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WHAT PROBLEMS ARE ADDRESSED WITH A BEHAVIOUR CONSULTATION?

There are various problem behaviours that require more involved investigation of the dogs history in order to establish the exact motivation for the behaviour. This requires a more in depth knowledge and experience of canine behaviour.

Such problems are often not resolved by obedience training. Generally, behaviour problems differ from training issues in that they are not simply related to problems responding to commands or learning the house rules. Some common behaviour problems are:-

Aggression (towards other dogs and people            Excessive management problems
Excessive boisterousness or excitability                   Separation anxiety
Excessive barking                                                     Fears and phobias
Chase problems                                                       Nervous problems
Inappropriate toileting                                              Repetitive or ’stereotypic’ behaviours (e.g. shadow chasing)

FOLLOWING A CONSULTATION, HOW LONG BEFORE I SEE IMPROVEMENTS?

This will be dependant on a variety of factors including the extent and duration of the problem and how much time you are able to spend working with the dog. I can advise and assist as much as is required but you will be your dog’s primary role model and it is often the consistency of the owners that is the best predictor of the rate of improvement.

Many owners will see initial improvements relatively quickly (within a few weeks). However, due to the complexity of many behaviour problems, working on the recommended programme is likely to span months rather than weeks.

IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO PRIOR TO MY BEHAVIOUIR CONSULTATION?

In cases of aggression it is of utmost importance that you ensure the safety of yourself, your family and the public. This may mean restricting the dog, keeping the dog on a lead and avoiding any potential problems. Until the dog can be assessed by a professional who will be able to recommend how to effectively deal with the behaviour, you should avoid potential problem situations.

With nervous or fear related behaviours it is preferable that the dog is not forced into a situation which they find uncomfortable. The nervous dog should not feel pressured as this can make the problem worse.

With other problems it is generally advisable not to react to your dog. Punishing or inadvertently rewarding the dog’s behaviour may only contribute to the problem.

WHICH TRAINING OPTION WOULD BEST SUIT MY NEEDS?

It depends very much on your requirements. The advantage of classes is that your dog is able to learn to respond around distractions (i.e. whilst there are other dogs and people around). On the Puppy Education Course and Young Dogs Course we also discuss common problems such as chewing, jumping up, play biting, etc.

However, for some dogs a class can be too distracting and it is preferable that the training is conducted away from distractions to start with. In these cases a one-to-one training session may be preferable. The one-to-ones are also advisable if your dog’s training is generally good but you have one or two specific issues that need work.

With either option it is important to remember that you will be your dog's primary teacher. You are with the dog on a day to day basis and the rate of improvement is dependant on how consistent you are and how often you can practice between one-to-one or class sessions.

HOW OLD DOES MY DOG HAVE TO BE BEFORE I START TRAINING?

By the time you get a new puppy (at 6-10 weeks of age) he or she will be quite capable of learning basic commands and your ‘house rules.’ Accordingly, I recommend starting training as early as possible. Putting it off until the dog is older only provides the dog with a chance to learn the wrong kinds of behaviours which you will have to work much harder to remove at a later date.

A common myth is that you have to wait until the dog is 6 months of age before you can begin training. In the past this was often the case as training techniques were often more forceful than is generally accepted today. Forceful and punishment based techniques are not suitable for young puppies as their bones and muscles are still forming. Any undue stress on the neck such as a sharp jerk of a lead correction can injure a puppy. More up to date training methods are baser on kinder, ‘hands off’ techniques which are quite suitable for teaching even the most delicate puppy.

IS MY DOG TOO OLD TO TRAIN?

It is true that, whilst dogs are still young, they tend to be quicker to learn. This is because they are primed and ready to learn about life. However, old dogs are also still learning from their experiences and can be trained. Sometimes it may take older dogs a little bit longer but, if the training is interesting and fun for the dog, they can be just as motivated to learn as the younger ones (and they are often much more capable of remaining focused on their training than young dogs). Older dogs who are kept stimulated with a variety of activities, games and training are quite capable of learning new behaviours very quickly - the more the dog learns the better they get at learning!