Behaviour Specialist

[RachelleBuck]

Hi Everyone,

I was just after some help if possible please.

I took my fear agressive dog to the vet for her vax the other night and the vet was talking to me about the benifits of using a behaviour specialist. I was wondering if any one had used one of these before and if they have found they worked in their case. I have been speaking to a few differant specialists and want to be really sure this is the right path for us before we start. Not only is it really expensive but I don't want to put my girl though any stress that she doesn't need to be under.

Thanks for your help

[Cavandra]

I have no experience with behaviour specialists....but you can do a search & read up about how high protein diets are causing behaviour problems & aggression in dogs...........Commercial foods , many are abnormally high in protein, you may find a raw natural diet will help..........

I first read this theory here on DOL recenly in fact, and was gobsmacked at this suggestion until I understood the theory..........do some research, it may solve your problem

[Miranda]

Yes I have and I gained a lot of insight into my dog's behaviour. It was well worth the money and I learned a lot

[Staff'n'Toller]

I have used Debbie Calnon in Melb to bounce a few things off with one of my dogs and she was brilliant.

We have referred a few clients from our clinic and found her to be very comprehensive, she is also very honest and there is nothing that she tells us that she hasn't already told the client.

Was just good to know that with some behaviour aspects I have never dealt with before that I was doing the right things and nothing that would cause further problems etc etc.

Mel.

[RachelleBuck]

Thanks everyone.

Thanks for your suggestion Cavandra. She is already on a low protein diet and this has helped a little but not a great deal.

I have thought about Debbie but she is a long way from me so have been looking for something a little closer.

Thanks everyone for your help

[Staff'n'Toller]

Debbie has quite a large area that she travels to, drop her a line and see.

[Miranda]

Rachelle I didn't use a veterinary behaviourist I used a qualified trainer/behaviourist and was very pleased with the results.

[RachelleBuck]

I have spoken to Debbie and yes she will travel out to me but it is just the extra traveling costs involved.

I have used a trainer and have had results but we just need a bit more help than they can give I think.

Thanks everyone

[~*Shell*~]

I went to see Steve (k9 Force) about Zero's dog aggression and he's practically cured it. Zero still has a few little things to work out but he can now be walked everywhere, taken to obedience training, have aggressive dogs around him and even play without having a go at another dog. I can't say enough about how good an experience it was for me (and Zero).

I wouldn't be worrying about the stress that's placed on your dog. The exercises we were given didn't stress Zero out at all and i found that i stopped stressing which calmed Zero down further. Besides, even if they put your girl under a little stress now, imagine how much stress she's going through now being fearful and weigh that up against the stress that you believe she'll be under for a couple of months while she's reteaching herself how to relate to the world.

[RachelleBuck]

Thanks for that Shell but a behaviour specialist is differant to a trainer.

A behaviour specialist looks for chemical imbalances in the brain not just training

thanks

[Cosmolo]

There is a difference between a veterinary behaviour specialist and a qualified trainer/ behaviourist- i assume your vet is referring to a veterinary behaviour specialist?

Veterinary behaviourists can dispense medication to assist in behaviour modification (trainers/ behaiourists can not) and every client i have seen who has been to a veterinary specialist has been described some kind of medication.

There are some cases where a vet behaviour specialist will diagnose and then refer on to a trainer for the practical side of things.

Depending on the problem and dog in question- a qualified and experienced trainer (experienced with the issue you are experiencing, not just obedience) can be just as good as a veterinary behaviour specialist and the fees are usually less expensive.

ETA- just read your last post. A veterinary behaviour specialist can do the testing themselves (as they are a vet), it is possible for a good behaviour specialist to request that testing be done if so required. May i ask what leads you to think there is a chemical imbalance at play?

Edited September 10, 2008 by Cosmolo

[stormie]

I have no experience with behaviour specialists....but you can do a search & read up about how high protein diets are causing behaviour problems & aggression in dogs...........Commercial foods , many are abnormally high in protein, you may find a raw natural diet will help..........

I first read this theory here on DOL recenly in fact, and was gobsmacked at this suggestion until I understood the theory..........do some research, it may solve your problem

This is interesting. I just did some googling and see that most common raw meats (chicken, lamb, beef) are on average, about 20% protein, with offals being about 30%. Hills and Euk adult maint. diets are both around 20% protein also, and supermarket brands are slightly lower.

So, would this mean that a food like Orijen, which is 42%, is potentially going to cause behavioural and aggression problems?

[Danois]

I have no experience with behaviour specialists....but you can do a search & read up about how high protein diets are causing behaviour problems & aggression in dogs...........Commercial foods , many are abnormally high in protein, you may find a raw natural diet will help..........

I first read this theory here on DOL recenly in fact, and was gobsmacked at this suggestion until I understood the theory..........do some research, it may solve your problem

Isn't a raw diet high in protein by its very nature??

It is also interesting to cross reference this post to the poll on Orijien in this same thread. Okay - its not a huge sample group but only 1 out of 14 people have said that their dog's behaviour has changed since going on to Orijien.

[RachelleBuck]

Thanks everyone for you help.

The reason we are now looking at a veterinary behaviour specialist is that we have used a behaviourist/trainer and have had some results.

The reason the vet suggested we try this as the next step is that we have tried almost every other path and have now come to this.

We have tried a behaviourist, changed to a low protein diet, even tried natural relaxants. And it has not been a case of try it for a couple of weeks and see. She has been like this since a pup and she is now 3 & 1/2.

Thanks to those who PM'ed me. Your help was great!!!

:D

[RachelleBuck]

Thanks everyone.

I have contracted a couple and will be going from there

thanks

[Diva]

Isn't a raw diet high in protein by its very nature??

No it isn't - that's a bit of a fallacy. Raw meat has a high moisture content, the figure of around 20% protein quoted sounds about right, less for a BARF style diet with veges etc.

Gald you've got it sorted RB

[persephone]

Good news *fingers crossed for you and your dog *!