In Person Consultation

What is an initial assessment?

 This is a 90 minute, in person, session with Lucy Aalders Head behaviourist @ Leaps and Hounds. During your first session, we will go through the challenges you currently have with your dog, the history of this and how to practically begin to make positive changes.

Areas discussed during the session include:

• Current situation with your dog: including any challenges, difficulties, sensitivities etc.

• Your goals and aims for attending training or behaviour support.

• Solutions and Training Tools to address yours and your dogs training needs.

• Full history of your dog, taking into account breed type, age, genetics, current and past living situations.

• Any health considerations that are relevant, such as a medical history, recent neutering, injury or illness.

• Observations of your dogs posture, movement and gait, choices and behavioural strategies.

• Current lifestyle including sleep, diet, daily activities and any adaptions or changes to make to these

• Relationships and communication within the family or outside of the family.

• Safety and management where relevant for challenging behaviour.

• Understanding more about why your dog does what he does and how the right changes in the right place can help you and your dog to feel better and more relaxed.

You will also receive practical advice and training techniques during the session, plus email notes within 72 hours, to support what is covered and give you a plan to follow. 

What does this cost?

 £95 for this initial assessment. You can book online or we can book you in. An invoice will be sent upon booking and full payment required before you attend your session. Follow up sessions (if needed) will be discussed at the end of your appointment. See more info below.

Who is this for?

 Any dog and family of any age who, require support with basic and further training or challenging behaviour and a deeper understanding of their dog.

What can I ask for help with?

“Everyday” dog training

• Basic training such as recall, lead walking, stays, manners

• Play and interaction – with you and other dogs

• Strengthening relationships – with you, your family, other dogs

• Confidence building – for both dog and human

• Socialisation – how to, when and where

Challenging Behaviour

• Recall regression – dog won’t come back

• Extreme lead pulling/ragging

• Destruction/howling/barking in the home

• Guarding of items/areas/people inside and outside the home

• Mouthing/Jumping/Grabbing

• Aggressive behaviour/Growling/Snapping/Biting

• Distress when left alone

• Sensitive / over-reactive towards other dogs or humans or things in the environment

• Extreme sensitivity to noise/movement

• Extremely nervous/anxious

• Overly excitable, inability to calm down/settle

• Multi-dog household dynamics

• Obsessive/Abnormal repetitive behaviour

• Multi-species dynamics e.g. with cats

• Dogs with Children / New baby on the way

Fun Stuff

• I want to learn scent work

• Basic Agility fun

• Toy play, training games

• Enrichment and games for all ages

What happens next?

 Following  your initial assessment you will be sent an email with notes and advice to follow based on what was covered in your session as well as a forward plan as to what comes next.

If you need further coaching on some areas, this will be discussed at the end of this first session and booked accordingly.

In some cases, such as with challenging behaviour, there may be some liaising with your vets or physio or other professionals to get you the right support. This will be discussed and explained at the end of the session.

How much is further coaching?

For “Everyday” Training/Fun Stuff further coaching sessions are:

£65 per session, approx 1 hour (book a block of 3 sessions for £165)

These sessions are in person, at suitable real-life locations, to work on practical skills. They include:

• Catch up review on current progress

• New techniques and skills to further practice

• Individual coaching

• A summary and forward plan

For Challenging Behaviour follow up sessions are:

£75 per session, approx 1 hour.

These sessions are in person to work on practical skills in suitable locations. They include:

• Catch up and review  on current progress

• New techniques and skills to further practice

• Individual coaching

• A summary and forward plan

• Phone/email support between sessions.

• Liaising with external professionals such as vets/physios, as required.

*it will be made clear during your initial consultation which service is best for you and your dog*

How do I know if you can help me and my dog/s?

On your initial contact, I will give you a Free 15 minute call to establish what your needs are and how we can help. You will also be sent a form to fill out some history about you and your dog/s.

Once we have established if we can help, we will book you in for your initial assessment.

What if my dog is not safe around new humans?

This assessment can be adapted working via zoom/skype/whatsapp/video/phone call. With a view to support future in person help if appropriate.

We assess these options in the initial free call.

I’m Still not sure what I need/want?

Get in contact and we can have a chat to help you figure it out.