There have been a few threads recently where people have been given dangerous and downright incorrect advice from so called behaviourists.
I just wanted to highlight hoW to recognise a qualified behaviourist.
A good place to start is APBC
Behaviourists should be educated to degree standard in relevant degree and often an MSC and be a member of a professional body.
Anyone can call themselves a behaviourist unfortunately.
30 years of training dogs does not make you a behaviourist ever.
Your vet should have a list of qualified behaviourists and that is your first port of call.
A behaviourist will always ask for a vet check - if they dont walk away.
Generally they will not even see the dog until this has happened. Sometimes if the behaviour is too extreme the vet and behaviourist may decide to do this after behaviour modification has taken place.
Behaviourists are unlikely to touch your dog - (saw earlier someone say the dog did it for the behaviourist but we could not do it. That is not a behaviourist that is a trainer ( a poor one!))
Behaviourists may not even meet your dog if it is aggressive but will take a long detailed history.
Behaviourists work well using zoom. We can see the situation without it being influenced by our presence.
Behaviourists will not ask you to set up the situation to make the dog react - ever! You description and history is fine we do not want to stress the dog anymore
Yes the initial consultation may be expensive BUT you will have good individual behavioural modification plan that will make a difference. It will be written for your personal situation and will be achievable. There will be folow up sessions and be honest in these so we can tweak what you require.
Behaviourists will never recommend neutering or any advice re health that will be discussed between them, you and the vet.
Behaviourists will not "train" your dog, they will not dominate your dog, or teach him what to do, or how to behave, they will work with you and your dog to change the emotion of the dog and so stop the behaviour from occuring.
Behaviourists will look at management of all situations.
TBH many behaviourists hate training!