Loving and living with a dog that presents behaviour challenges takes a ton of effort, adaptation and time. Love, unfortunately, isn’t enough.

We recognise that you do love your dog and want to do your absolute best for them but may not know where to start or may be overwhelmed by the sheer amount of conflicting information about canine behaviour out there. Everyone has an opinion online and in real life!

Behaviour Matters Course:

Our behaviour work program is in the form of a blended-learning course that you will take along with your dog, participating remotely and in-person. You developing more knowledge and skill about canine behaviour and teaching dogs will empower you to work with your dog both with and beyond our guidance.

Behaviours of concern that may be helped by enrolling on our Behaviour Matters course include:

Our Approach: 

We take an evidence-based, needs-based approach to behaviour change. We apply sciences of behaviour change including, canine ethology & cognition, applied behaviour analysis and animal welfare, along with teaching, support and guidance therapies for humans.

Our approach incorporates the most up to date understanding of canine behaviour and learning, derived and extrapolated from valid science and evidence, and best practice. We apply a One Health. One Welfare perspective which means accounting for both human and animal welfare, also coinciding with Ireland's developing Animal Welfare Strategy (2021). 

Surprisingly, our approach doesn’t really emphasise “obedience” and it won’t feature in our programs. For more see, Not The Be All & End All and to understand how we work, see This Is How We Do It.

Our approach is relationship-centered and, rather than a dog-training-recipe, our interventions become a way of life, individualised for you and your dog; a life shared with your dog.

Your commitment: 

Meaningful behaviour change, for you and your dog, will require time and lifestyle changes. These requirements are associated with difficulty adhering to behaviour change programs over time.

Pet owner expectations are often misled by the popular presentation of dog training on TV and online, with trainers applying aversives and suppression causing inhibition of dog behaviour, making it look like there has been some miraculous and quick fix.

No quick fixes here!

Think carefully before signing up – we are in this with you, for the long haul. Meaningful change while maintaining your dog’s behavioural wellness, takes time. You will look back in a year’s time and find it hard to believe how far you’ve both come but the road can be bumpy, and progress is non-linear. Our support is there with you every step of the way.  

Full Course Program: €400.00 (paid electronically and due before first session)

or
Payment plan: 

• payment 1 before remote session: €150
• payment 2 before first in-person session: €150.00
• payment 3 before second in-person session: €100.00

Behaviour Matters registration & booking:

1. Enquire and register for Behaviour Matters, providing some details. We will respond and ask for some more specific information. We may also request that your dog be referred by their vet and we may ask that you supply your dog's veterinary records (available from your vet). 
2. You will forward payment and we will confirm the first session (remote). We will set up a private messaging group so that you can avail of advice and support, and send videos or queries. This way we can keep in touch throughout your course and provide you with guidance, motivation and ongoing support. 
3. Your first session will be remote during which we will go through your dog's full history. We will get a really good understanding of your dog's behaviour and your goals. After the session, we will send you access to the course site so you can work through any time from any where. We will send you your personalised and individual e-manual which will outline the first steps to work through, getting you and your dog started. 
4. Two-four weeks after your first remote session, we will arrange our first in-person session. Before we attend, you will forward payment according to your payment plan. That session allows us to see how you have been getting on with our initial plan, refine and build, progressing your plan and providing one-to-one guidance.
5.  Another 2-4 weeks later, we will arrange a second in-person session. You will pay your final instalment, and we will continue to refine and build with more in-person guidance.

Revision & Refinement

Once you have completed your course, you have our ongoing remote support through brief messages and check-ins. But, down the line or after a lapse in practice and progress, you might feel you need more in-depth help to get you both back on-plan.

Revision sessions allow us to pick up where you left off and refine your program, adapting to your and your dog's changing needs. 

• one hour remote revision session: €100.00
• one ~60-90 minute in-person revision session: €150.00
• two ~60-90 minute in-person revision sessions (booked together as a package): €270.00 (10% discount)
• four ~60-90 minute in-person revision sessions (booked together as a package): €480.00 (20% discount)