07979 44 88 49
Polite Pooches Essex
Dog behaviour advice and support
Behavioural Service
About Me
I’ve been a dog handler most of my life .
(my first job aged 8 was walking neighbours dogs!).
My own dogs have been Golden retrievers and German shepherd dogs.
I ran a home boarding and walking company for 18 years and have been supporting owners with behavioural concerns with their dogs for the last 10 years.
I have learnt a lot from spending time with many different dogs and this practical experience has been developed with ongoing education
in the field of canine behaviour.
Polite Pooches
Helping you Help your dog
I am Clare and I do not believe there is such thing as a bad dog or naughty dog, it is simply a lack of understanding.
After 40 years in the company of dogs and further education focusing on behaviour, I have gained a deeper respect and better understanding why dogs display behaviour in certain ways.
This knowledge and experience I aim to share with you, to support your dog’s whole well being and improve your lives together.
With any welfare concerns with your dog it is best to discuss with your Vet in the first instance. Behavioural concerns can often be related to underlying or undiagnosed health or injury problems.
Dog Behaviour
A dogs behaviour is generally a reflection of how they are feeling - shown with the subtlest of body language signals to the more obvious , and usually unwanted - growling, barking, lunging, nipping or biting, jumping up, toileting in the house or destructive behaviour.
Recognising and acknowledging these 'signals' will enable us to have a better understanding of how to meet their needs and support them to be a calm and happy dog.
The key to a calm and happy dog is to take into consideration their whole well being:
Respect for breed traits, allowing natural behaviour, diet, health, environment,
stimulation and enrichment, exercise, alongside their history and current family life within your home.
These points are what I base my principals on, so all can live together more positively and harmoniously.
I only use positive, force free, ethical and science based methods when working with dogs,
and a member of industry regulators, who's aim is to improve canine welfare and professional conduct
within the dog training and behaviour industry.
There are many views and opinions surrounding dog’s behaviour and I continually consider new fields of research and advice, in the form of courses, reading and experiences from a wide range of recognised and respected professionals.
Some of my qualifications and experiences are listed below:
Applied Animal Behaviour (canine) level 5 – Compass Education.
Advanced Canine Behaviour. level 4 - British college of canine studies
Approved Canine Reactivity expert - Canine Principles
Dog emotion and cognition – Duke university
Further education: courses/webinars, experiences or qualifications within the fields of:
Canine communication, reactive behaviour, anxiety/fear/stress,health, well-being and enrichment.
I am also proud to work along side and support rehabilitation and re-homing of abandoned dogs in Spain with
Protectora Animales Perros Del Sol (PAPS)
Full Behavioural Service
Many behaviours in dogs can be influenced by a medical cause, a visit and discussions with your Vet
must always be the first consideration to rule out or successfully treat any possible concerns.
I will visit you in your home and listen to your concerns and what outcome you hope to achieve.
I will obtain a full history surrounding your dog, including taking into consideration current lifestyle.
I will observe and interact with your dog, learning about their personality, offer immediate
practical advice and suitable tasks, working with you and your dog together.
You will be supplied with a written report covering everything discussed and observed,
which will cover likely reasons behind your dogs behaviour, advice and strategies
to safely manage your dog and offer suggestions to begin
to guide and support them towards wanted behaviour.
Telephone and email support for the lifetime of your dog.
Every behavioural visit is non-judgemental and non-discriminatory.
I recognise and respect every dog and their family as unique and will offer specific, relevant advice and support,
with considerations of best welfare for all.
£175
approximately 2 1/2 hour visit is required.
Free no obligation enquiries welcome.
Timescales for adjusting unwanted behaviour and rebuilding towards positive behaviour can be dependant on each individual dog and will require patience, consistency and commitment from everyone involved in a dog's life.
Additional or refocused support for specific trainings plans.
£75
Additional Services
1 : 1 Supported walk
If your dog lunges or barks on walks, struggles with recall, or pulls on the lead.
I can support you and your dog to have a more positive experience.
I will accompany you on a walk route familiar to you and your dog, observe behaviour and offer solutions to support a more positive experience. You will be provided with a written report detailing behaviours observed,
explanations of what is likely driving the behaviour and solution support.
£ 55
Additional walk support and refocus training guidance £30
Sometimes a dogs behaviour on a walk is just their 'tipping point'
to other concerns in their life, and full behavioural support would be beneficial.
Puppy Manual
£ 100
Getting a puppy is an exciting time with lots to learn and new experiences. I can visit you before or after the arrival of your new puppy and advise on what to expect. Your personalised ‘user manual’ will cover a settling in schedule,
Toilet training, handling and other areas of puppy development,
specifically tailored for your family life and puppy to set a solid foundation for building your lives together.
Rescue Dog Manual
£ 100
Adopting a rescue dog is a rewarding event.
But we have to respect, for the dog, this can be an overwhelming experience.
They will need time to adjust and bond with new owners. I will support you with advice and practical tips in a specific personalised ‘manual’ to ease the transition from kenneling or an unknown back ground to promote a happy, calm and well adjusted dog.
Adolescent/teenage manual
£ 100
Dogs reach adolescent (or teenage) stage at around 8-12 months, depending on your dog’s breed and size.
They may start to seek greater independence, test out their own abilities, push boundaries, ignore previous training and generally appear to be 'rebellious' or possibly become fearful or reactive.
As an owner of an adolescent dog this can be a trying time!
The manual will offer consideration and adjustments to their individual physical and mental needs,
alongside consistent reward-based training.
Giving you the skills to support them develop out of this phase to a confident, happy, well-behaved dog.
Testimonals
'Clare gave us really useful info and tips, it has been hard work, but their behaviour is improving and the dogs are becoming a pleasure.'
'I couldn't have done this without Clare's help and guidance and would definitely recommend her.'
'All I can say to you is thank you so much for the difference you have made to my daily life - I no longer feel guilty each day for not walking my dogs and that has made me feel relieved and happy.'
'I found the whole experience calming and reassuring. Thank you !'
