What is a clinical animal behaviourist?

Clinical Animal Behaviourists work on veterinary referral to help animal care-givers resolve or manage behavioural problems by assessing the animal and diagnosing their problem behaviour to create a bespoke behaviour modification programme.

What’s the difference between an animal trainer and an animal behaviourist?

The internet is full of conflicting advice. It’s hard to know what information to believe and who is qualified for you to trust. The terms ‘animal behaviourist’ and ‘animal trainer’ are used unmonitored and we can be left without any clear definition of what the actual difference is between these two titles. BUT there is actually a difference and not understanding that difference can be detrimental to your animal’s learning and their overall wellbeing. A trainer will help you teach your animal new skills and obedience using reward-based positive reinforcement. Usually, a specific new behaviours or responses may be taught such as teaching a puppy or dog to walk nicely on the lead, not to jump, agility, or to chew on a specific toy rather than your furniture legs! A good trainer will help you and your animal with a specific issue or activity to increase your understanding of each other and improve your shared life together. A behaviourist is required when animals display an unwanted behaviour which is usually rooted in an emotional issue such as anxiety, fear or frustration. Panicking when left in a room alone, soiling, reacting to noises or new experiences, obsessive behaviour and so on. Training alone won’t resolve the issue as they need to learn to FEEL differently about it. In order for the behaviourist to understand what motivates the emotional response requires assessment to learn about the animal’s current issues and descriptions of what happens prior to the behaviour and after, but also the animal’s background, clinical history, home layout, routines, diet, genetics. A behaviourist will use this knowledge gained about the animal and use psychology to help support owners achieve the desired outcome over time and they may include training to accomplish this. The titles ‘behaviourist’ and ‘trainer’ are uncontrolled and can be utilised by anyone, regardless of qualifications or experience. To address this in the UK, two key organisations set and maintain the standards of knowledge and skills needed for these roles: the Animal Behaviour and Training Council (ABTC) sets and maintains the standards of knowledge and skills needed to be an animal trainer or behaviourist. They maintain a national register of animal behaviourists and animal trainers. The organisation CCAB Certification Ltd. is an independent accreditation scheme for Clinical Animal Behaviourists (CAB). Accredited behaviourists hold an approved qualification at degree level or higher and have undergone supervised training to develop their own case studies. A Clinical Animal Behaviourist will only work on veterinary referral and will work with you the care-giver and the referring vet to modify the animal’s behaviour. It’s key that you check that your selected behaviourist or trainer is a registered member to ensure they have the knowledge, qualifications, skills and experience to enable them to help your animal. If your selected behaviourist or trainer is not certified, please exercise caution, as it can be detrimental to your animal 's learning, outcomes, and overall wellbeing. The good news is that at DVBP we can help you with training and behaviour!

What is a veterinary behaviourist?

A veterinary behaviourist is a clinical animal behaviourist that also has a veterinary degree. They are able to prescribe medications as they are a qualified veterinary surgeon. Our experienced clinical animal behaviourists work with our in-house veterinary behaviourists on each of their cases. We also have an in-house internal medicine specialist with which we may discuss complex cases, if deemed necessary.

We are a referral-only practice working in collaboration with the referring vet as they oversee the continued medical care of the animal, keeping all the animal’s information under the same clinical notes, we work as a team of 3 – the behaviourist (DVBP), the referring vet and the client. A veterinary referral is essential to ensure we work as a team to provide practical solutions for the behavioural issues presented. Moreover as the animal will not be examined physically by any of our veterinary behaviourists or clinical animal behaviourists, it allows us to consider the medical history of the animal, where pain or other disease processes may influence behaviour.

Ill health is often a factor in behaviour issues even if your animal appears to be well. Some medical conditions may exacerbate or actually be the cause of a behaviour problem. A medical condition can also impact and determine the treatment provided. Ruling out possible causes of a behaviour is crucial in helping us identify how to proceed.

Pain and discomfort such as musculoskeletal pain: hip dysplasia, osteoarthritis, etc can be seen in any age and is a common factor in behavioural issues. Pain and fear of pain can reduce an animal’s tolerances and they can learn to associate pain with a specific action, experience or noise.

We understand a veterinary referral may incur additional costs and delay starting treatment, but it is a crucial and necessary step required to ensure that your animal gets the right help.

If your animal is unable to be examined by a vet or if vet visits are part of the behaviour problem, then contact us to organise an advisory consultation to help you find a solution.

At Donovan Veterinary Behaviour Practice we work as a multi-disciplinary team on each case, holistically helping you and your animal. You work directly with your selected lead behaviourist, Kate Ellam or Loni Loftus, leading and guiding you through the treatment plan and they will work directly with Hannah Donovan (practice owner and a veterinary behaviourist) and Eilidh Mackay (veterinary behaviourist) to thoroughly review and discuss your animal’s case, incorporating their valuable veterinary expertise and knowledge to collectively create your animal’s bespoke behaviour modification plan. It really is a team effort! The team will also prepare a veterinary report for your animal’s prescribing veterinary practice to ensure we are all working as a team and to provide advice with any medical and psychopharmacotherapy drugs that can help with the behaviour change. For dogs, the team also includes Giulia Danielis, our canine trainer who will work with you going through everything practically to help you put into place the suggestions recommended by your lead behaviourist. As you progress with your animal’s plan over 3-6 months with the help and follow-up options with your lead behaviourist, the veterinary behaviourists are available to provide support in regards to medical advice and medication queries throughout.

With all that we offer, we really aren’t your average behaviour practice!

All our behavioural consultations and training sessions are online via a live video link. Please watch these videos where Hannah explains how the consultations work and why online is so successful:

Debunking myths

Remote consultations

"Having you to talk to, we’ve found it really helpful. You’re the only people we’ve spoken to from a behaviourist background that have made us feel justified regarding the extent of Murphy’s behaviour. You were the first people to really understand Murph and you’ve never even met him, you have really helped us.""

Murphy's Owner, Nottinghamshire

Please note that consultations and sessions may be recorded. Although the recordings remain the sole property of Donovan Veterinary Behaviour Practice, they are useful for you to refer to what was discussed and suggested. It’s also great if a household member is unable to be present so your animal gets clear and consistent messages from the whole household.

We recommend spacing your consultations 4-6 weeks apart. This may vary depending on your animal's situation - your behaviourist will advise if longer is required. The spacing is the optimum we recommend from years of experience, allowing you sufficient time to implement and see the effect of the guidance provided. Communicating regularly as a team maintains momentum and increases the likelihood of success. By spacing the consultations and session as advised, along with ensuring your behaviourist receives weekly updates means they can adjust the plan as needed and ensure that they are providing you with quality one-to-one support.

Life doesn't always go to plan so although we recommend this optimum spacing, it can be adjusted to suit your household - we want you to succeed!