Dog Aggression to Humans
Together we can help your dog to feel more relaxed and manage their aggression to humans to increase safety for all involved
Clinical Animal Behaviourists in Birmingham Wolverhampton Derby Stoke-on-Trent Solihull Burton-upon-Trent Dudley Halesowen Redditch Kidderminster Stafford Stourbridge Walsall Tamworth Lichfield West Bromwich Atherstone Aldridge Evesham Tipton Cannock Bromsgrove Smethwick Willenhall Oldbury Droitwich Spa Uttoxeter Rugeley Stone Stourport-on-Severn Brierley Hill Wednesbury Brownhills Alvechurch
Dog aggression to humans can be a serious concern for many caregivers due to the safety risks involved. As a devoted dog owner, experiencing difficulties with your relationship such as aggression, biting or growling from your dog can be disheartening and stressful. These behaviours can strain the bond you share with your dog and may leave you feeling anxious or worried about your interactions. You may also be concerned about your dog displaying aggressive behaviour towards other people, animals or dogs.
Together, let’s help your dog to feel more relaxed and less like they need to use aggression to communicate how they feel. Our dog behaviourists can help you to decode your dog’s subtle body language signals to understand how your dog feels, and learn how to manage them around their triggers for aggressive behaviour.
Our dog behaviour specialists travel to your home in and around Birmingham, Stoke-on-Trent, Coventry, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and more. We can also offer our clinical animal behaviour services virtually.
Here to help
Our dog behaviour experts are here to help you with your dog’s aggression to humans
As clinical animal behaviourists, our goal is to help you decode your dog’s aggression problems, and guide you on ways to build a more positive relationship with your dog. By examining your dog’s environment, daily routines, and interactions, we can identify potential triggers and devise a personalised plan to address them.
Whether it’s through removing sources of worry, addressing your interactions with your dog, and addressing their needs, we’ll work together to reduce the stress causing your dog’s aggression to humans.
Remember, overcoming dog aggression problems takes time and patience. But with consistent effort, professional guidance, and a lot of love, our dog behaviour specialists can show you how to help your dog feel more secure and confident. Together, we can work towards a happier, more peaceful life for you and your precious companion.
Examples of dog aggression to humans
Here are some examples of dog aggression problems we provide support with
Your dog may be showing aggression such as growling, showing their teeth, snapping, snarling, lunging at or biting you or other people in the following situations:
- Around certain resources, like food, toys or resting spaces;
- When handled, examined or groomed;
- When having a cuddle with you;
- Around your children or a new baby, or
- Towards visitors.
Meet Your Dog Behaviourists
Zoe Demery
Zoe has a doctorate in animal cognition and behaviour, and she is an independently accredited clinical canine behaviourists in the UK (CCAB). 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 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
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.
“Thank you so much for all your help. Before meeting you we were at our wit’s end as to what to do with Bracken, but your time and advice has put us back in control. Bracken is much easier to take out for walks and he is much calmer in the house. We really are so grateful to you for everything, and won’t hesitate to recommend you to anyone who is having behavioural problems with their pets! You’ve been brilliant!“
Comprehensive support
- We visit you at your home in person or online, for an initial assessment generally lasting 2 hours and ideally, everyone in the household should be present.
- We take a full and detailed case history. Together we work out a treatment plan that is realistic and tailored to you and your dog’s needs.
- You receive a dog training manual and relevant information sheets, which tie in with the behaviour plan for your dog.
- Soon after the consultation, a report is sent to you, which is later copied to your vet. This outlines the reasons behind the problem and highlights the key steps of the plan.
- Your vet is kept informed of how your dog progresses.
- Plans are updated with new material for you to work on.
- Then, you have the option of scheduling one to three one-hour follow-up sessions, generally about a month apart, either online or in person.
- We are available for remote support via email and WhatsApp between your sessions with us.
- If a veterinary behaviourist’s additional expertise is required during the case’s development, we integrate their advice into the plan. We work closely with select, independently accredited dog vet behaviourists, who will review and discuss your dog’s case with your vet.
- More follow-up support is available as needed.
Invest £750
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Fancy a £350 discount?
Book a supervised consult with one of our associate behaviourists, or allow a budding behaviourist to lead your consultation under the watchful eye of one of our senior behaviourists
Bella’s Story
Bella, a young cross-breed, had recently been rehomed from a rescue centre by her owners, Chloe and Tom. After a couple of weeks since adopting Bella, Chloe and Tom discovered that Bella had begun growling at them around her food and toys. This concerned Tom and Chloe, as they were worried that Bella might bite them or visitng friends and family. Chloe and Tom got in touch with Second Nature Behaviour and arranged a veterinary referral. Two weeks later, Megan Richardson visited Chloe, Tom and Bella at their home to provide them with a behaviour consultation. Megan assessed that Bella felt anxious about her owners taking valued items from Bella, causing her to feel the need to use growling to communicate her emotions. In collaboration with Tom and Chloe, Megan developed a behaviour modification plan for them to follow, including careful resource management and addressing how Chloe and Tom interacted with Bella. After putting the management strategies in place, Megan then instructed Chloe and Tom on how to conduct training sessions using reward-based methods to change Bella’s negative emotions associated with people being near her and resources. After practising the training strategies advised, Chloe and Tom managed to make progress with Bella’s behaviour problems, and report that Bella no longer growls!
Next steps
1. Vet referral
Dogs reacting adversely to people are sometimes caused by underlying physiological issues, so we need to address these first
3. History form
Give us some background about your dog, their environment, routines and your relationship
4. Consultation
Let’s get started on the plan to dealing with your dog’s behaviour towards people
Recommended
by vets
you may be able to
claim on insurance
“As a vet, I have referred many of my patients to Zoe – she works absolute miracles on dogs!”
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FAQ
Have a more general question? Check out our general FAQ.
Prefer to chat things through a bit more?
Contact Us!
Give us a buzz by email or phone
(+44) (0) 121 299 0188.
How do I book an appointment?
Contact us for a no obligation chat. After you have been referred by your veterinary surgeon, you can phone us on 0121 299 0188 to discuss the details and costs, or book online here. You can access the referral form here, or your vet can make the referral online here.
How should I go about arranging a vet referral for my dog?
We will send you a referral form to give to your vet. Ask them to look at your dog and fill the form in. You should send this to us prior to the consultation, together with any clinical records that your vet may think are relevant. Alternatively, your vet may like to email, fax (0844 358 3201), or post their records directly to us. Note that they can also fill in their referral online. If you have already spoken to your vet, then this may be sufficient, but please double-check with them. Different vets have different ways of doing things. Some vets charge an extra fee for a referral.
What happens during the consultation?
Consultations are held on an appointment basis, either at one of our regional clinics or in your own home. If possible, all family members involved should be present. A history of the problem will be taken and your dog’s temperament assessed. After this, the clinical animal behaviourist will explain the motivation for the behaviour and devise a treatment programme to help you modify your pet’s behaviour.
What happens after the consultation?
Treatment programmes vary according to the nature and severity of the problem. Sometimes only the initial consultation, remote support and some hard work on your part work are sufficient. Moreover, a detailed report outlining the therapy will be sent to you and your veterinary surgeon. Further advice and aftercare are provided via further sessions and email for at least 3 months. Where treatment dictates it, or if you would prefer face-to-face support, a follow-up appointment can be arranged online. Alternatively, we can come to your home again. As a dog owner, we offer extensive face-to-face support following the initial consultation as part of our standard service.
What kind of guarantees can you offer me? What if your suggestions don't work?
We cannot guarantee a ‘cure’ or work miracles, but if between us we can diagnose what is going on, and if you are prepared to work hard, dramatic improvement is not unusual. The treatment plan is designed to be fluid. If what we initially suggest doesn’t seem to have much effect, then we will reassess and make some other suggestions about what to do.
How quickly will we see results? How long will it take to solve the problem?
There is no quick fix to any kind of behaviour problem. The treatment plan advised may produce results very quickly, but often it will take time, effort and commitment from all of the family to produce the improved behaviour. Always remember that your pet’s current problems may have developed over a long period of time, so it may take a particularly long time to improve. It really varies from individual to individual. However, support from us is ongoing, as you need it. Following your consultation, further advice is available by phone and email as you progress, or face-to-face if you require it. Progress is often faster with greater follow-up behaviour support within your own environment.
Why must I seek referral from my vet? I'm sure my dog is perfectly healthy - what's the point?
A strong link between the veterinary surgeon and the animal behaviourist is essential in all cases. In order to rule out any physiological causes for the problem behaviour and in accordance with the Fellowship of Animal Behaviour Clinicians‘ Code of Conduct, we only work on veterinary referral. Behavioural symptoms are often intertwined with some medical conditions. To provide a truly holistic solution to your problem, your vet needs to be involved at all stages of the process. The behaviourist will work closely with your vet, who often provides ongoing support from their end for various elements of the behaviour plan.
How does the vet referral process work? What do you need from them? Do I have to pay more? My vet just said to give you a call - is that enough?
We will send you a referral form to give to your vet. Ask them to look at your pet and fill the form in. You should send this to us prior to the consultation, together with any clinical records that your vet may think are relevant. Alternatively, your vet may like to email, fax (0844 358 3201), or post their records directly to us. Note that they can also fill in their referral online. If you have already spoken to your vet, then this may be sufficient, but please double-check with them. Different vets have different ways of doing things. Some vets charge an extra fee for a referral.
Are you covered by insurance?
Second Nature Behaviour and our employees are fully covered by professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
If you are looking to make your dog’s aggression to humans a thing of the past, contact us to get started.
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