for you and your dog

Qualified dog behaviour advice and tailored support in East Sussex.

By working with me, an educated dog behaviourist and accredited dog trainer, we’ll identify ethical solutions to both manage and improve your dog’s behaviour. The methods used are always in line with current scientific research and will not frighten or harm your dog. 

Cocker spaniel dog behaviour support

Behaviour issues can have a profound impact on your relationship with your dog...

...and on your relationships with other people. It can be isolating, frustrating and very challenging (for you and your dog). And you don’t want to do anything to make it worse! Your dog might be:

01

stressed

Stressed or anxious when left alone

02

reactive

Barking, lunging or snapping at other dogs

03

protective

Resource guarding with food or toys

04

STRUGGLING

Any other concerning or undesirable behaviours

accredited by

option one (recommended)

Full Dog Behaviour Support

Investment: £325

*PLEASE NOTE: THIS SERVICE IS CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE*

A two-hour personalised consultation (either in person in East Sussex or online) to fully assess and evaluate your dog’s behaviour. 

Your dog’s medical status is incorporated into the advice I provide. Why is this so important? Because, for example, pain has been identified as a factor in approximately 80% of “problem” behaviour cases. If we don’t fix the underlying issues – we jeopardise your dog’s welfare and may only see limited results.  A vet referral is therefore required, details will be provided as part of the booking process

    • A review of your dog’s history, routine, nutrition, household dynamics, exercise and medical status

    • You will be advised why your dog may be displaying these behaviours – this often gives you a deeper understanding of your dog and can help to change your outlook and approach

    • We work together to agree a behaviour and environmental modification plan for your dog, that you feel is both achievable and practical

    • Within 4 working days of the consultation, a written Behaviour Plan detailing the advice given and the agreed next steps, will be sent to you and your vet

    • Two weeks of email support is available, giving you bespoke guidance and encouragement when you need it most

    • A follow up 1 hour session (within 30 days of the consultation)

    • You can be confident that you have a welfare focused approach to your dog’s behaviour and that all methods are modern and scientifically proven to work

    • You can relax knowing that you have the support of a compassionate, qualified professional who appreciates that some days are harder than others

    • You can look forward to getting support for your dog to help them reach their full potential

Whippet in a jumper dog behaviour services

“Rachel has been just brilliant with our rescue Staffy Stella.”

“She is so in tune with the dogs needs and the owners. She taught us how to recognise what Stella needed from us making her a much happier relaxed dog - we have all learnt so much and not met anyone with such passion for animal welfare”

sarah + stella

option two

Emergency Dog Behaviour Support

Investment: £100

A 40 minute Zoom call to discuss the behavioural issues that you and your dog are experiencing. This is suitable for urgent behaviour problems and limited to “behavioural first aid” advice (with immediate steps that you can take to prevent the behaviour from escalating in the short term). 

A written follow up Report will be provided to you and your vet, via email, within 3 working days of the Zoom call. Please note that this Emergency Behaviour Support is not a substitute for a Full Behaviour Assessment. 

If you need urgent help, contact me here.

Small dog behaviour support

Still not sure if we’d be a good fit?

We would work well together if: 

  • Your dog is showing undesirable, problematic or dangerous or destructive behaviours

  • Rather than simply “plastering” over the issue, you really want to understand the causes of your dog’s behaviour and help to resolve the underlying issues 

  • You’re committed to using positive, force free and ethical methods – you don’t want to frighten or hurt your dog 

  • You are based near Lewes, Ringmer or Uckfield in East Sussex or want online remote dog behaviour advice. 

  • You really want to help your dog by working with a qualified professional who takes a compassionate and kind approach  

  • You want to move forwards with confidence knowing that you will be supported and guided through the process

Close up of dog nose and whiskers

“Things are so much better for us now.”

“Scruffy was really struggling with his anxiety and Rachel suggested some really effective but practical solutions to help and support him. He will always be slightly anxious, but things are so much better for us now than when he first came home.”

DAVE + SCRUFFY

Frequently Asked Questions

If you want ethical, qualified and effective support please contact me.

    • Level 5 Canine Behaviour - Distinction (Compass Education: ABTC recognised course)

    • Graduate from the international Aggression in Dogs for Professionals Course, 1 year intensive course (delivered by Dr Amber Batson, Veterinary Behaviourist)

    • Level 3 Canine Behaviour – Distinction (Plumpton College, East Sussex)

    • Completion of the Fear Free Shelter Program

    • IMDTB specialist courses in Separation Anxiety, Impulse Control, Aggression, Dog to Human Aggression, Resource Guarding

    • APBC and FABC webinars including Phantom Pregnancies, Adolescence, Pharmacology, Dog Bites, Legal Expert Witnesses, Canine Frustration, Why Training May be a Waste of Time (If The Dog Doesn’t Feel Safe), The Power of the Pattern (Pattern Games from Control Unleashed)

    • School of Canine Science Puppy Lab

    • Annual APBC Conferences

    • Animal Behaviour Kent Conference 2023

    • Currently studying Level 6 Advanced Diploma Applied Animal Behaviour (Compass Education: ABTC recognised course)

  • Behaviour problems often arise because of a combination of a number of different factors. Just like with human behaviour issues (likely anxiety or compulsive behaviours), long lasting change can take a number of weeks or many months. By resolving your dog’s underlying emotions driving the behaviours (and helping with your responses), there can be sustainable behaviour change (rather than just supressing those emotions).

  • No one can guarantee how any sentient being may behave in the future (that includes your behaviour, as well as your dogs). Behaviour change can, and often does, take a long time. There are no quick fixes!

  • These behaviour consultation sessions may take place at your house, outside somewhere or in a specific location in or around Lewes, Ringmer and Uckfield in East Sussex (sometimes this can be helpful if we want to train behaviours in a specific context). Zoom consultations are also offered, depending on the specific behavioural issue. The location will be agreed with you as part of the booking process.

  • It isn’t unusual for a dog to be displaying a few behaviour issues at once. That’s ok. You will be asked to decide which problem is the “primary” one and we will focus on that but also consider any other issues alongside it (they might be related). It may be that additional behaviour sessions are required to deal with the secondary behaviour issues, we will discuss this as part of your consultation.

  • I trust your description of your dog’s behaviour. I don’t need to see it for myself to appreciate what you and your dog are experiencing. Often, by asking a dog to perform an undesirable behaviour we are putting them into an environment or situation that causes them significant stress. We don’t want to add to your dog’s stress levels! You’ve also heard that “practise makes perfect” and this applies to your dog too – we don’t want to be strengthening those neural pathways.

  • If you need more sessions these can definitely be arranged and are £50 per hour. As dogs respond and learn at different rates there is always an option to book more behaviour consultations.

  • Training issues are often about teaching brand new behaviours (walking nicely on a lead or dropping novel items). Problem behaviours often have an underlying emotional issue, like anxiety or fear. That is why it is so important that the emotion driving the behaviour is considered as part of the Behaviour Plan rather than just supressing the behaviour you and I may see. For guidance on whether your dog has a training issue or behaviour issue, please feel free to contact me.