Animal Behaviour Experts in Dogs, Cats & Parrots
Home visits across Birmingham, Coventry, Wolverhampton and Stoke-on-Trent, and across the West Midlands, Staffordshire and Shropshire. Virtual consultations for cats and parrots are available wherever you are.
We have a team of clinical animal behaviour experts in different companion animal species. Whether furry or feathery, the animal behaviourists at Second Nature Behaviour provide pet behaviour counselling services to help animals and their caregivers better understand each other.
As described below, there are different services available for different pet species, in your home, on a local walk, in dedicated outdoor spaces, at one of our regional clinics and online.
In urgent situations we can provide preventative, first aid advice through triage calls. Make sure you speak to your vet about a referral first.
We also work in close collaboration with veterinary behaviourists where necessary, to better understand how your pet’s mind and body work together.
Note that you may be able to claim back the fees from your pet insurance company, but you will need to check with them first that your individual pet’s insurance policy covers behaviour work.
Meet Our Animal Behaviour Experts
We have a team of qualified and experienced animal behaviour experts in different companion species, including cats, dogs and parrots.
Our dedicated pet behaviourists and dog trainers travel around Birmingham, Stoke-on-Trent, Wolverhampton, Coventry and surrounding areas.
Our animal behaviour experts include Vet Behaviourists, registered Clinical Animal Behaviourists and accredited dog trainers.
Hannah Dawes
Vet Behaviourist
Hannah is a Veterinary Surgeon who graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2008 and has worked in companion animal general practice ever since. She works part-time at a veterinary surgery in Stourbridge. She has a General Practitioner certificate in Small Animal Medicine and a postgraduate diploma in companion animal behaviour.
Hannah is passionate about improving pets’ mental health, as well as their physical health, and is particularly interested in the effect of medical conditions on behaviour. She is an active Candidate Member of the Fellowship of Animal Behaviour Clinicians. When she is not helping other people with their pets, she is looking after her own dog, “Noodle”.
Zoe Demery
Clinical Animal Behaviourist
Zoe has a doctorate in animal cognition and behaviour, and is a Certificated Clinical Animal Behaviourist (CCAB) in dogs, cats and parrots, and currently the UK’s only independently accredited CCAB in parrots. She is also a Chartered Member of the British Psychological Society, registered with ABTC, and certified by IAABC as a dog behaviour consultant. Zoe is a proud committee member of FAB Clinicians.
Since starting practice in 2012, she has helped hundreds of dogs and their caregivers better understand each other. Zoe also mentors budding dog behaviourists.
Megan Richardson
Clinical Animal Behaviourist
Megan graduated from Harper Adams University with a first class BSc (Hons) degree in Animal Behaviour and Welfare, then grew her busy clinical canine behaviour practice. She has many years of experience and is an independently accredited Certificated Clinical Animal Behaviourist (CCAB).
Megan is an active member of various organisations, including FAB Clinicians, APBC and PACT. Last but not least Megan is registered as a CAB and ATI with the ABTC.
Book a FREE Discovery Call
Book a free 15-minute phone call with one of our team to discuss how we can support you.
Dog Behaviour Consultations & Training
The dog behaviourists at Second Nature Behaviour can offer you and your dog years of experience in dealing with anything from simple training issues to serious canine behavioural disorders.
Common behaviour problems found amongst dogs include:
Our most popular option when hiring one of our dog behaviourists is to have a home visit consultation on referral from a veterinary surgeon. You receive a dog training manual and a tailor-made treatment plan, remote support, followed by further visits where necessary.
Prices for our dog behaviour consultations are dependent upon how far you are away from us and who you would like to lead your consultation. You can book an appointment through our website or contact us if you have further questions.
We also have a team of accredited dog trainers based in Stoke-on-Trent, Coventry and Birmingham. Our dog trainers provide support for dog training problems such as pulling on the lead and poor recall. We also provide puppy training advice.
Claim on pet insurance
Did you know? You may be able to pay for our pet behaviour services through your pet insurance. We accept direct insurance claims for our pet behaviour consultations through select insurance companies.
Cat Behaviour Consultations & Training
Our cat behaviourists can support you with your cat’s behaviour problems. Cats are sensitive animals who can become easily stressed by changes in their home and/or local neighbourhood environment. Common behaviour problems found amongst cats include:
The best option for most cat behaviour problems is a home visit 2 hours’ consultation with one of our cat behaviourists on referral from the veterinary surgeon. This includes a tailor-made report sent to you after the initial consultation, a follow-up session, as well as optional weekly check-ins via calls, WhatsApp text or email for at least 6 weeks. Prices for our cat home visits are dependent upon how far you are from us and who you would like to lead your consultation.
Some feline issues may be appropriate for our clinic consultations. We also offer virtual video consultations for cats around the world. You can book an appointment through our website, or give us a buzz to chat through things further.
Our cat behaviour experts provide behaviour consultations across the West Midlands, including Birmingham, Stoke-on-Trent, Coventry, Wolverhampton and surrounding areas. Our cat behaviourists can also offer consultations virtually over video call.
Book a Behaviour Consultation
Get help from one of our animal behaviour experts
Parrot Behaviour Consultations & Training
Pet parrots are susceptible to a wide range of behaviour problems, including:
Depending on the particular species, this can be due to a range of factors. Psitaccines are very sociable and intelligent creatures, so problems such as feather-plucking may arise from either an environment lacking in stimulation and companionship, or even a far too busy environment.
Second Nature Behaviour can offer expert advice on how to resolve such issues through a full avian behaviour consultation by visiting your home.
Depending on the issue, you may instead be able to join us at one of our monthly regional or virtual behavioural clinics. It often helps just chat things through with us face-to-face. Alternatively for our international clients, we offer dedicated online video consultations.
Dr. Zoe Demery has published and lectured parrot behaviour and learning around the world. She is currently the only independently accredited Certificated Clinical Animal Behaviourist (CCAB) in parrots and she is a Certified Parrot Behaviour Consultant with the IAABC. She only utilises positive, reward-based solutions, based on what is known about the ecological background of your particular parrot species. This ethological approach keeps the cognitive well-being of your bird in mind at all times. If you would like more information, please contact us and ask your avian vet for a referral.
Book a parrot consultation now through our web site.
Call your nearest hub: Birmingham 0121 299 0188 · Coventry 024 7527 9393 · Stoke-on-Trent 01782 982 688 · Wolverhampton 01902 962 006
What Our Clients Say About Our Pet Behaviour & Training Services
Ella the vet
I have been very impressed with Zoe and her team at Second Nature and now they see all my behaviour referrals. Their client communication, follow up support and their passion for what they do is wonderful. As a referring vet, i want my clients to feel happy with whom I have referred them to and I can honestly say every one has been very pleased!
Nicki the vet
Zoe has worked absolute miracles on cats, dogs and parrots and given pet owners chance to build a more understanding and deeper relationship with their pets. I have loved seeing clients back with smiles on their faces after implementing Zoe’s instructions in order to manage the issues they have had for a long time.
Behavioural issues are very complex and with a communication barrier from man to animal creating an even more difficult task, a highly qualified behaviourist with lots of experience is absolutely invaluable and for me, Zoe is just that. An invaluable asset to my work as a vet to ensure you can get the best out of your relationship with your family pets.
I will always recommend 100%. Thank you for everything, I look forward to continuing to work with you.
Luke, Harry & Trixie
I cannot recommend Second Nature enough. Zoe gives both my dogs so much care and attention.
I have two German Shepherds who are extremely anxious around other dogs. Zoe accompanied me on dog walks to give practical help and advice for challenging situations! She is great at giving tips and tricks, training suggestions and food recommendations for my boys. Not only is Zoe amazing with the dogs but she is a lovely person to work with and made me feel at ease. The best service you can get for a reasonable price.
Thank you Second Nature,
Trixy
Benji, Dawn & Paul
We have really enjoyed the behaviour consultation process. Zoe has shown us how to deal with our dog’s problems. We now have the tools to carry on with his training.
The walks with Zoe, in particular, have provided what we need to stop Benji’s chasing. We know it is going to be a long process for Benji’s problems, but we now know how to go about trying to change the behaviour with consistency. We know that it is fear that is making Benji chase. We would definitely recommend Second Nature and would use you again if required in the future.
Many thanks for your help,
Dawn and Paul
Ted, Rob and Michelle
Really pleased with the outcome and what an enjoyable experience meeting with you – Ted has calmed down a lot now!
It’s great that I can cuddle Rob now without worrying! Ted is much calmer when people visit, but we’re still working on him tolerating strangers approaching me. Nonetheless, on the whole fantastic!
Thank you for all your help!
Michelle & Rob
Gracie
Whilst Gracie is still an anxious dog, she has made incredible progress and if we are completely honest, more progress than we thought she could make.
Gracie came to live with us from the Retired Greyhound Trust. Gracie was finding life very difficult as she was incredibly anxious and her inability to sleep through the night, cope with anyone other than us coming to the house and her extreme nervousness on encountering other people on walks was making us doubt if we could keep her. This was extremely upsetting for us as she is a very loving dog. As a result of Gracie’s issues and the stress, it was causing her and us, we were referred to Second NatureBehaviour by our vet.
Zoe visited us at home and spent over three hours observing Gracie and talking with us about our experiences with her. This consultation was very successful and almost over-night enabled us to improve the ways we approached and helped Gracie, through:
Diagnosing Gracie’s condition as generalised anxiety disorder and gaining a full understanding of the implications of this condition;
- Working in partnership with our vet to create a clinical as well as a behavioural plan;
- Teaching us how to “address” Gracie in order to reduce her stress levels – this technique we were able to share with visitors and had a great calming effect;
- Using treats to reward small steps forward that quickly grew into lasting improvements;
- Recognising some of Gracie’s stress triggers and developing a regime that reduced them / where possible avoided them; and
- A behavioural programme that helped Gracie during stressful times.
Gracie has now been part of our family for 15 months. There is still a lot to be done to continue to help Gracie, but thanks to Zoe’s input, when she is at home with us she is now a happy, playful, confident and very affectionate dog. During walks she is nowhere near as scared of traffic, people, noises as she used to be, and no longer ‘freezes’ as she used to at times.
The coaching we have had from Zoe through the initial visit and follow up has given us confidence that we can, over time, continue the progress Gracie has made so far to help her live an even fuller and happier life.
We would absolutely recommend Zoe to anyone who has an animal struggling with behavioural problems, as the progress we have seen Gracie make is wonderful, and has made our lives much better, too.
Thank you,
Anette and David
Echo
I do think that if we had not had help Echo wouldn’t be with us today, so this service has been fabulous! With the behaviour plan in place and lots of hard work from us as a family, we now have a more relaxed dog.
Echo shows nervous aggression whenever people come near him. The overall consultation process has helped us as a family to understand Echo a lot better and why he acts as he does at times. The behaviour plan is always on hand to help us in certain areas with Echo and it works so long as we all stick to it, which we do.
Without Zoe coming to see us and organising a behaviour plan for our border collie, I feel I would have had to rehome him. We still have a long way to go, but we now know Echo and how he reacts in situations and why so we can quickly defuse it.
A wonderful service from Second Nature knowing we can call Zoe at any time is so reassuring. Thank you Second Nature and Zoe – so friendly and understanding!
Thanks for all your help!
Claire
Chip, James & Sarah
We found Zoe to be extremely knowledgeable and attentive when it came to talking us through the processes we needed to follow to get our little Yorkie under control.
Very helpful after the home visit with follow-up emails and other offers of help to ensure we had all the support we needed. Would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a professional behaviourist.
Regards,
James and Sarah