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Dog Chasing Traffic or Animals

Together we can discourage your dog from chasing traffic and animals

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

Problems with your dog chasing traffic or animals? We can empathise with the struggles that this behaviour can cause. As a devoted dog owner, experiencing difficulties with your dog chasing traffic or animals 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 taking your dog out of the house. You may also be concerned about your dog chasing other pets within your home, such as cats.

Together, let’s help your dog to feel more relaxed and less motivated to chase traffic or animals. 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 their chasing 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 specialists are here to help you with your dog chasing traffic or animals

As clinical animal behaviourists, our goal is to help you decode your dog’s chasing behaviour, 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, changing where you walk them, and addressing their needs, we’ll work together to reduce your dog’s chasing behaviour.

Remember, overcoming your dog’s chasing 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 chasing behaviour problems

Here are some examples of behaviour problems we provide support with:

  • Lunging at, chasing or barking at moving traffic;
  • Lunging at, chasing or barking at cyclists, scooters or pushchairs;
  • Lunging at, chasing or barking at wild animals, such as squirrels, rabbits and birds;
  • Lunging at, stalking, chasing or barking at other household pets, such as cats, and
  • Aggrissive behaviour towards traffic or animals, such as barking at, growling at or attacking moving traffic, cyclists or animals.

Dog running

Meet Your Dog Behaviourists

Zoe Demery Clinical Animal Behaviourist

Zoe Demery

Zoe has a doctorate in animal cognition and behaviour, and she is an independently accredited clinical canine behaviourist 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 training her dog

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 CliniciansAPBC and PACT.  Last but not least Megan is registered as a CAB and ATI with the ABTC. 

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.

Benji, Dawn and Paul

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

get expert help now

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

Lexa’s story

Dogs

Lexa, a 2-year-old Border Collie, had began lunging at and chasing traffic on walks, causing great difficulties for her owner Lesley. Lexa also stalked and chased Lesley’s cat Twinkle, causing Twinkle to feel anxious about venturing around the house. Lesley got in touch with Second Nature Behaviour, and arranged a behaviour consultation to discuss these concerns. Megan Richardson at Second Nature Behaviour visited Lesley at her home to provide her with a behaviour consultation. Ater asking Lesley several questions and looking around the home, in collaboration with Lesley, Megan created a behaviour modification plan for Lesley to follow. The plan included methods to ensure both Lexa and Twinkle felt as relaxed as possible and that all of their needs were being met. A month later, Megan went for a walk with Lesley to instruct her on how to manage and train Lexa on walks to address her underlying negative emotions causing her chasing behaviour directed at traffic. Several months later, after more follow-up support, Lesley reported that she could confidently manage Lexa on walks. Lexa now has alternative approprite outlets for her chasing behaviour, and Twinkle feels a lot more relaxed at home.

Next steps

1. Vet referral

Dogs chasing things are sometimes caused by underlying physiological issues, so we need to address these first

2. Booking

Online or by giving us a call on 0121 299 0188

3. History form

Give us some background about your dog, their routines and your relationship

4. Consultation

Let’s get started on the plan to dealing with your dog’s chase behaviour

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!”

Nikki the vet

Book a consult

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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.

Luke, Harry and Trixy
Benji, Dawn and Paul
Nicki the vet
Ted, Rob and Michelle
Gracie
Echo
Emma the vet
Chip, James & Sarah
Riley & Paul
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Dotty, Annie & Colin
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Bubba, Karen & Gary
Alfie, Mary, Michael & Chris
Ernie, Jennie, Ian & Alfie
Ozzy & Bev
Goldie & Lucy
Sophie, Chloe & Rosie
Blaze, Laura & Glyn
Cocoa & Julia
Bailey, Andrew & Denise
Dylan, Juliet & Carl
Frank & Lynne
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Jessie, Charlotte & Dan
Yogi & Rupert
Murphy & Anna
Irene & Pauline
Kizzy, Gyp, Barry & Hilary
Alfie & Charley
Don & Poppy
Bobby & Jayne
Cookie, Storm, Andy & Julie
Bracken & Vivienne
Dexter & Dougie
Sadie, Julie and Mark
Nala
Skye & Lynette
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If you are looking to make your dog’s chasing traffic or animals a thing of the past, contact us to get started.

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