Consultations are for problem behaviours that cannot be dealt with through basic training alone.
Some common problems that require consultations are:
Urine-marking in the home
Destructive behaviour (chewing & digging)
Separation Anxiety (howling, barking, destructive behaviour, self-mutilation or house-soiling in the owner’s absence)
Dog-dog Aggression
Dog-human Aggression
Hyperactivity
Phobias
Compulsive behaviours
Generally uncontrollable behaviour
Consultations may also be helpful in preventing problems from arising and so can be arranged for the following:
General advice on raising a puppy
Choosing a new dog
Helping a rescued dog to settle in
Consultations take place in your home, so that I can observe your dog in its usual environment and chat to as many family members as possible. During this time I take a full history of the problem behaviour and acquire as much knowledge as possible about the dog’s daily routines. I will then briefly discuss my observations and advice with you. After the consultation, I will send you a detailed report, which explains clearly how to go about resolving the problem in a step by step manner.
It must be remembered that a consultation is usually just the first step in resolving problem behaviour and that it is up to the clients to follow the advice they receive. There are no magic solutions! Behaviour modification can be hard work and requires commitment and patience!
Consultation Fees:
Far South (Noordhoek - Scarborough): R750
Kalk Bay - Constantia: R900
The fee for a consultation covers not only the time spent with you in your home, but also travel time and the hours spent writing the report - while I may only be with you for 2 hours, at least 8 hours of work goes into a consultation!
Please note that when dealing with behavioural problems it is important for a behaviourist to witness how the dog interacts in the home and with the family. For this reason I cannot give advice via email or telephone. Many times what an owner describes over the phone is very different to what a behaviourist actually sees when they visit the home. In the same way that one would not expect a doctor to diagnose an illness over the phone, one cannot expect a behaviourist to diagnose a behavioural problem without seeing the animal in question.
* illustration by Justin Caris