Have you ever used a dog behaviourist?

[Cavalierchaos]

Like a proper, registered dog behavourist?

Was it a good experience? Were they helpful? Would you mind sharing what your dog's problem was and if they managed to help?

Thank you!

Also would be really interested in people's experiences.

I'm struggling to pick a behaviourist as it's such a financial commitment and I have no personal recommendations to go off, bar one 'friend of a friend' recommendation.

They wanted £400 for two hours which I don't think I'm ready to justify the cost of, as I'm not a high earner and the recommendation wasn't that strong.

I have. I had a dog who became extremely dog reactive after being attacked by four dogs in the local park. He decided attack was the best form of defence and would charge the length of a football pitch to attack any dog he saw.
The behaviourist I saw had 'teaching dogs' to help work with the dogs. We started with dogs at a distance and over time, we were able to get closer to other dogs without him reacting.
It's also useful to have the dog's body language explained to you, so you can recognise signs of stress, discomfort or pain in your dog.

You do need to be careful when choosing a behaviourist though. Anyone can call themselves one, as the industry isn't regulated. Ask what qualifications they have. And check if they are APTD or PACT registered.

Yes. Complete waste of time. It was like watching an episode of any dog training show but she’d point at my dog, tell me I was doing something wrong and failing the dog but not really helping me make it correctly. He was a great dog but chewed everything.

there is a Facebook group called balanced dog training - they’re really helpful for finding a good trainer and offering advice - but nothing dog specific so they don’t lead you without having seen the dog.

Took Psycho ddog for an initial meet..
She stepped out of that car with her Best Fake Behaviour paws and winged it. Never went back.
Literally a duck and day old chicks met us at the carpark. We passed cows, horses and 2 border collies with sheep.
She didn't react whatsoever..
I looked a dick people...

I did. A proper ABTC one. For various reasons mainly a stick obsession. I mean obsession. She gave me perspective. I ended up going mantrailing with her to give him calming outlets as he was A LOT. I gained a friend and a network of dog owners who really cared about their dogs & enrichment & fulfilment. That gave me people to talk to, sounding boards etc. I would highly recommend but pickking the right one can be a minefield

I have for 2 different dogs, but I ended up both times at a vet with a behavioural specialism instead.

Both were for reactivity/aggression with people. One was caused by pain and a complicated medical background the other is just shitty genetics and a rubbish start to life.

Whether they helped or not is kind of complicated, because neither was really ever going to be resolved tbh, we’re talking quite severe issuses. I can do basic counter conditioning myself and stuff like separation anxiety I wouldn’t go to one for, I’d just get on with it.

So I’m talking about dogs with a bite history who would bite or attempt to bite people just for existing near them, as in the trigger was just them being there not specific things that they’d done or resource guarding or anything a bit less extreme.

The first, we made progress and possibly could have pretty much resolved it if every time we got close he didn’t develop another medical issue 😂 he ended up being PTS at 6yrs old as we could no longer manage his health to keep him comfortable.

The second is one of my current dogs - I got him at 5 months, from a rescue, he was originally from abroad and had never lived in a house or had any training or socialisation, we managed to do everything with him except get him ok with other people ourselves, he’s on fluoxetine now, but it just makes him more manageable the training is still only tiny forwards steps (better than none to be fair) but he’s never going to be a “normal” human social dog.

So possibly not a hugely helpful answer 😂 what issue is it you’re thinking of using one for?

If you are in the Bristol area I have used The Mutty Professor, well one of her team, who was brilliant in explaining my dogs behavior around other dogs when they rudely come up to her at 100mph. She can be rather fierce.

Explained what to look for body language wise, how to manage the long line and most importantly how to progress with reducing reactions.

Turns out my dog isn't interested in doggy chit-chat.

She gives good insights on The Mutty Profesor Facebook page and she is rather funny.

Thank you everyone for your replies. Completely agree with the comment about it being expensive! I also would only go to someone who had the proper qualifications, not just something printed off the internet!

My dog's main issue is barking and hyperactivity/overstimulation. I've tried so many tips off the internet and nothing has stuck. A behaviourist really is my last resort but I don't want to waste my money if they've nothing to add that I haven't already tried.

My dog was hyperactive & overstimulated hence the stick obsession. Im happy to chat through all the things ive seen and done if you like. How old?

I have.

My 2 cents worth....

Go for someone properly registered and take recommendations from your vet.

Only work with someone whohas extensive with the breed type of your dog. A bull breed displaying dog aggression is likely to have a different trigger, needs and management over a springer spaniel displaying the same aggression.

Yes I have and would highly recommend it. Find a decent force free behaviourist. Run fast away from anyone describing themselves as a balanced trainer - that’s just code for old school punishment. The same with anyone suggesting pet correctors, shock collars or any form of adversive training.
If you’re in the south west I can highly recommend several behaviourists. Or if you want a place to start then I can highly recommend the dog geeks which is run by two wonderful behaviourists I know personally
https://www.thedoggeeks.co.uk/

If you don't mind, that would be very helpful! He's 1 year and 8 months and I've just had him neutered! He's utterly bonkers and the barking is driving me to distraction.

@Sunrisemouse me too! I'm with The Mutty Professor and get a lot out of the community around it too.
My GSD is dog reactive and visitor reactive. I put off going to the behaviourist for ages due to the cost, but in the end did partly as a route to anti-anxiety meds (with vet recommendation)
Mutty Professor is really good and provided the human support I needed (having a reactive dog can be lonely).
There's no magic fix, it can take a lot of work, time and maybe even changing expectations.
Happy to say mine can now cope well with visitors and is ramping down the meds. Dogs are a work in progress.

The community side has given me new quiet walks, social walks to practice and a bit of reassurance.

Re being expensive - it’s not as expensive as you’d think, I mean it is, the price is the price… but, it’s usually for the assessment, the behaviour plan and then several follow ups either by phone or video call spaced out over a few months. It’s also quite often (not always) a much lower fee if you need to see them in person about the same issue and plan.

So while it feels like loads more than just doing sessions with a trainer, it’s because it’s all up front rather than per week.

We’ve been using one for about 6 months now. We were referred via our vet. Our problem was/is separation anxiety. It’s been a long process but can now leave him for an hour alone. Doesn’t sound much but the time increases each training session by 20% so all being well within a few weeks that should be up to 2 hours etc.
we’ve found her brilliant. We had an hours zoom meeting to being with them 4 30 min sessions every fortnight then a further 50 min session. Sessions have now ended but we have what’s app support for a further 3 months.

We are on holiday at the moment but she has given us a plan how to pick things back up when we return (leaving him historically has made the separation anxiety worse). I don’t expect to have a dog who I can leave for hours but a couple of hours to get to the gym 3xs a week would be amazing as would getting out in the evening with DH once in a while.

We used the one our vet recommended. It was during covid so we sent her videos of his behaviour and had an hour online appointment which cost £60 or £70 iirc.

It was helpful in that she was able to reassure us that his body language was relaxed and happy and it seemed like he’d got into a bad habit.

She gave us a long list of things to try. Some helped (scent games), some didn’t.

My mum’s dog had a much more awkward and persistent problem (dog reactivity and barking) and she sent her off to residential training, which was expensive but effective. The trainer was so insightful and really helped develop the dog’s confidence, which has changed everything.

Yeah I used the Mutty Professor too (well one of her team), I found the behaviourist I worked with very good. My dog had separation anxiety and resource guarding. The guarding is a work in progress but separation anxiety totally gone, which is the biggest relief.
It was something like £450 for 3 sessions, we claimed it back on insurance. They also offer email and Facebook support.

We used a vet behaviourist our last dog had pain issues so it was to manage behaviour that might pain related they were based at a veterinary college,it was pricey but did help.

Our current dog's.puppy Training classes were run by a dog behaviourist not as pricey obviously but a great experience .

A lot of good behaviourists will only see you if you have a vet referral. I asked for one for my boy and it's covered by my insurance. Have you spoken to your vet about it yet?

Mine was for reactivity to entire males and general nobheadery - wanted to address it behaviourally before thinking about neutering as he's still adolescent. Absolutely worth it - our first consultation lasted three hours, and had two behaviourists with us, one of whom is a vet with a behaviour specialism who did a full gait analysis. Because of this I can talk to them about whether pain or discomfort are contributing - I've got another three hours of follow ups too