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 £75 (£100 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.

Terms and Conditions
All work undertaken is fully insured and follows the Animal Behaviour and Training Council (APBC) code of conduct. By booking an appointment  you agree that you have read, understood and accepted the relevant statements below.
  • Behaviour treatment requires a full veterinary referral (and medical history if possible) prior to the date of your first appointment
  • Before, during and after your sessions, your dog or cat is your responsibility and must be under your control at all times. You are expected to behave in a safe and responsible manner and follow our instructions when handling your dog or cat
  • Please let us know in advance if you or your pet have any special needs so that we can make every effort to accommodate them
  • Handlers under the age of 16 can only participate if accompanied by a responsible adult
  • We accept no responsibility for any injury or damages to any animal, person or property while participating in behaviour consultations
  • Appointment dates will be agreed upon in advance by us (Erica Peachey) and by you (the customer). If we need to cancel the appointment due to extenuating circumstances, your appointment will be rescheduled to a mutually convenient date and time
  • The behaviour treatment package covers your initial consultation and an agreed number of follow up appointments
  • You will receive a full written report of your first consultation
  • Payment for sessions is due in advance of your appointment. By sending payment you are agreeing to the following conditions:
  1. The £60 deposit is normally non-refundable.
  2. A copy of the report will be sent to your veterinary surgeon
  3. A copy of the report can be sent to your insurance company if they request it. (If you feel that there is anything of a sensitive nature which you would prefer to keep confidential, please let us know as soon as possible)

Face to face meetings

  • Before, during and after your sessions, your animal is your responsibility and must be under your control at all times. You are expected to behave in a safe and responsible manner and follow our instructions when handling your pet 
  • Payment is due in advance to secure your appointment(s). If we need to cancel any appointment due to extenuating circumstances, it will be rescheduled to a mutually convenient date and time
  • Please let us know in advance if you or your pet have any special needs so that we can make every effort to accommodate them
  • Handlers under the age of 16 can only participate if accompanied by a responsible adult
  • We accept no responsibility for any injury or damages to any animal, person or property while participating in training sessions