Behaviour Assessment Consultation

Understanding Your Dog Starts Here

Living with a dog displaying aggression, fear, anxiety or other challenging behaviours can be overwhelming and stressful, having an impact on the whole family.

You may feel frustrated, embarrassed, worried or even frightened about what your dog might do next. Perhaps you’ve tried training before, spoken to friends, searched online or even been told there is little that can be done.

There is another option.

It doesn’t have to be this way.

Our Behaviour Consultations are designed to help you understand why your dog is behaving the way they are, identify the root causes of the behaviour and develop a practical, evidence-informed plan to improve your dog’s quality of life, and yours.

No blame.

No judgement.

Just honest answers and a clear path forward.

What Is a Behaviour Consultation?

A Behaviour Consultation is a private, one-on-one appointment (most often) held at our purpose-built training facility.

You’ll meet with one of our experienced Behaviour Specialists in a secure, air-conditioned consultation room where we can carefully assess your dog’s behaviour in a safe and controlled environment.

Every consultation is tailored to your dog. There are no “one size fits all” solutions because every dog has a unique history, temperament and learning experience.

Our goal is simple:

To understand your dog as an individual and help you move forward with confidence.

Why Accurate Diagnosis Matters

Behaviour problems rarely happen without a reason.

Aggression, fear, separation anxiety, guarding, reactivity and phobias are behaviours, not diagnoses.

Unless we understand why your dog is behaving this way, we risk treating the symptoms rather than addressing the underlying cause.

An accurate behavioural assessment allows us to identify the factors contributing to your dog’s behaviour and design a program that targets those causes, rather than simply managing the outward signs.

Meet Your Behaviour Specialists

Steve Courtney

Steve Courtney is a Nationally Accredited Behaviour Specialist, Law Enforcement Dog Trainer, Dog Obedience Trainer, Registered ANKC Breeder, and the Founder and President of the Professional Dog Trainers of Australia.

With more than three decades of experience working with companion dogs, working dogs and complex behavioural cases across several countries, Steve has helped thousands of owners better understand and rehabilitate their dogs.
(Full BIO here)

Rebecca Chin

Rebecca Chin has worked alongside Steve for more than fifteen years and is our Senior Trainer.

Having been mentored directly by Steve throughout that time, Rebecca has developed exceptional skill in working with dogs displaying challenging behavioural issues and is highly respected by both clients and industry professionals.

What May Happen During a Behaviour Consultation?

Every consultation is different, but generally includes:

Meeting you and your dog.

• Discussing your concerns and goals.
  
  
• Reviewing your dog’s history, health, diet and daily routine.
  
  
• Assessing your dog’s behaviour and emotional state.
  
  
• Observing you’re handling and communication.
  
  
• Evaluating your dog’s training history and learning ability.
  
  
• Assessing social behaviour around unfamiliar people and, where appropriate, other dogs.
  
  
• Conducting a behavioural risk assessment.
  
  
• Beginning practical training to assess motivation, learning style and emotional regulation.
  
  
• Explaining our findings and discussing the likely causes of the behaviour.
  
  
• Developing a personalised behaviour modification plan.
  
  
• Recommending appropriate follow-up training and ongoing support.
  
  

Most consultations last up to two hours, although more complex cases may require additional time.

Following your consultation, you’ll receive a comprehensive written report along with your personalised behaviour modification plan.

We Believe Every Dog Deserves an Individual Assessment

Many of the dogs referred to us have been labelled as “beyond help.”

Some owners have been advised their dog should never go into public again.

Some have been prescribed multiple medications, without effect.

Others have even been told euthanasia is their only option.

While there are situations where euthanasia may be the most appropriate and humane decision, this is a rare situation here, we see many dogs whose behaviour has been misunderstood or whose underlying issues have never been properly identified.

Our role is not to offer false hope.

Our role is to provide an honest assessment, explain what we see and help you understand what options genuinely exist for your individual dog.

Every dog deserves to be assessed as an individual, not defined solely by their worst moments.

We Work With Behaviour Problems Including:

• Human aggression
• Dog aggression
• Owner-directed aggression
• Resource guarding
• Territorial behaviour
• Separation anxiety
• Fear and phobias
• Noise and storm phobias
• Predatory behaviour
• Grooming and husbandry challenges
• Nervous and fearful dogs
• Confidence building
• Reactivity
• Behaviour that appears unpredictable or difficult to explain
  
  

If you’re unsure whether your dog’s behaviour falls into one of these categories, simply contact us, we’re happy to discuss your concerns.

Why Owners Choose K9 Pro

The majority of our behaviour clients are referred to us by:

• Veterinarians
• Dog trainers
• Local councils
• Groomers
• Boarding kennels
• Councils
• Previous clients
  
  

We also work collaboratively with your veterinarian or other professionals whenever appropriate, ensuring everyone involved in your dog’s care is working towards the same outcome.

The Earlier You Seek Help, the Better

Behaviour problems do not resolve on their own.

The longer unwanted behaviours are rehearsed, the more established they become.

One of the most valuable pieces of advice we can offer is this:

“If you notice a behaviour problem developing, seek professional help early. The sooner we understand why it’s happening, the greater the opportunity for meaningful improvement.”

Before You Book

We understand that discussing your dog’s behaviour can feel daunting.

We have our Superstar team ready to talk to you on the phone, they can hear you.

We also an initial phone or Zoom conversation before your Behaviour Consultation.

It’s an opportunity to ask questions, explain your concerns and decide whether we’re the right team to help you.

Many owners tell us that this initial conversation helps them feel far more comfortable before arriving for their consultation.

Take the First Step

Behaviour problems affect more than just your dog, they affect your confidence, your family, your quality of life and your ability to enjoy life together.

The good news is that most behaviour problems can improve significantly with the right assessment, appropriate training and committed owners.

If you’re ready to better understand your dog and begin working towards lasting change, we’d love to help.

Contact K9 Pro today to arrange your initial discussion and take the first step towards a better future for you and your dog.

Give us a call Monday to Friday (9-5pm EST) on 612 45 789 789 or shoot us an email to info@k9pro.com.au