Can anyone recomend a good behaviouist in essex.

I have looked at the APBC website, there are a couple who cover my area, but would still like some recomendations

thanks

i think clive peel is on there and i would recomend him, have known clive for well over 4 years now and he has been a great help with mine

http://www.happy-pets.co.uk/index.html  Attila Szkukalek. He's in Norfolk so may be too far. I've been to a HTM training course with him and he's very good.

I can recommend http://www.dogcommunication.co.uk/ although they are in Surrey and may not cover the type of behaviour you're having a problem with.

So sorry to be controversial, but I have seen a behaviourist highly recommended on this website several times ( no names) and my stomach turns each time I see the name. With this behaviourist my poor dog was forced into situations where he was actually vomiting with fear, I was so disgusted that after 30 mins I couldn't take any more and I just put his lead on and took him home and cancelled all other appointments. My dog ( a rescue) was terrified of all other dogs and I took him for treatment in the hope of making his life better, but the behaviourist tied my dog so tightly he couldn't move and then surrounded him with other dogs - never again !!!!

Dufferdawg,

Sorry, I know of several people with different experiences of the people in Surrey.  The teaching dogs are often wearing spray collars on walks 'incase' something kicks off and there are far too many negatives from what I have heard to take a risk.  I haven't been myself but know a few who have and would have no reason to lie.  I'm sure they are lovely people but, they aren't qualified or registered with a proffessional body and I think with any behaviour problems it is best to go with someone whos is experienced, qualified and regisiterd with an organisation that approves up to date modern methods.  Obviously just my view though :-)

Steve Mann is in Hertfordshire and is very good, not sure he covers Essex, but may be worth a try.

Details can be found here http://www.alphadogtrainingschool.co.uk/

I have seen a behaviourist highly recommended on this website several times ( no names) and my stomach turns each time I see the name. With this behaviourist my poor dog was forced into situations where he was actually vomiting with fear

Oh that is awful. I am so sorry - were they under a professional body? if so, please report them! :)

Did you ever manage to get some kind, up to date help with your dog? :)

Lindsay
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Hi,
This happened about 8 years ago and it was his word against mine as it was a 1 to 1 session, and to be honest I was so shaken I didn't think about taking it further until much later ( yes under a pro. body and cost a fortune, but i believed that it would be worth the cost but was sooo mistaken ) However I gradually sorted my dog myself, not completely but enough that he could go for walks. I always kept him on a lead in case another dog came along he would leg it, never to be seen again. I asked people with gentle dogs if I could walk with them with 2 humans separating the dogs etc and gradually he relaxed a little, but the behaviour session set him so far back that it took ages for him to be able to go outside the garden. He has now passed over the rainbow bridge so is without fear now - bless him.

I'm so sorry you had such a bad experience with your dog and the behaviourist, it really sounds horrendous.

I have to say although I advocate people going to a qualified behaviourist for serious problems I would also recommend others that are known via word of mouth and have years of experience with handling/training and doing behaviour work with great results.

Thanks for the reply Sue, it sounds as if you helped him a lot yourself with your own sensible and kind training.
A good job he had you in his life :)

Lindsay
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> Sorry, I know of several people with different experiences of the people in Surrey.  The teaching dogs are often wearing spray collars on walks 'incase' something kicks off

I think there may have  been some miscommunication going on here, I do know one of these ladies very well (about 10 years!), and have walked with her and her dogs.

Her teaching dogs do NOT wear spray collars whilst working, and they do not wear spray collars whilst walking either - they dont do public walks with problem dogs in any case, they are worked with in a private secure field.

People are welcome to go and watch the dog communication sessions with no obligation - I do not know why this misinformation is being passed around but I would suggest you go and see and make up your own mind!

Hi,

I have a customer at the moment who went to them and has passed this information on to me, she is also someone I have known for sometime and really don't understand why she would say that if it wasn't true.  Actually I'm pretty sure that one of the ladies posted on another board to say that they do have the dogs wearing spray collars but they were just a precaution and were not there with the intention of using them but incase something needed breaking up or interupting, they were used when my customer was there with the result of her becoming very sound sensitive - did they used to use them and this has now changed maybe? - I was aware that they worked in a secure field and that it wasn't out on walks but was told that they did group sessions.

I think there may be occasions when other peoples dogs are wearing spray collars, but I do know that their own teaching dogs do not wear them.

They do do some walks but not with problem dogs, just with shy dogs so no reason for spray collars there.

As I say I think there is some miscommunication going on here, potentially over who owns which dogs and what their role is.

I would just recommend, as I do for ANY training class, that people go along first without their dog and see how things are run, they can ask their questions then, and decide without any pressure whether that class is right for them and their dog.