Reward-based one-to-one dog training in Birmingham plus expert pet behaviour help. Get support from accredited dog trainers and Clinical Animal Behaviourists.
Looking for a dog trainer in Birmingham? You’re in the right place — but we’re a little different from most.
At Second Nature Behaviour, we offer one-to-one reward-based dog training for owners across Birmingham and the wider West Midlands, and we’re a clinical behaviour practice working on written veterinary referral for cases where a pet’s behaviour has become genuinely difficult, distressing, or unsafe.
Whether your dog needs help learning loose-lead walking and a reliable recall, or your dog, cat or parrot is dealing with something more serious — reactivity on walks, separation distress, aggression, spraying, feather plucking — we can help you find the right route.
Book a FREE Discovery Call
Book a free 15-minute phone call with one of our team to discuss how we can support you.
What we offer in Birmingham: One-to-one dog training and pet behaviour help
We work in two related but distinct ways, depending on what your pet needs:
One-to-One Dog Training Personalised, reward-based training sessions in and around Birmingham — at home, in your local park, or wherever you and your dog need help. Loose-lead walking, recall, manners around visitors, calmer behaviour on walks, settling at home.
Clinical Behaviour Consultations For dogs, cats and parrots with established behaviour problems — fear, anxiety, aggression, reactivity, compulsive behaviour, toileting issues, feather plucking. These are home-visit consultations of 1.5–3 hours, followed by a written behaviour modification plan and follow-up support. Vet referral required (your vet can complete our quick online form).
If you’re not sure which one you need, book a free 15-minute discovery call and we’ll point you the right way.
Find out more about our dog training and behaviour services
For more information about our different types of services, have a look at our services table.
Common Dog Behaviour Problems We Support With
How to Access Our Services
For one-to-one dog training: Book a free discovery call so we can talk through what you’re hoping to work on. We’ll then arrange your first training session at a time and place that suits you.
For clinical behaviour consultations: We work exclusively on written veterinary referral. This isn’t bureaucracy — it’s so we can rule out any medical contribution to your pet’s behaviour, work alongside your vet, and (in many cases) help you claim through your pet insurance. Here’s how it works:
1. Vet referral
Request that your vet completes our quick, online referral form here.
2. Booking
Online or by giving us a call on 0121 299 0188
3. History form
Give us some background about your pet, their environment, routines and your relationship
4. Consultation
Let’s get started on the plan to dealing with your pet’s behaviour towards people
Book a Behaviour Consultation
Get help from one of our animal behaviour experts
Areas Covered
Our Birmingham dog trainers and behaviourists cover all of Birmingham and the surrounding areas — including Edgbaston, Moseley, Harborne, Kings Heath and Cotteridge — and we travel regularly out to Solihull, Sutton Coldfield, and across the wider Black Country.
For owners further afield, we also cover Bromsgrove, Redditch, Dudley, Walsall and West Bromwich. If you’re more than 20 miles from our Birmingham hub, we charge an additional £2 per mile (return) to cover travel.
For cats and parrots specifically, we also offer virtual consultations worldwide — distance doesn’t have to be a barrier to specialist support.
If you’re closer to one of our other hubs, you may prefer to be seen by the team there:
- Coventry hub (Warwickshire)
- Stoke-on-Trent hub (Staffordshire)
- Telford hub (Shropshire)
Contact us
In emergencies please call your normal vets local to you.
87 Watford Rd, Cotteridge,
Email: brum@secondnature.bio
| Monday | 09:00 - 17:00 |
| Tuesday | 09:00 - 17:00 |
| Wednesday | 09:00 - 17:00 |
| Thursday | 09:00 - 17:00 |
| Friday | 09:00 - 17:00 |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
- Dog Training in Birmingham – Plus Expert Behaviour Support for Pets
Book a behaviour consultation
get expert help now
Meet Your Local Pet Behaviourists in Birmingham

Hannah Dawes
Veterinary Behaviourist
Hannah is a Veterinary Surgeon who graduated from the Royal Veterinary Cottage in 2008 and has worked in companion animal general practice ever since. She works part-time at a veterinary surgery in Stourbridge.
Hannah has a General Practitioner certificate in Small Animal Medicine and a postgraduate diploma in companion animal behaviour.
Find out more about Hannah here.

Zoe Demery
Senior Behaviourist
Zoe is an independently accredited Certificated Clinical Animal Behaviourist (CCAB) in dogs, cats and parrots.
Zoe is proud to be a Certificated Member of the Fellowship of Animal Behaviour Clinicians, a registered Clinical Animal Behaviourist with the Animal Behaviour and Training Council and a Certified Animal Behaviour Consultant (in parrots, cats and dogs) with the International Association of Animal Behaviour Consultants.

Megan Richardson
Senior Behaviourist
Megan graduated from Harper Adams University with a first class BSc (Hons) degree in Animal Behaviour and Welfare, then grew her clinical behaviour practice with dogs and cats. She has many years of experience and is an independently accredited Certificated Clinical Animal Behaviourist (CCAB in dogs).
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.

Keely Needham
Senior Behaviourist
Keely graduated from Harper Adams University in 2021 with a first class honours degree in Clinical Animal Behaviour and Welfare. She works part-time as a behaviourist for a large animal welfare organisation. Keely has independent CCAB accreditation in dogs.
Keely has a wealth of experience working with dogs of all breeds and backgrounds and has a passion for understanding the complex needs of troubled dogs and enhancing the bonds with their care-givers and owners.
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
0121 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 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.
How do I know if I need to book a 1-2-1 training session or behaviour consultation?
Dog behaviour problems are usually caused by an underlying negative emotion, such as fear, anxiety or frustration. On the other hand, dog training problems are usually caused by dogs not understanding what’s being requested of them, or they may not be motivated enough to perform the behaviour requested. Examples of dog behaviour problems include lunging and barking at triggers on walks, aggression towards people or other animals, appearing fearful of certain noises etc. Examples of dog training problems include pulling on the lead, not coming back when called and jumping up at people. If you’re unsure what type of service you need, get in touch.












































