treatment of behaviour concerns. Just as your GP would refer you if you had a concern requiring specialist attention, your vet will refer you to a behaviour specialist such as myself

  • Contact us to discuss any concerns you have about the referral process, we are happy to discuss

 Can you give me some advice by email / over the phone?

  • Without a vet referral, full history, risk assessment and meeting you and your dog it would unethical and unsafe for me to provide advice

  • Any behavioural ‘first aid’ that I issue prior to an appointment could only be considered general and not a replacement for a behaviour consultation

  • If you are concerned for your safety or your dogs, please contact your vet immediately

Do you accept all breeds / types of dog?

  • Yes, I accept all breeds, shapes, sizes and ages of dog

  • If your dog is a restricted breed they need to wear a muzzle and remain on lead in public by law.

  • Please contact us to discuss your needs

  • We are happy to provide advice on muzzle training for any dog

Can we meet in public for the first appointment?

  • No. For safety reasons it would not be appropriate to have an initial consultation in a public place

  • Dogs (and humans) are distracted when outdoors. At the initial session there is lots of information to gather and impart, this has to be done indoors

My dog is scared of people - will you be coming into my house?

  • Your dog’s safety and wellbeing and the safety and wellbeing of household members is my first priority. I will always call you when I arrive to ensure that we have a safe, humane protocol for greetings. We can also meet remotely if the circumstances allow.

  • Your appointment and behaviour treatment plan is designed to be collaborative and flexible, based on your lifestyle and your dog’s behavioural and physical health.

    However legal requirements for dogs under the Control of Dogs act 1986 and the Animal welfare act 2013 are not negotiable as part of my behaviour programmes.

What methods do you use?

  • I use evidence based methods, that rely predominantly on positive reinforcement

  • I do not use methods that are aversive or punitive

  • You can see more of my work on my YouTube channel here

How do I pay for my booking?

  • Via the secure booking system which uses Stripe / Revolut

  • Payments are made at the time of booking without exception

  • We do not accept cash / cheques under any circumstances

  • We provide digital receipts for all payments

Can I claim on my insurance?

  • In many cases yes! Please check with your individual provider regarding your dogs policy

  • If you have a claim form at the consultation I can complete it for you, or you can send it to me post consultation by email

What hours do you work?

  • Consultations are Tuesday 11.30am 3.30pm and 7pm or Thursday 10am, 3.30pm or 7pm or Saturday at 1pm or 3pm

  • My office hours are Mon 11-6pm, Tues and Thurs 8-10am, Friday 10-3pm

  • I am closed Wednesdays, Sundays, public and bank holidays

  • We cannot hold appointments open, please book to avoid disappointment and delays

  • We will always text you if we are running late (unless you ask us not to)

Can everyone come along to the initial consultation?

  • Ideally everyone over 16 who cares for your dog will be in attendance for the initial consultation

  • I am happy for children to attend but in some cases there may be safety considerations and some of our conversations may be of a sensitive nature that could be upsetting for children

  • If your children are under 10 it is important to have another adult present so that you can concentrate on our discussions

  • Where safe and appropriate I will always try to include children in the practical aspects of the consultation

Myself or a member of my household is differently abled or doesn’t speak English - can they come along?

  • Yes of course, I endeavour to make sessions inclusive and enjoyable for everyone, where safe and appropriate

  • If you have any questions or additional needs please let me know on your contact form and we can discuss

How do I prepare for my consultation?

  • Once you have made your booking you will receive a confirmation email

  • Prior to the appointment you will receive two reminder emails

  • I will call you when I am outside, this generally makes greetings calmer and safer for dogs and humans alike! 

  • Do not have your dog come to meet me at the front door

  • I will need to sit at a kitchen / dining table where I can set up my laptop, in a well ventilated room with at least two meters between each attendee 

  • Please let me know if you would like me to wear a mask

  • Please don't feed your dog for 4 hours before their appointment

  • I will bring food rewards with me and anything else we might need for the session but please do have your dog's lead / collar / harness / muzzle to hand 

What if I need to cancel or reschedule?

  • Your reminder emails have links for cancellations / rescheduling

  • You will be charged in full if your appointment is cancelled / rescheduled within 48 hours of the appointment time - This is without exception What happens after the appointment?

  • You will receive a behaviour report, action plan, relevant handouts and a date for a follow up appointment (where applicable) within one week of the initial consultation

  • I will write to your vet with a summary of the report and my assessment and prognosis

What if my dog is sick?

  • The safety and wellbeing of your dog and that of our other Companions is our priority. Please let us know if your dog has been / is unwell

  • We reserve the right to refuse to work with your dog if they are unwell / injured

What if my dog is getting spayed or neutered?

  • Please contact me after speaking with your vet - if your dog is in recovery we will need to reschedule

OK I’m interested, what’s next?