It never ceases to amaze me, how often I hear of
dog behaviourists who seem to be very reluctant to venture away from their
own home or office to deal with clients dog behavioural issues. Time and
time again, clients tell me that they have been required to go to the
behaviourist’s own home, rather than the behaviourist come to them.
I even had some clients recently who not only been told they must come to
the behaviourists home fifty miles away, but were told not to take the
dog!!! This was a case where a young Malamute was becoming quite dominant
within the home – a clear case for visiting the home environment.
As
dog owners, you need to ensure that whoever you employ to help you with your
dog’s behavioural problems, they obtain as much evidence as they can about
you and your dogs and all relevant interactions.
There is no way they
can do this effectively, without visiting your home at least once. Whether
your problem occurs mainly within the home or outside it, your day to day
interactions with your dog will have a major causational effect on his
behaviour.
Failing to observe them is a major, but clearly quite
common mistake, made by many behaviourists these days. I travel to your home
to make the initial assessment, no matter how far away you live. It’s the
only way to gather ALL the information one needs in order to help the owner
and their dog.
PETER MOUNSEY, ASHCLYST DOG TRAINING & DOG
BEHAVIOUR DEVON. APRIL 2013