Suzy will visit your home, or the consultation can take place outside where you and your dog are most comfortable.

Consultations are usually approximately two hours, but are not strictly time dependent. We ask clients to allow up to three hours so neither you nor your dog feels rushed.

The objective is to set your dog up for success. Your application provides an opportunity to tell us about your dog’s preferences around introductions so that stress can be minimised from the outset.

Support is provided for both ends of the lead, with welfare-centred, ethics-focused behaviour and training support throughout.

Suzy is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC) with the IAABC. In-person services are available across Kilkenny, Laois, Wicklow, Waterford, Wexford, Kildare, Dublin, Carlow and Tipperary.

Virtual support is available nationwide.

Behaviour consultancy goes deeper than training. It investigates the emotions and functions behind behaviour and develops a personalised plan to help both dog and guardian feel safe, supported and understood.

Training is primarily about teaching new skills. Behaviour consultancy focuses on understanding and modifying existing behaviour, particularly where fear, anxiety, distress, aggression or other complex concerns are involved.

Your initial consultation is generally around two hours, although we ask clients to allow up to three hours. It takes place in your home or, where appropriate, on your dog’s normal walking route.

We cover:

• A detailed behaviour assessment to understand what is happening and why.
• Training demonstration where appropriate.
• Coaching for you as your dog’s trainer.
• Review of your dog’s learning history, environment and relevant lifestyle factors.

Your individual behaviour modification programme is then structured around your dog’s needs, routine, environment and emotional wellbeing. It can be adapted as the case develops.

A follow-up session and virtual follow-up are included within the initial behaviour consultation package. Additional follow-ups may be recommended depending on the nature and complexity of the presenting behaviour.

Where appropriate, collaboration with your dog’s wider care team is included. This may involve communication with your veterinary team, groomer, daycare provider or dog walker.

Ongoing support is designed to help you maintain progress beyond the initial consultation.

• Access to supporting digital behaviour resources.
• Ongoing guidance as your programme develops.
• Collaborative input from relevant behaviour or medical professionals where required.

Complex behaviour cases may benefit from multidisciplinary input, particularly where health, pain, mobility, nutrition or other medical factors may influence behaviour.

Virtual consultations can be highly effective and may be especially useful where a dog finds unfamiliar visitors difficult, where travel is impractical, or where behaviour is most accurately observed in the dog’s normal home environment.

Virtual clients receive the consultation programme, individual behaviour modification programme, ongoing online support and a secondary virtual follow-up.