Q&A
Hopefully any of the burning questions you have will be answered below, if not, don't be afraid to drop me an email or contact me and ask.
Do you use punishment or aversive training techniques?
No. I do not use any techniques that put the cat or dog in pain, discomfort or fear. Using punishment based training (or more specifically positive punishment & negative reinforcement) can impact on the relationship between the owner and the animal. It can cause the animal distress and many studies also indicate that the use of punishment or 'dominance'-based training can increase the changes of the animal showing aggressive-type behaviours. My focus when working with animals is to understand the under-lying motivation as to why the animal is displaying the problem behaviour in the first instance and resolve the under-lying issue which leads to a happy animal and happy owner.
What are your skills or qualifications that mean you can call yourself a behaviourist?
The term "behaviourist" or "trainer" is not a protected title in the UK which means anyone can call themselves a behaviourist and start charging people money- which obviously has it's problems. Organisations such as the Animal Behaviour & Training Council (ABTC) are trying to regulate the behaviour and training industry in the UK. The ABTC is made up of different organisations that accredit people as clinical animal behaviourists (CAB). To become a CAB one has to go through a rigorous assessment process.
My qualifications and experiences include an undergraduate degree in Zoology with Animal Behaviour and a Masters degree in Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law (AWSEL). Alongside my education I have worked as a behaviourist and trainer in the animal charity sector for well over a decade. There is no more challenging of a proving ground than a rescue centre for a behaviourist and trainer. These are often the toughest conditions and most challenging behaviours anyone will have to work with. Additionally I also worked through the assessment process to be recognised as a CAB and I am a registered member of the APBC and ABTC.
Currently I am spread across the animal behaviour and training spectrum. I continue to work as a behaviourist for a cat rescue charity, I run my private behaviour & training business and I volunteer as a dog trainer for the assistance dog charity Dog A.i.D. All of this means that I am continually developing and sharpening my skills and always striving to be better.
Prices charged by behaviourists seem to vary a lot, what's that about and how do I know if someone is a good one?
Yes! Prices can vary from two numbers after the decimal point to four numbers and a comma, which can be very confusing. Fundamentally there is no set pricing for a behaviourist and everyone will have different reasons for setting their price points and what they do. As long as you are going to a suitably qualified behaviourist (such as s member of ABTC or APBC) then beyond that it is just about finding the type of behaviourist that suits you and fits your budget.
Personally I set my prices at the lower end of the scale largely due to the fact that I have spent most of my career working in animal rescue. I see dogs and cats end up in rescue centres. If I can help owners deal with behaviour problems so it doesn't escalate to a point where they think they might have to rehome their pet, that is important to me. Trying to make access to behaviourists and trainers easy and (more) affordable is something I am very passionate about. This of course needs to be balanced out with trying to run a sustainable business.
What can I expect from working with you as a behaviourist?
Picking a behaviourist can be a daunting task. I feel the same way anytime I have to pick a plumber, mechanic or bathroom fitter online, you aren't always sure what you are going to get.
Firstly, as I am a member of APBC, they have an in-depth code of conduct about how their behaviourists should behave. That hopefully provides a little bit of accountability that you can expect me to adhere to those guidelines.
A personal ethos of mine is the saying, "take what you do seriously but don't take yourself seriously".
I try to have a laid-back approach when engaging with owners. It can always feel a bit strange having someone come to your house and for them to be assessing you and your pets, you don't want it to feel like you are back in school sitting and exam afraid of what to say or do. So I always try to cultivate a relaxed atmosphere during assessments.
Both in my professional life and personal life I am someone that cares a great deal about animal welfare so I genuinely want to help people and see them make improvements with their pets.
What can I expect from the behaviour plan that you send out after the assessment?
The behaviour plan you get sent out will be completely bespoke to you, your pets and your situation. It is effectively your behaviour bible; as well as containing information around the assessment and the perceived under-lying motivation for your pets behaviour, it will contain all the information you need to help support your cat or dog moving forwards.
Remember, when you hire a behaviourist they are there to help you, help your pet, as much as they are there to directly work with the pet. Behaviour modification is as much about working with owners as the pets.
What is the difference between a behaviour consultation and 1-2-1 training?
Sometimes it can be hard to get your head around all the jargon terms in the animal behaviour world and one of the tricky questions people have is whether they need a 'behaviourist' or a 'trainer'. I cover both but obviously there are significant price differences in the packaging. Behaviour plans will involve training, training plans will not involved behaviour work.
Very loosely; you want a trainer or a training package when you want to teach your pet a specific behaviour e.g. loose-lead walking or recall. It is directly focused on the owner, dog and no external stimuli.
A behaviourist is required when there is a behaviour problem being displayed that is affecting the well-being of the animal or the owner e.g. dogs showing aggressive type behaviour, cats soiling outside of the litter tray etc. To resolve these issues we aren't simply teaching the animal how to do something, we are typically using behaviour modification to change how they feel about particular stimuli.
An example of the differences would be, for example, if a dog pulls on the lead because they haven't been shown how to walk nicely, that is a training issue. If the dog is pulling on the lead because they are scared walking beside traffic or they reacting to other dogs, that would be a behaviour issue.
How do I know if I need a virtual session or an in-person session?
There is no set right or wrong answer to this, often it is dependent on your circumstances. Primarily affordability (virtual sessions are cheaper) and geographic location. There may be a behaviourist that you really want to work with, but they don't cover your area in-person, but you might be able to arrange a virtual appoint with them.
Historically, in-person home visits have always been the go-to option and they are better in the sense that you are seeing the animal and the owners in situ and you can often pick up on little things you might otherwise miss. Additionally, showing practical hands-on training can be easier to display in-person.
However, many behaviour problems can be addressed virtually, particularly more so with cat behaviour problems which may not require as much physical demonstration. There may be some little things missed that one would pick up on during an in-person consultation but generally virtual sessions can be equally beneficial and yield positive outcomes.
Overall it really does depend on what you are looking for and how best you think you will engage with either a virtual or in-person session. Please note; I do advise people if they make contact and I believe they could achieve success with a virtual consultation rather than paying extra for an in-person consultation, but the final decision is always with the client.
You work with both cats and dogs, which do you prefer?
Honestly, I like them both equally. I started my career working with both cats and dogs, then worked more specifically with dogs for a period or time, then worked for a feline rescue following that so it really is a 50/50 split for me - but don't tell my cat, Lady Bug, that!
I am confident working with both species equally. Although both species have different needs, learning theory can be universally applied to all animals (including humans) so there are lots of translatable skills that can be used across both cats and dogs.