veterinarybehavioursupport.com
‘Modification’ is when we are looking to directly address the behaviour of concern by changing the emotions and motivations which cause it. We
want to create plans that will keep everyone safe and happy, whilst targeting the root cause of the issue, not just simply by avoiding it.
As a veterinary surgeon and qualified clinical animal behaviourist Sophie is well equipped to help you and your dog tackle any behaviours that are a cause for concern.
The first step when trying to resolve any behavioural issue is to define it, objectively and in detail. Once we know what the problem looks like we consider the possible underlying emotions and motivations, the dog’s history, environment, medical history and temperament. It is essential to consider any possible medical issues that could be contributing to the behaviours of concern. Hopefully we will now understand what the problem is and why it is occurring. The next step is to then define treatment goals. These will focus on not just the pet’s needs but also their family’s.
Teamwork is key to the final step, putting plans in to action and seeing results. Sophie will create a bespoke plan that helps pets and people work
together as effectively as possible. Leigh-Ann is then available to work with you to help implement the behaviour modification plans and hone your practical training skills.
Behaviourists help those pets who are struggling with emotional challenges, which make learning new things hard, coping with day-to-day life difficult, or may even put themselves or others at risk of harm.
Traditional dog training focuses primarily on teaching specific skills such as loose lead walking, recall, sit etc. These are areas we may cover too, but as part of a wider plan.
Common behaviours we work with include aggression between household pets, 'reactivity' towards other animals or people, Abnormal Repetitive Behaviours (tail chasing, shadow chasing etc) and fear-based behaviour.
Sophie has a specific interest in human directed aggression, and these cases now form a large part of our workload.
Leigh-Ann is also very experienced in, and passionate about, co-
operative care and minimal restraint husbandry (e.g. nail clips, grooming, examinations).
Posted on Jane WilliamsTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Sophie's depth of knowledge and thoroughness is immense. Having a highly qualified behaviourist who is vet qualified, and obviously lives and breathes her work, has been life changing for my dog and I. Putting our homework in is critical, it does show results. Also having training tailored to my dog's character is cool. Shout out to Leigh-Ann too. Dream Team A1*Posted on Jane RalphsTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Sophie and Leigh-Ann have been fantastic at supporting us with our very anxious, very reactive dog. Sophie spotted that he had underlying chronic pain and supported us to get that under control before we tackled his fear (and subsequent bad behaviour) around grooming, having his harness put on, resource guarding etc. Leigh-Ann has been brilliantly patient coaching us and we are now in a position where we can groom Bertie and are making progress with the harness. He has been a challenge but with Leigh-Ann’s help we are definitely getting there. We cannot recommend them highly enough. Just wish we’d learned of them earlier!Posted on Caroline TaplinTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I've had dogs most of my life but Bella, a five year old cocker spaniel, has been the most challenging! Jealous of me, territorial and anxious around other dogs - otherwise she is an absolute delight!! Sophie and Leigh-Ann have helped me enormously. They have helped me understand why she does some of the things she does, made really helpful suggestions of changes to our physical environment that that would help and introduced me to methods to interrupt her behaviour. We have progressed to walking training with other dogs and she is doing really well - a way to go yet but we are getting on so much better than we were. Couldn't recommend them more highly.Posted on Zoe ConnerTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Sophie was recommended to me by a behaviorist I was working with previously. The process to get referred was smooth working alongside Kate to get all the information needed, questions answered and get our first session booked in. Both have been the perfect professionals. My dog, Dexter, is going to be a long-term work in progress but together we have identified a chronic pain issue contributing to his noise phobias. Sophie is clearly passionate about her job and it has shown throughout. I look forward to continuing to work with her in the new year.Posted on C BTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. VBS was recommended to me by the head nurse at my vet’s practice, whose own dog had been helped by Sophie. Sophie and Leigh-Ann have been excellent at getting to the root cause of my dog’s behaviour and have explained how pain in his hind limbs may be causing this. I have grown in confidence with my dog and the process has confirmed my own belief that animal behavioural issues are best managed by the’ force free, fear-free’ methods promoted by VBS.Posted on Liz CurtisTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Sophie guided me on how to determine the cause of Esme's aggression towards my other dog and me. Many visits to vets and a physiotherapist later and we have a confirmed diagnosis of chronic pain. Whilst being investigated Sophie gave me guidance on how to reduce the incidents of aggression and although not disappeared they are much less frequent and I am better able to see situations where they might occur and diffuse themPosted on Andrea MacdonaldTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I cannot thank Sophie enough for the journey Sydney and I have been on during the last 3 months. Sophie looks at all areas of your dog’s life that maybe stacking behind the behaviour and she is definitely thorough. Also thank you Kate for your professional PA skills.❤️❤️Posted on Isabelle BroughTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We received fantastic support from Sarah, working together remotely, talking online on a regular basis and journaling. We put some strategies in place and made a lot of progress to the point where our relationship with our young lab has become much closer and enjoyable. She has become calmer and better able to cope with sensory sensitivities and frustrations.Posted on Kirsten HunterTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Sophie and the team are amazing. They provide excellent support, which was tailored to my dog, adapting as she adapted! Sophie's calm approach really helped me to regain my confidence as well as being helpful for dog trainingPosted on Amy RobertsTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We met Sophie when we rescued our reactive golden retriever Ernie, we had tried other trainers, used the internet and we had got to the point where we’re in desperate need for someone to help us. Our vet referred us to Sophie, at our first meeting I knew we’d done the right thing, we could of talked to her for hours, she is very knowledgeable and so easy to listen to, she answered all our questions and made us feel confident that we could do something to change Ernie’s behaviour. We’ve now come to the end of our 3 month package and we can now go out with Ernie, with confidence and the tools to handle any situation. I highly recommend Sophie and her team to anyone that loves their dog and wants to make their dogs and their lives better. Thank you SophieLoad more