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Pet Training and Behaviour

How to find the right kind of help

Pet Training and Behaviour

How to find the right kind of help

Pet owners looking to train their dog, or who want to address any unwanted behaviours their pet has developed, will find a vast amount of often conflicting information online.  It can be difficult, therefore,  to sort the good advice from the less helpful, and even inappropriate, suggestions. 

Our guide is designed to help you find the right kind of help that will give you the tools you need to train your pet in a positive way, whilst helping to develop the bond between you both.

Self-help

These reputable organisations provide sound advice to owners and Dogs Trust even provide a helpful support line.

🐕 Dogs Trust 

🐈 Cats Protection

🐶 Muzzle Up Project – help for muzzle training and explaining the benefits of muzzles

🐇 Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund

Trainers

Look for a trainer who uses positive, humane methods and who works to continuously improve their own knowledge and skills.  Reputable organisations that can help with finding a good trainer include:

Behaviourists

 

If you are really struggling it may be best to seek referral to a behaviourist.  Careful research is needed to ensure that you find a suitably qualified person, as the term ‘Behaviourist’ is currently not a protected term, meaning that anyone can call themselves a ‘behaviourist’, without any relevant qualifications or experience.

 

Suitable behaviourists fall into two categories:

 

  • Veterinary Behaviourist – a vet who has undergone further specialisation in behaviour
  • Non-veterinary Behaviourist - is appropriately qualified as an animal behaviourist but is NOT a vet

 

1. Look for a behaviourist with relevant qualifications. 

  • PGDip(CABC) – Post Graduate Diploma (Clinical Animal Behaviour Counselling)
  • DipECAWBM(BM) – Diploma European College of Animal Welfare and Behavioural Medicine (Behavioural Medicine) (https://www.ecawbm.org/)
  • CCAB – Certified Clinical Animal Behaviourist (https://www.ccab.uk/)

2. Behaviourists who are members of reputable organisations will be required to have attained a certain level of knowledge and certification.

These organisations can provide details of their members, and some have tools on their website to help you find a suitable behaviourist in your area:

For further assistance, we recommend that you speak with your vet.

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