Behind the Scenes of a Behaviour Consultation: What to Expect & How It Can Help Your Dog

Is your dog struggling with anxiety, reactivity or other problem behaviours that feel overwhelming?

You’re not alone – many owners face similar challenges, but the good news is that there’s help available!

As a clinical behaviourist, my goal is to help you understand the ‘why’ behind your dog’s behaviour and provide practical yet effective strategies to manage and improve it, so you and your dog can live together more harmoniously.

In this post, I’ll take you behind the scenes of a behaviour consultation so you know exactly what to expect when seeking professional help for your dog.

Step 1: Pre-Consultation Process

💡 What happens before we even meet?

Initial Contact: The first step is to fill in a booking request form. This gives me a basic overview of the challenges you’re facing so I can determine which of my packages would be the best fit for you.
Vet Referral: As a clinical behaviourist, I must obtain a referral from your vet before we can work together. Don’t worry – it’s a simple process! Just call your surgery or drop by in person and direct them to the ‘For Vets’ page of my website, where they can complete my referral form.
Intake Form: Before our consultation, you’ll fill in a detailed intake form covering your dog’s history, lifestyle, routine and the nature of the problem behaviour. With this information in hand, we can get straight to work when we meet.
Preliminary Advice: Where appropriate, I may offer some ‘first-aid’ guidance or adjustments for you to implement before our consultation.

Step 2: The Consultation – What Happens?

💡 A step-by-step breakdown of the session.

1️⃣ Getting Settled:

The first consultation usually takes place at your home.
I allow 5–10 minutes for your dog to get used to my presence.
If your dog struggles with visitors, I’ll provide guidance on how to manage my arrival in advance.

2️⃣ Follow-Up Questions:

I’ll ask some follow-up questions based on your intake form responses to gain a complete picture of what’s happening.

3️⃣ Assessing Your Dog’s Behaviour in Real-Time:

While we talk, I’ll observe your dog’s body language and behaviour.
In some cases, I may want to see how your dog behaves in certain scenarios (e.g. on a walk), but I will never put your dog in distressing or risky situations.

4️⃣ Explaining What’s Happening:

Many problem behaviours stem from fear, anxiety, frustration or other strong emotions.
We’ll explore the root causes of your dog’s behaviour rather than just addressing the symptoms.

5️⃣ First Steps Towards a Solution:

To avoid overwhelming you with too much information at once, we’ll begin by ensuring your dog’s basic needs are met.
This includes:
- Providing adequate mental and physical enrichment.
- Implementing management strategies to prevent the rehearsal of unwanted behaviours.
- Ensuring your dog gets sufficient rest.
I’ll also teach you key skills to make daily life with your dog easier.

Step 3: Post-Consultation Support & Follow-Ups

💡 Behaviour change doesn’t happen overnight – here’s how ongoing support works.

Referral Back to Your Vet (If Necessary):
- If I suspect a medical condition is contributing to the behaviour or if psychoactive medication may help, I’ll refer you back to your vet for further assessment.
Personalised Behaviour Support Plan:
- After the consultation, you’ll receive a detailed behaviour support plan by email.
- This plan contains clear, actionable steps to improve your dog’s behaviour and evolves as your dog progresses.
Follow-Up Sessions:
- You’ll have two 1-hour follow-up sessions.
- We’ll focus on teaching your dog new coping skills and working on counterconditioning and desensitisation techniques to change their emotional responses to triggers.
Ongoing Support:
- All clients receive unlimited virtual support via WhatsApp or email between sessions.
- Whether you have questions or need encouragement, I’m here to help!

Conclusion – How a Behaviour Support Package Can Help You & Your Dog

Struggling with your dog’s behaviour can feel overwhelming. Even if you’ve tried everything you’ve read online, sometimes you need expert guidance tailored to your unique dog.

Remember, you don’t have to navigate this journey alone. A bespoke behaviour support package provides you with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to help your dog thrive!

📩 If you’d like to discuss how I can help, fill in a booking request form here.

I can’t wait to meet you!