Behaviour Assessments - what you need to know

Rachel Williams Author

Since completing my MSc in Clinical Animal Behaviour and gaining my Candidate Membership with the Fellowship of Animal Behaviour Clinicians (FABC), I am now able to offer behaviour assessments.

What are behaviour assessments?

Behaviour assessments are undertaken for dogs that exhibit problem behaviours such as:

• Unwanted (including aggressive*) behaviours towards people, dogs, and other animals
• Fearful or anxious behaviours (such as noise sensitivity, fear of the vets, groomer and phobic behaviours)
• Separation-related problems (destruction to property, excessive vocalisations, inability to relax when left home alone)
• Abnormal or repetitive behaviours (tail/shadow chasing, spinning, self-mutilation, ingesting non-food items)

*Aggressive behaviours include: lunging, barking, growling, bearing teeth, air snapping and biting.

Although behaviour services may differ between businesses, they all generally follow the same structure. Firstly, a vet check is required to ensure there are no medical reasons underlying the dog’s behaviour, your vet will also share your dog’s history with the behaviourist. You will need to complete a history form detailing your dog’s behaviour. Once all of that information has been submitted to your behaviour they will carry out a consultation, delving deeper into your dog’s medical and behaviour history, this typically takes a couple of hours and may be carried out online (this is particularly useful if your dog shows aggressive behaviours towards people).

Work with me: links to my behaviour forms can be found here

After the consultation, your behaviourist will write a report detailing their findings and outlining a behaviour modification plan. Depending on the business, a behaviour modification plan may be implemented with the behaviourist or with a dedicated follow-up team. This is sometimes the case when working with larger businesses that employ vet behaviourists who undertake the assessment and oversee the implementation which is carried out by certified trainers. Self-employed behaviourists tend to carry out both the assessment and modification plan.

Trainers vs behaviourists

In an unregulated industry, it can be difficult to know which professional is best suited to help you and your dog. Generally, trainers teach new skills, (such as walking on lead, coming when called and agility) whereas behaviourists assess the emotions and motivations driving specific problem behaviours and create plans that modify behaviour.

To make matters even more convoluted, the titles ‘trainer’ and ‘behaviourist’ are not protected and therefore anyone can call themselves a trainer or behaviourist. One way to check whether a professional is suitably qualified and experienced is to check whether they appear on a professional members register.

Dog/Animal behaviourists

• Have the theoretical knowledge to undertake behaviourist work, such as a degree in animal behaviour (or prior experience and/or learning gained outside of a formal course).
• May belong to the following practitioner organisations as a Candidate or Provisional member: FABC, APBC, TCBTS
• My name can be found under the Candidate section on the FABC website.

Clinical Animal Behaviourist (CAB)

• Have the theoretical knowledge and practical experience in Clinical Animal Behaviour.
• May belong to the following practitioner organisations as a Full or Certificated member: FABC, APBC, TCBTS.

Certificated Clinical Animal Behaviourist (CCAB)

• UK’s only independent accreditor and register of CABs
• Have the theoretical knowledge and practical experience in Clinical Animal Behaviour.

Acronyms

APBC: Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors
CCAB: Certificated Clinical Animal Behaviourist
FABC: Fellowship of Animale Behaviour Clinicians
TCBTS: The Canine Behaviour & Training Society

Why behaviour work costs more than training

As you can see, behaviour work is a timely process requiring much information gathering, assessment and problem-solving. Many behaviour cases are complex and may require further collaboration with your vet. Each dog and guardian team are different, meaning there is no 'one way' to resolve problem behaviours. However, you may be able to claim your behaviour support through your pet insurance.

Categories: : behaviour