Behaviour Consultations

A behavioural consultation requires a referral from your vet, in order, to rule out any medical conditions that may be contributing to any unwanted behaviour. The form can be downloaded here.

We expect a great deal from our pets.  Sometimes they don’t conform to all our expectations and problems can arise from their behaviour.  The behaviour may actually be normal for that animal but deemed inappropriate by the owner in those circumstances.  Alternatively the animal may actually be suffering due to the behaviour.

The role of the pet behaviour counsellor is to advise the owners about how best to deal with these unwanted behaviours and resolve the issues.  Most problems can be modified or cured with the correct methods using systems of rewards.  Our aim is to help you to have a well-behaved pet, acceptable to your family.

Dog behaviour issues may include:

dog barking

  • Aggression towards people or other dogs
  • Phobias (thunder, fireworks, guns, traffic etc.)
  • Barking at home, in the car, or on walks
  • Food guarding
  • Chasing (livestock, cats, postmen, cyclists etc.)
  • House soiling and indoor urine marking
  • Separation problems
  • Over-excitement

Cat behaviour issues may include:

  • Spraying in the houseorange cat
  • Indoor urination and defecation
  • Scratching carpets and furniture
  • Aggression to people
  • Aggression in multi-cat households
  • Nervousness
  • Introducing a cat into the household with minimal stress

If you are experiencing difficulties with animals other than dogs or cats, please contact us as we may be able to offer help or recommend someone else with specialist knowledge.

Consultations

Erica Peachey is a full Member of the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors (APBC).  This means she has reached the academic and professional requirements needed to meet the standard of a Clinical Animal Behaviourist set by the ABTC.

The service consists of an initial consultation (approximately 2 hours) online via Zoom, after which a full report is sent to you and your referring vet along with relevant handouts. This is followed by either two or four further Zoom calls, depending on which option you book. Follow up calls last approximately 30-45 mins each, and are arranged at suitable intervals according to your needs.

The consultation via Zoom provides time to really unpick the motivations behind your pet’s behaviour. Erica does not necessarily need to see the unwanted behaviour to know what to do about it. Zoom is more effective than an in-person consultation, as there is no need to have a visitor in the home, which many animals find stressful and difficult to cope with. Erica can then observe the natural behaviour of the dog or cat, without them being distracted by her presence.

dog in car

The packages are priced as follows:

Initial consultation + 4 follow up appointments: £310 (£340 after 5pm)

Initial consultation + 2 follow up appointments: £270 (£300 after 5pm)

A face-to-face appointment following your initial consultation can be added to your package for an additional £60 (£80 after 5pm) + travel, if required.

Many insurance policies do now cover behavioural consultation fees, but we advise checking with your insurer for confirmation, prior to booking.

Please contact us at epeacheyinfo@gmail.com for more information or to arrange a consultation.

Please note: There is a £60 non-refundable deposit paid on booking to cover administrative costs.