Dr Hannah Donovan
BSc (Hons) BVM&S MVetSci MSc (Clinical Animal Behaviour) MRCVS CCAB
RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Companion Animal Behaviour
Vet and Clinical Animal Behaviourist
DVBP Director
Since before she could walk, Hannah has had an exceptional interest and particular way with animals. Growing up around birds, rabbits, guinea-pigs, hamsters, gerbils, dogs, cats and horses, Hannah was often known to spend the majority of her time with animals. Hannah’s enthusiasm for understanding life from the animal’s perspective and her seemingly innate ability to communicate with them has driven the path forming a career where she enjoys working closely with animals.
Hannah graduated with a 2.1 Bachelor of Science Honours degree (BSc (Hons)) in Animal Science from the University of Leeds, UK, in 2006. She then went on to study for her veterinary degree, Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (BVM&S) at the University of Edinburgh, UK, and qualified as a vet in 2011. During her time at the University of Edinburgh, Hannah also obtained a Masters of Veterinary Science in Canine Behaviour Research (MVetSci). She then worked as a mixed vet in Lincolnshire and during this time, completed a Master of Science in Clinical Animal Behaviour (MSc) at the University of Lincoln, UK, she graduated with distinction in 2013.
Since then, Hannah has worked in small animal practices in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire, she has also travelled and volunteered around the world in clinics and shelters, and spent some time working in a large RSPCA hospital and shelter in Sydney, Australia. Hannah has worked as a veterinary surgeon since 2011 and has been seeing behaviour referrals simultaneously since 2013. Hannah has enjoyed providing continued education for vets and vet staff around the world about animal behaviour and how to improve handling and understanding during veterinary visits, rehabilitation of rescued animals or teaching young animals and preventing behaviour issues. Hannah’s aim has always been to improve animals’ quality of life and welfare by continually learning herself and teaching veterinary and shelter staff.
Hannah is an RCVS (Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons) Advanced Practitioner in Companion Animal Behaviour, an ASAB (the Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour) accredited Certificated Clinical Animal Behaviourist (CCAB), an ABTC (Animal Behaviour and Training Council) registered Clinical Animal Behaviourist and registered Veterinary Behaviourist, a Full Member of the APBC (Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors), a Committee and Certificated Member of the FAB Clinicians (Fellowship of Animal Behaviour Clinicians) and a Committee Member of the BVBA (British Veterinary Behaviour Association).
Memberships
ASAB (Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour) accredited Certificated Clinical Animal Behaviourist (CCAB)
ABTC (Animal Behaviour and Training Council) registered Clinical Animal Behaviourist and registered Veterinary Behaviourist
RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Companion Animal Behaviour
Full Member of the APBC (Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors)
Director and Certificated Member of FAB Clinicians (Fellowship of Animal Behaviour Clinicians)
Committee Member of the BVBA (British Veterinary Behaviour Association)
Emma Baker
BVetMed MSc MRCVS RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Companion Animal Behaviour
Vet and RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Companion Animal Behaviour
Memberships
RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Companion Animal Behaviour
Vet Subcommittee Member of FAB Clinicians (Fellowship of Animal Behaviour Clinicians)
Loni Loftus
BSc (Hons) Equine science, MSc (Applied Animal Behaviour and Welfare) CCAB
Clinical Animal Behaviourist
Loni is an experienced Clinical Animal Behaviourist focusing on horses, cats and dogs, having worked in the field for 20 years. She gained her professional accreditation with the Animal Behaviour and Training Council via successful application to the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors for Full membership in all three species. She is also an ASAB Certificated Clinical Animal Behaviourist (CCAB) for dogs and horses and an ABTC Animal Training Instructor for Dogs. Loni is a Certificated member and Director of the Fellowship of Animal Behaviour Clinicians and is also a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Loni holds an MSc in Applied Animal Behaviour and Welfare with Distinction from Newcastle University and a BSc(Hons) in Equine science. She is currently a PhD scholar at Newcastle University studying the field of positive affective state in equines and is also a lecturer in animal behaviour and welfare at a number of UK universities. Loni supports Donovan Veterinary Behaviour Practice with cat, dog and horse behaviour cases.
Loni is actively engaged in research and is also an editorial board member and reviewer for a number of high impact animal behaviour and welfare journals. Her current research projects include equine positive affect, enrichment in equines, quality of life in equines, physiological measures of stress in equines, canine reactivity, frustration in horses, the impact of Covid-19 on companion animals, farrowing systems in pigs, piglet welfare and welfare assessment in cattle.
Memberships
ASAB (Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour) accredited Certificated Clinical Animal Behaviourist (CCAB)
Full Member of the APBC (Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors)
ABTC (Animal Behaviour and Training Council) accredited Clinical Animal Behaviourist and Animal Training Instructor
Kate Ellam
BSc (Hons) Animal Management, MSC (Clinical Animal Behaviour)
Clinical Animal Behaviourist
Kate has been working with dogs and cats and their owners or caregivers in various capacities for almost 20 years, starting from a young age with pet sitting and assisting at puppy and dog training classes. Kate is passionate about helping animals and people and developed a love for animal training and behaviour whilst completing her BSc (Hons) degree in Animal Management. Inspired to learn more, and develop further in this area, Kate attained an MSc degree in Clinical Animal Behaviour at the University of Lincoln, graduating with Distinction in 2016. During this same year Kate completed training as a Life Skills for Puppies Trainer, again with the University of Lincoln.
Throughout her career Kate has worked for various organisations, including Cats Protection and Dogs Trust, coaching staff and volunteers in the areas of cat and dog welfare, behaviour and training. Recently, Kate worked for Guide Dogs managing a team of Guide Dog Trainers in Scotland, helping to supply highly trained assistance dogs for people with visual impairments. Within this role Kate achieved accreditation as an i-act practitioner, developing her knowledge and skills in the area of human mental health and wellbeing.
Having achieved her pre-certification, Kate is working towards her CCAB accreditation to become recognised as a certified clinical animal behaviourist, and is a candidate member of FAB clinicians. Kate supports Donovan Veterinary Behaviour Practice with dog and cat behaviour cases.
In her spare time she can be found snuggling up on the sofa with her two moggies or exploring Scotland with her two withdrawn Guide Dogs!
Memberships
Candidate Member of FAB Clinicians (Fellowship of Animal Behaviour Clinicians)
Giulia Danielis
Master of Laws (LLM)
Canine Training Instructor
Giulia has lived surrounded by dogs and many other animals her whole life. It was Ruby, a chihuahua cross and Giulia's first dog that she got as an adult, who inspired her to start learning more about dogs and working with them in a more professional setting. After finishing her Master's degree in Law 8 years ago, Giulia relocated from Italy to Bristol, where she started working in the sustainability industry as a marketing and sales coordinator. After undertaking several courses, she started volunteering for Dogs Trust Dog School Bristol, and after a few months of assisting classes she became an official member of staff.
Working with Dogs Trust, gained Giulia a lot of experience running both group and private sessions, working with a wide variety of dogs of all breeds and ages.
Giulia now runs her own business, focusing on puppies and adolescent dogs and on scent detection training for pet dogs. She's passionate about helping people understand, communicate, and build happy and trustworthy relationships with their dogs. Giulia supports Donovan Veterinary Behaviour Practice by providing live one-to-one online training sessions for our clients and their dogs to run concurrently within our behaviour modification programme or as individual sessions. Giulia also provides our puppy parenting course and training.
Giulia is a full member of the Professional Association of Canine Trainers (PACT), a Registered Animal Training Instructor with the Animal Behaviour and Training Council (ABTC), a Full Trainer Member of INTODogs, a Certified Animal Trainer with ICAN, and a GOLD Scent Detection Instructor with UK Sniffer Dogs. She is currently studying and working towards becoming a registered clinical animal behaviourist. Giulia lives in Bristol with her dog Ruby.
Memberships
ABTC (Animal Behaviour and Training Council) registered Animal Training Instructor
Full Member of PACT (Professional Association of Canine Trainers)
Certified Animal Trainer with ICAN (International Companion Animal Network)
Full Trainer Member of INTODogs
GOLD scent detection instructor with UK Sniffer Dogs
CTDI (Certified Trick Dog Instructor) with Do More With Your Dog!
Alex Calam
MEng
Business Support
Alex has worked in the Engineering Sector since graduating with a Masters in Chemical Engineering at University of Leeds. Originally wanting to be a vet, Alex now supports his wife, Hannah in the day to day operation of the Practice. He has participated in a number of volunteering programs across the Globe, and with this knowledge and experience, Alex is constantly striving to offer a welcoming and efficient service.
Sarah Finlayson
BA (Hons)
Administrator
Sarah grew up on a farm in Caithness, in the north of Scotland. She studied Publishing at the Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen and has spent her career as a technical author in Peterborough, Auckland and Edinburgh. Now that she’s returned to Caithness, Sarah has rehomed a collie pup called King.
Sarah helps behind the scenes in the office, dealing with your enquiries, scheduling consultations and keeps DVBP operating smoothly.
Jade Andrews
Administrator
Jade grew up in the Lincolnshire countryside, since leaving school she has always worked with animals, these roles have included a Veterinary Receptionist at a large, mixed veterinary practice and a Secretary for a racehorse trainer.
Jade was lucky enough to share her life with her late dog, Missy, who was wonderful and taught her a lot! They were Besties! Jade currently housesits all over the UK, caring for a wide range of animals.
In Jade’s spare time, she loves mountain hiking and keeping fit!
Jade forms part of the admin team, dealing with your enquiries and scheduling consultations.
Steph Remers
Administrator
Steph is a dedicated professional with a Masters in Sustainable Energy, an undergrad in International Relations and with an extensive track record of management and administration within charitable organisations. She joins us at DVBP in the administration and smooth running of the practice.
Steph originally hails from Manchester, she now calls the Highlands of Scotland home, where she resides with her partner and son. Their household is a lively one, cohabited by Bonnie the dog, Astrid and Charlie the cats, and two goldfish, Snowy and Golden-white.
Steph forms part of the admin team, dealing with your enquiries and scheduling consultations.
Our Methods
During the consultation, we identify the likely inferred underlying emotions causing the behaviour displayed by the animal. If the emotional-motivation behind a behavioural output is established and therefore changed, the behavioural output can subsequently be changed. For example, if a dog is barking at something due to fear, if the emotional-motivation underlying the behaviour (fear) can be changed, then the dog may stop feeling the need to bark, so the barking may stop. Sometimes, depending on complicating factors, work can also be done on the behavioural output (for example, the barking), but a significant amount of the time, the behavioural issue may change without the need for direct influence on that behaviour (barking), because we have managed to change the dog’s underlying emotions.
We use positive, reward-based training methods. We strive to remain up to date and maintain use of techniques focussed on science-based knowledge and research.
