Award-winning vet nurse and owner of Fuchsia Pet Spa, Annalise Morgan, offers her Top 10 Tips for Choosing a Groomer:
As with any industry/profession there is good and bad and pet grooming is certainly no different.
Here are some tips for on what to look for and ask when searching for a good pet groomer.
1. Ask
With so many people offering dog training or cat behaviour services and with seemingly every other pet owner who has an opinion, it can be a really daunting place to be when looking for help with a pet behaviour problem.
That’s why The Behaviour Company has put together this Top 10 Tips for Choosing a Behaviourist:
1: Choose someone you like. Pick up the ‘phone and call them because the person you choose for you and your pet are likely to be spending some time with you, so it’s important that you trust and get on with them. You’re likely to be welcoming them into your home and will need to talk to them and ask questions through the rough and the smooth.
2: Check out their testimonials. Other peoples’ experiences are important so do your research to find out what other people thought. Ring around and get some word of mouth recommendations about them.
3: Professionalism is key. The quality of the information the produce and their website is important because it is likely to reflect the professionalism of the individual overall. First impressions count for a reason and attention to detail is everything.
4: Qualifications aren’t everything. The old addage that “credentials on a wall don’t make you a decent human being” is true in every walk of life, so consider experience, knowledge, mentoring and professionalism, as well as qualifications. I know plenty of great Doctors but I’ve also met a few who I was less than impressed with.
5: Guarantees. Guarantees are everything when embarking on correcting your pet’s problem behaviour. It’s important to ask how long it is likely to take and what guarantees the behaviourist offers. Ask if they will guarantee to keep working with you to ensure improvement in your pet’s problem behaviour. Ask if the plan they offer, their service and improving the problem is guaranteed.
6: Speak to your vet. All good behaviourists will come recommended by veterinary professionals and work closely with them, so if in doubt, ask your vet or someone you know for a word of mouth recommendation.
7: Support and back up. All too often I hear of pet owners paying their money and the never hearing from the behaviourist again, unable to get replies to questions or further support. In many cases problem behaviours don’t correct themselves overnight so it is important that the behaviourist you choose to work with you provides a support service.
8: Insurance. Check that they are insured to work with animals (and children if applicable to you) and have adequate public liability and indemnity cover, just in case. If you do have children, we would suggest that a CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) clearance is important, too.
9: You are just as important. Although the behaviourist’s job is to work primarily with your pet, they should also be working closely with you, so consider their customer service and how long it takes to reply to your enquiry, for example. If they aren’t bothered before they’ve been paid, it’s not looking good for after!
10: Don’t get confused by clubs. There are a daunting number of memberships clubs for animal trainers and behaviourists, but membership of them doesn’t guarantee efficacy or success. Look instead for results-led recommendations and choose someone who uses positive behaviour modification techniques, avoiding those that mention or use any of the following:
- Shaking a can/bottle/container of stones
- Spraying water
- Shouting
- Rolling over or pinning
- Check or choke chains
- Physical or verbal punishment
The Behaviour Company offers a range of solutions for pet behaviour problems. For more information and for free resources and tips, visit www.thebehaviourcompany.com
The idea of feeding raw meat and bones to your pet is gaining in popularity all the time but it does leave many owners with lots of unanswered questions. Most know the many great benefits of a fresh, natural diet as Mother Nature intended but it’s not for everyone and many are put off by horror stories of bones getting stuck or causing damage or bacteria-laden chicken carcasses. I’ve fed my dogs raw for nearly ten years and never have I been so excited as I am now…
I don’t know how it escaped my radar but
It’s the month of love and The Behaviour Company answers questions on an excited Collie at walk time, a barking Golden Retriever, a Border Collie obsessed with rustling and poo bags and a Tasmanian Devil Miniature Schnauzer…
MY COLLIE IS CRAZY!…
“We have two dogs a Doberman and a Border Collie, they get on great with each other and are brilliant dogs 90% of the time. The problem I have is with Jasper, the collie, as soon as he realises he is going for a walk (which is before I’ve even made a move to get my coat on!) he starts yapping really high pitched and he then sets off Rufus who starts running around the house wimpering in excitement banging into things like doors, chairs etc. It’s not exactly a relaxing start!” Cath and Jasper
We say: It doesn’t sound relaxing at all Cath! Your walks must be pretty fun! Clip Jasper’s lead on at least 6 times a day when you have no intention of going for a walk and
To kick start the New Year, The Behaviour Company answers questions on compulsive licking, making your dog happy, fearful puppies and house training a new puppy…
IS LICKING HIS LEGS NORMAL?…
“My Golden Retriever licks his legs a lot and we’ve noticed that he does this more when he is scared. He has started to get sores where he is licking so much.” Sally and Coco
We say: Compulsive licking of the paws could be because of a number of things. Golden Retrievers are particularly susceptible to anxiety-based behaviour problems and thyroid problems, too, so it’s worth booking an appointment with your vet to discuss investigating for this as hyperthyroidism will make him more anxious. It sounds like acral lick dermatitis which is
We have a very clear mission at The Behaviour Company:
“To produce the highest quality behaviour in the shortest time.”
To ensure there is no misunderstanding, we even define what we mean by highest quality behaviour: beyond the client’s expectation and meeting our own.
Most of our clients come to us recommended by a friend. In fact, in a recent client survey we conducted, 10 out of 10 clients said they would recommend us. We’re understandably proud of this, so offer a little way of saying “thank you”.
If you refer a friend to us who books a consultation, we’ll send you both a £15 voucher to spend at online retailer www.dog-and-bone.co.uk. The best bit is, there’s absolutely no limit to the number of recommendations you can make!
Christmas is fast approaching, bringing with it the annual visits to friends and family, and while this is fun for us it can be distressing for pets. It goes without saying that we are polite to our hosts at Christmas, but it’s easy to forget that it’s their pets’ home too.
Children who aren’t used to being around dogs at home can become overexcited causing dogs to become nervous and agitated, so it’s important to ensure that children know how to behave around animals and not cause them any anxiety which could result in distressing incidents – or even bites.
The Behaviour Company, has put together some tips to help parents ensure their children know how to behave towards dogs in order to help prevent accidents.
“When lots of strangers come into a dog’s home, or territory, it’s easy for the dog to get distressed and nervous. It’s through carefully controlled body movements and posturing that dogs communicate their mood and intent. The excitement of Christmas will probably mean both the dog and child are behaving erratically so it’s important that children are aware of how to act around dogs, and understand dogs’ behaviour to help make sure there are no misunderstandings.”
We advise:
• Never put your face near a dogs face
• Be quiet and walk slowly. Dogs get scared of loud noises and fast movements
• Always wait for a dog to come to you. If they want to be stroked or play, they will ask!
• Never disturb dogs when they are sleeping
• Never go up to a dog when they are eating
• Never go up to or touch a dog you don’t know
• Dogs growl when they are angry or scared. Fold your arms and walk away slowly.
For more information and advice about dog behaviour and to download free resources for children including the Children’s Guide to Woofs and Growls, please visit: www.thebehaviourcompany.com
-ENDS-
Editors’ Notes:
Website: www.thebehaviourcompany.com
Free behaviour and training resources are available from our website: www.TheBehaviourCompany.com.
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This month The Behaviour Company answers questions on claw clipping nightmares, dangerous distractions, a curious case of probable attention seeking and crazy walk time!
CLAW CLIPPING NIGHTMARE…
“I have a Hungarian Vizsla called Milton who is a very good boy, however he will not allow me to cut his nails. I have tried everything from treats to waiting til he is asleep but to no avail. I would love to be-able to do his nails myself – how do I do it?” Jo and Milton
We say: Claw clipping can be distressing for some dogs; it’s an unusual sensation, can sometimes be painful and the restraint involved makes many of them anxious and stressed. The best way to
With so many dog treats, biscuits and goodies to choose from, it can be pretty overwhelming for owners when looking for something to use to train your dog or to offer as a tasty treat. However, for me, there is only one treat that stands out.
Pet Munchies are a 100% natural healthy treat made from human-grade meat, gently slow roasted in their own juices and then lightly glazed in potato starch to help preserve them. Feeling hungry yet?! They actually smell like roast dinner so it’s little wonder animals and their owners love them so much!
They’re packed in a really handy, resealable bag – so no more messy pockets on a walk! If, like me, you want to feed tasty treats that are good for your dog then Pet Munchies are for you. No nasties, no cheap cuts of meat, no colourings or additives. I can honestly say that with the hundreds of dogs we see each year, I have yet to find a dog who won’t eat Pet Munchies – of course, they all have preferences (some aren’t keen on fish but love duck etc) but I’m yet to have a flat refusal. Even for those dogs whose owners warn me that they are fussy eaters and “won’t take treats” – they are instantly my best friend when Pet Munchies are on the scene!…. it’s cupboard love, I know.
You can get Pet Munchies here with free P&P. For some handy tips of using Pet Munchies for training and behaviour, take a look at this:
