One to One

One to One Behavioural  & Training Consultations

Over the years we have carried out rehabilitation work on virtually every breed, suffering from dog aggression or aggression to humans, separation anxiety, nervousness, excessive barking, poor recall, livestock issues and all other commonly encountered dog behaviour problems.

Whilst having a specialist background in Rottweilers and German Shepherds, one look at the client reviews page will show you that we actually specialise in all breeds of dog. Many of our small-breed clients have said that the reason they have contacted us, is that they have confidence that if we can deal with Rottweilers, we can deal with anything!

Whilst we use non-harsh training methods and positive reinforcement and abhor the use of electric shock collars or e-collars as their advocates like to refer to them, we also abhor the over-reliance on food reward which has become common-place in recent years. When one sees the chain-feeding of treats which goes on at many puppy classes these days, there is little wonder that canine obesity is a major problem in the UK.

If the owner creates a positive bond with their dog and instigates good standards of leadership, there is no need for such ridiculous levels of ‘tasty treats’ and I am at a loss as to understand how I have been able to get good standards of obedience and behaviour from every dog I have ever owned (getting on for 20 Rottweilers and 8 Gsd’s) without the use of loads of treats or electric collars! There is virtually no use of treats in the training of UK Police dogs, which are amongst the most highly trained dogs in the world. Neither do they use electric shock collars or other harsh training methods.

We have no problem per se with the use of treats, but their excessive use is counter-productive and of course, when one is dealing with things such as aggression, any experienced, successful behaviourist will tell you that these dogs are rarely interested in treats at stressful times, such as when another dog is approaching.

With some behaviourists, there appears to be no plan b and of course, failing to plan is planning to fail. Our dog training and behaviour methods involve the use of calm, positive reinforcement of good and acceptable behaviours and assertive disruption of unacceptable behaviour.

Behaviourist Must Visit You

Occasionally, one hears of dog behaviourists who don’t conduct home visits, making their clients visit them at their home or office. With all respect to these professionals, this is not the most effective way to operate and all assessments should be conducted at the dog’s home.

By not seeing the dog and owners in their home environment, one misses so much evidence and information, which is vital to understanding how their problem behaviour manifested itself in the first place. Not only that, but the dog is unlikely to behave in the same way in an alien location and neither is the owner.

We strongly believe that virtually all behaviourists are well aware that a home visit is the most effective way to go, so those who don’t conduct them are doing so for their own benefit, rather than their clients.

 

Assessment Procedure

Following your intial enquiry and booking an appointment, we will usually send you a questionnaire which you need to return prior to the appointment. Your answers help us to compile a behavioural profile of your dog, identifying its relevant drives and traits which play a significant part in making it behave as it does. Awareness of these drives is vital in order for you to understand the psychology behind his problem behaviour and this will form part of our discussions during our appointment at your home.

The initial assessment takes about three hours to complete and is a combination of actual assessment, theory and practical work. We observe the way you interact with your dog and obtain further information during the ‘interview’ part of our meeting. The practical aspects involve putting the dog into the situations where it is likely to exhibit its problem behaviour, identifying the appropriate means of dealing with it and giving you appropriate leadership and handling instruction.

 

Follow-Up Environmental Sessions

Following our home visit, we will generally make further contact with you to discuss progress within 14 days. If not already discussed, at this point a discussion can be made as to whether or not you and your dog need any follow up environmental sessions here in Exeter.

These take place in public parks and open spaces to further the ‘real life’ aspects of your dogs rehabilitation, or simple to just check of your handling of certain situations if you feel you need it.

There is no pressure on you to have follow up sessions if you feel you don’t need them. Of course, you have our LIFE TIME FREE TELEPHONE/EMAIL SUPPORT GUARANTEE, if you just feel the need for further reassurance or advice.

 

Training Classes

We have lost count of the number of times we have been asked to conduct training classes, but decline to do so as we prefer the much more effective method of one to one training of dog and handler, whether with adult dogs or puppies. We feel that classes in village halls and the like, are of limited value and the actual individual attention given to each dog and owner, is so diluted as to be almost pointless.

Often, the ratio of dogs:instructors is inappropriate and have lost count of the number of clients we have seen who strongly believe that their dog’s or puppy’s behavioural problems had its origins at a training class, where it was bullied or picked on by one or more dogs. The same can also be said for doggy day care centres.

So whilst we are sure that there are good training classes and dog day care, we are of the opinion that they are few and far between and if you can afford one to one instruction you should go for it. If you can’t, then we strongly recommend that you go along and observe a class before you even think about enrolling your precious dog or puppy on it. However, no training class can effectively deal with problem behaviour as this is the remit of a qualified behaviourist.

 

Peter with client’s Rottweiler Djuke in Mayflower Street, Plymouth during an environmental.

 

What Now?

Owning a problem dog can be a demoralising and socially embarrassing existence. It can also get you in trouble with the law. If, having looked at the vast experience on offer here at Ashclyst, you are now thinking of booking an appointment, then you can contact us on one of the contact numbers at the foot of this page for a free, no-obligation chat about your dog’s problems.

However, if you haven’t already done so, please do take the time to look at some of the Client Reviews where you can not only read the stories of some of our cases, but also see comments and photographs of the dogs and their happy owners. We like to put faces to our reviews so that you can trust they are genuine.

If you are experiencing problems with your adult dog, have a puppy who is developing behavioural issues, or simply want to give it the best start in life you can do no better than contacting Peter and Jayne Mounsey at Ashclyst.